Jno S Gilmore; H W Young. History of Montgomery County, Kansas. Unknown: L.W. Duncan,
1903,p 695. Ira N. TOWELL. The worthy citizen whose name introduces this biography owns
and resides on 156 acres of Sec 32, Twp 33 Rg 15, Independence Twp where he settled on his
advent to Montgomery County in 1881. His farm was partly improved by William Atkinson, a
former owner and was once owned by the pioneer EP Allen. Mr. Towell emigrated to this
state from Parke County, Indiana and is one of several of the Friends' sect who made
settlement in Montgomery County about that time. Parke County, Indiana is where Ira N.
Towell was born April 7, 1856. His father, Isaac Towell was a native of Oraange County,
same satte was born in 1817 and died in Montgomery Co KS 1900. Henry Towell, grandfather
of our subject was a NC from Orange Co and one of the early settlers of Orange Co IN. he
was descended from the early American Quakers and, if it could be traces, no doubt the
family has some Colonial history. Isaac Towell married Amy Marshall, daughter of Willia
Marshall whose daughter Sarah was Isaac's first wife. By his second marriage Isaac
Towell was the father of William H, who died in Unionarmy; Elizabeth E who died single;
Elwood H, of Parke County, Indiana; Hiram L. of Fountain county, Indiana; Ruth wife of Ira
Hadley of Bolton, KS; Sarah who married Llewellyn Bowsher; Ira N. our subject and Lydia
who died young. A common school education was all that Ira N. Towell acquired and that in
the country school. He passed his majority around the parental hearthstone and when he
came to KS his parents accompanie dhim, his mother dying near BOlton in 1883. Jan 2, 1885
he married Belle Farlow, a daughter of Joseph Farlow, a worthy citizen of Bolton. Three
children have come to cheer and bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Towell: F. Ernest, born Nov
18, 1886; Arthur born Feb 2, 1890; and M. Golda born Feb 9, 1894. General farming is the
industrial line in which Mr. Towell has achieved his success. he has been busy all his
life and by this practice has maintained himself unincumbered and able to meet all
obligations. He is liberal in politics and is a Woodman.