proprietor of the Tower House, Vevay, was born in this county in 1826, son of Gideon and Roxena (Scranton) Tower; his father, a native of Cuyahoga County, N.Y., born in 1799, his mother of Rhode Island, born in the same year. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812; came to Dearborn County in 1816; to Switzerland County in 1820, and was killed by accident in 1846 while raising a mill in the county. He was a carpenter by trade but did farming also. His wife died in 1830. William S. was raised on a farm near Moorefield where he resided up to 1881, in which year he was elected sheriff of the county and removed with his family to Vevay. In 1882 he was re-elected to the same office. He served twelve years as justice in Pleasant Township, and was many years a school director. Mr. Tower was married in 1844 to Tobitha J. Ricketts, who was born in Switzerland County in 1825, and their children are Mary A., Alma E., Maria L., Cinderilla J., Ira, Daniel R., Lorena, James W. and Rachel. Allen died in infancy. The family is associated with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Source: History of Switzerland County, Indiana 1885. Chicago, Illinois: Weakley, Harraman & Co., 1885
Transcribed by: Sheila Kell