6o6 TOWER. TOWNSEND. He received his early education in the public schools. The eldest of four chil- dren, himself and three sisters, he was thrown entirely upon his own resources at the age of fifteen, when he removed to Lancaster and entered the employment of a country merchant doing business in that town. There he served as clerk until 1845, when he was admitted to partnership with his employer. This co-partnership continued until 1848. In 1850 he entered the flour and grain busi- ness, Haymarket Square, Boston, as a mem- ber of the firm of Rice, Tower & Co., the first house in the Boston market to estab- lish direct connection with the West in the sale of cereal products. In 1S52 the firm of Tower, Davis & Co. succeeded the par- ent house./ Unremitting attention to busi- ness so impaired the health of Mr. Tower that in 1855, the same year in which he had changed his residence to Lexington, he found it necessary to retire from active business for a time, and seek recuperation in rest and travel. During a trip South and West, while stopping in Chicago, he formed the ac- quaintance of George Watson, a native of Scotland, with whom Mr. Tower organized, in Chicago, the banking house of Watson, Tower & Co., which did an active and prosperous business until i860. During this time Mr. Tower still retained his posi- tion as head of the firm of Tower, Davis iv Co., Boston. In [860 he returned to Lexington, hav- ing closed his banking business in Chi- cago. He retained his interest as a silent partner in the house succeeding Tower, Davis & Co., until 1867. In that year he organized the banking house of Tower, Giddings & Co., which still exists as a leading representative house, most honor- ably known in business circles. Railroad and banking affairs being so closely connected, naturally attracted Mr. Tower, and in many of them he is equally prominent and efficient. He has been a director of tin: National Bank of the Com- monwealth since its establishment in 1871, and was elected president in February, 1881. From 1S70 to '73 inclusive he was president of the Concord Railroad in New Hampshire ; and in 1877 ar >d '78 president of the Nashua & Lowell Railroad, and is director and trustee of other institutions and corporations. Mr. Tower was an old-time Whig, and since the organization of the Republican party has been identified with it, having entered with zeal and purpose into all the measures of the national government for the preservation of the Union. In 1863 he was a member of the House of Representatives, and a member of Governor Rice's personal staff, with the rank of colonel. In 1S82 he was elected to the governor's council from the 3d dis- trict. Mr. Tower was married in Lancaster, April 29, 1S47, to Julia, daughter of Aus- tin and Sally (Wellington) Davis, and grand-daughter of John Davis, a revolu- tionary soldier. Four children were born of this union : Ellen M., Charlotte G., Augustus C, and Richard G. Tower. TOWNSEND, LUTHER TRACY, son of Luther K. and Mary T. (Call) Townsend, was born in Orono, Penobscot county, Maine, September 27, 1838. Mis early education was received in the public schools of Bristol, Manchester, Franklin, and Lake Village, X. II, and fit- ting for college at the New Hampshire Conference Seminary, Tilton, N. H, he entered Dartmouth, and was graduated therefrom in the class of 1859. He was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. He then studied theology in Andover Theological Seminary, and was graduated therefrom in 1862, and ordained to the ministry in 1864. In 1 866 the Wesleyan University conferred the degree of A. M . and in 1871 Dartmouth honored him with that of I ). I ). During 1862 and '63 lie served in the war of the rebellion as adjutant of the 16th regiment of New Hampshire volunteers. Returning from the war with an honorable discharge, he was called to the pastorate of the Methodist church, and served most acceptably in the following appointments : Watertown, 1 S64 to '66 ; Maiden, 1S66 to '67 ; supplied Auburndale, 1867 to '08 ; Bromfield Street, Boston, 186S to '70 ; Tremont Street, Boston, 1873 to '74, again 1S80 to '8i ; County Street, New Bedford, 1882 ; was professor of exegetical theol- ogy, Boston University, 1867 to '69; pro- fessor of historical theology 1869 to '72; and has been professor of practical the- ology since 1872. He has also supplied some of the larger Congregational churches in Boston and vicinity for terms varying from six months to two years. He was appointed delegate to the Ecu- menical M. E. Conference, London, Eng- land, 1881, and was dean of the Chautau- qua School of Theology, 1882 to '85. Pie is the author of " True and Pre- tended Christianity," "Credo," "Sword and Garment," " God-Man," " The Arena
