From HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTIES, IOWA, 1883, Page 773.

J. E. Towne was born in Rutland, Jefferson Co., N. Y., June 5, 1817. He moved to Columbia Co., Wis., in November, 1853. On the 25th of June, 1857, he settled in Hartland township, Worth Co., Iowa, on the farm where he now lives. His grandfather was a soldier in the revolutionary war, having come from England before the war begun. His father, Ephraim Towne, and his brother Samuel were in the war of 1812, and were in the battle of Sackett's Harbor. J. E. Towne was in the United States' service in 1838 in defense of the line on the Canada border, then French Creek, now Clayton, on the St. Lawrence river. For this service J. E. Towne obtained a United States land warrant and located it upon the land he now occupies. His father was a native of Vermont, his mother of Cooperstown, N. Y. His father, Ephraim Towne, was married Aug.11, 1832, to Amanda D. Tobey, born in Pompey, Onondaga Co., N. Y., Nov. 18, 1814. They were married in Jefferson Co., N. Y. She subsequently died, and July 20, 1881, he married Mrs. Julia Perkins. They were married in Hartland, Worth Co., Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Towne had eight children-Elias F., Albert L., Philo C., John G., William H., Benjamin W., Clarrissa A. and Electa M. The family are connected with the M. E. Church.

Transcribed by Gordon Felland, May 10, 2008