Bio of TOWLER, Major Silas H. (b.1846), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical
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Vol II, pg 180-183
MAJOR SILAS H. TOWLER
Major Silas H. Towler, commandant of the Minnesota Soldiers' Home at
Minneapolis, a former business man of this city and nationally prominent in G.
A. R. circles, is a native Ohioan. He was born at Xenia, on the 3d of January,
1846, the son of Dr. Thomas S. and Jane (White) Towler. Dr. Thomas S. Towler
practiced medicine in Cincinnati for a great many years and was one of its
highly respected citizens. His family settled in Virginia about the year 1700.
On his mother's side of the house Major Towler traces his ancestry back to
colonists who came to Massachusetts in 1639. Silas H. Towler obtained his early
education in the famous "little log schoolhouse." By the time he had completed
his preparations for entrance to college the Civil war had been waging long
enough to reveal to the country that it was not going to be a matter of a few
brief campaigns, but rather a long, serious conflict. Consequently young Silas
Towler decided that his country needed him and in May, 1862, he enlisted as a
private in the Eighty-fifth Ohio Regiment for three months' service. To those
who are familiar only with the selective draft system employed by our government
during the recent war, the idea of enlisting for three months' service will
doubtless seem a bit odd, but during the Civil war the army was made up largely
of men enlisted for short periods and the filling of the ranks as these men
completed their terms of service was one of the greatest problems of the
military administration. It was almost impossible to keep companies in perfect
discipline when the ranks were subject to constant change. Like many of his
comrades in arms, however, Silas Towler reenlisted at the. expiration of his
first term, joining the Twenty-second Ohio Light Battery of Artillery, on
November 14, 1862, and served from then on to the conclusion of the war. He was
assigned to duty with three different armies, the army of the Cumberland, the
army of West Virginia and the army of the Ohio. During the course of the war he
rose by successive steps from his rank of private to that of first lieutenant,
serving as corporal, sergeant, second lieutenant and first lieutenant. He was
honorably discharged from the service with the latter rank at Camp Chase,
Columbus, Ohio, on July 13, 1865.
Upon his return to civilian life Mr. Towler obtained a position as a bookkeeper
in a grocery store in Columbus and was connected with the grocery trade in that
city until 1884, when he came to Minneapolis. His first position in this city
was with the firm of Murray, Warner & Company, with whom he remained for five
years. In 1889 he embarked in the laundry business for himself and for thirty
years conducted the Minneapolis Steam Laundry with gratifying success. During
this long period he won for himself the reputation of being one of the
substantial business men and citizens to whose efforts, along civic and moral as
well as commercial lines, Minneapolis owes her present well-being and
prosperity.
In August, 1919, Mr. Towler was elected commandant of the Soldiers' Home in
Minneapolis. The Minnesota Soldiers' Home, which is picturesquely situated near
historic Minnehaha- Falls, is one of the homes for veterans of the American
wars. It consists of a group of large buildings and provides comfortable living
quarters for a large number of people, so that its commandant has an
administrative task of no small proportions. Major Towler is not only eminently
fitted for this executive position by natural ability and experience, but for
him it is to a degree a labor of love to discharge the duties of his office.
Ever since the Civil war he has taken a deep interest in the work of the Grand
Army of the Republic and the welfare of the old soldier. He is a member of John
A. Rawlins Post and has taken a conspicuous part in the national organization
for the past twenty years. In 1901-1902. he was adjutant general of the national
G. A. R.; junior vice commander-in-chief, 1905-1906; marshal of the G. A. R.
parade in Atlantic City, in 1910, as chief of staff to Commander-in-Chief Van
Sant; and is now a member of the national executive committee. For twelve years
he has been a trustee of the Minnesota Soldiers' Home and for ten years
president of the board. Major Towler has also been closely identified with the
work of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion and in 1912-1913 had the honor of
serving as commander of the Minnesota Commandery.
On the 21st of November, 1871, Silas H. Towler was united in marriage to Miss
Mary J. Lonnis of Licking county, Ohio, and they are the parents of eight living
children: George H.; Mertie, wife of the Rev. John G. Briggs, pastor of the
Woodland Park Baptist church of St. Paul; Mary Belle, a teacher in the Central
high school of Minneapolis; Henry L.; Lucy, now the wife of S. H. Plummer,
cashier of the Northwestern National Bank; Edna E., a teacher in the Minneapolis
public schools; Robert S.; and David K. The youngest son enlisted in the
Fifty-fourth United States Infantry for service in the World war and was sent to
France, where he fought through the Vosges, Meuse and Argonne campaigns. He is
now a civil engineer, working with the North & South Railway in Wyoming.
Major Towler is a member of the Park Avenue Congregational church of Minneapolis
and served as president of the board of trustees for twenty-five years. He is a
Mason and has been particularly active in the Knights Templar organizations
While he was living in Columbus he became a member of Magnolia Lodge, No. 20, F.
& A. M., in that city and held the office of master in 1874. Since coming to
this city he has become affiliated with Ark Chapter, No. 73, R. A. M.. and the
Minneapolis Mounted Commandery. No. 23. He is also Past Grand Commander of
Minnesota Grand Commandery, Knights Templar. He is a life member of the
Minnesota Historical Society and a member of the National Geographic Society. It
may be truly said of Major Towler that he is one whom age has made wise and kept
strong, for he has a youthful outlook on life and is very active, although he
has long since rounded out his allotted span of threescore years and ten. In
addition to his official duties he finds time to devote to the work of the
organizations of which he is a member and to enjoy the social amenities of life
in company with his family and many friends.