Calaveras
County
Biographies
JACOB S. TOWER
Forty-nine years have passed since
Jacob S. Tower, now deceased, came to California to cast his lot with the
pioneers, and the period of his residence here covered twenty-nine years. People of the present can scarcely realize
the struggles and dangers which attended the early settlers and the heroism and
self-sacrifice of lives passed upon the borders of civilization, the hardships
endured, the difficulties overcome.
These tales of the early days read almost like a romance to those who
have known only modern prosperity and conveniences. To the pioneer of the early days, far removed
from the privileges and conveniences of city or town, the struggle for
existence was a stern and hard one, and those men and women must have possessed
indomitable energies and sterling worth of character as well as marked physical
courage when they voluntarily selected such a life and successfully fought its
battles under such circumstances as prevailed on the Pacific coast.
Jacob S. Tower was a young man of
twenty-three years when he took up his residence in California. His early life was spent in the Green
Mountain state, his birth having occurred in Springville, Vermont, November 8, 1828. There he remained until he determined to seek
a fortune in the far west. He came to
California by way of the Panama route and secured work on the Garcelon Ranch, receiving one hundred dollars per month for
his services. He acted in the position
of foreman, but in 1855 he took up his abode on the present Tower & Bisbee
Ranch at Salt Spring Valley, Calaveras County, entering into partnership with
Mr. Bisbee, a relation which was maintained throughout the remainder of his
business career. They lived together and
conducted their enterprise in the most harmonious manner, both being imbued
with the principles of honesty, uprightness and consideration. They were industrious and capable and success
came to them as the result of their intelligent efforts. They carried on stock-raising on an extensive
scale and acquired the possession of a large, valuable ranch of twenty-four
hundred and eighty acres, on which they erected a commodious residence, large
barns and other outbuildings, adding all the accessories of a model farm. Their home became a noted and popular
stopping place for teamsters and travelers between Stockton, Angel’s Camp,
Murphy’s and the Big Trees.
The partners kept “bachelors’ hall”
until 1863, at which time Mr. Tower married Miss Mary E. Howard, a native of
Ann Arbor, Michigan, and a daughter of James Howard, a native of England. There came to bless their union eight
children, of whom five are living:
Henrietta became the wife of Aldus Beck and resides in Oakland; Jacob
F., the eldest son resides on a portion of the farm and is interested in the
butcher business; Willard H., Frank S. and James A. are all living on the home
farm. Mr. Tower died in May, 1881, at
the age of fifty-one years. He was a
loving, devoted husband and father, and was a citizen of the highest integrity,
being public-spirited and benevolent, doing everything in his power to advance
the interests of his county. He did
gratuitously much work to improve the condition of the roads in his vicinity
and thus became a public benefactor, for there was much travel over those
highways. He never withheld his support
from any movement or measure which he believed would contribute to the public
good. In politics he was a stalwart
Republican. All who knew Mr. Tower
respected him for his sterling worth, and to his family he not only left a good
property but also a good name, which is rather to be chosen than great riches.
Since Mr. Tower’s death Mr. Mosher,
a brother-in-law of Mrs. Tower, has resided upon the ranch and assisted in its
management, until the sons were old enough to assume the responsibility. The lady is a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. She possesses that too
often rare quality of practical common sense which is so important an element
in business affairs. She is most
hospitable in her home and does all in her power to promote the comfort and
enjoyment of the guests who stop for entertainment at the Tower & Bisbee
Ranch.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 760-761. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2011
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Calaveras County Biographies