On This Day - January 19

ARTHUR WOOD TOWLES was born on January 19, 1866.  He was the second of seven children born to Joseph S. Towles (1836-1893) and Sallie S. Wood (1842-1899).  Arthur's ancestors had migrated to Warren County, Tennessee from Virginia in 1818 and was he was third generation born there. In 1887 he married Emma Campbell. 

In 1887 they had their first child, Leta Belle, followed by Henry Clay in 1894 and Homer Wood in 1898. The 1900 census shows them owning their farm in Warren County, Tennessee. By 1910 they have moved to Ennis, Ellis County, Texas.  His brother Joseph is also in Texas. Arthur has given up farming and is a janitor in a public school and is renting a house.  Emma indicates that she has given birth to four children and only two are living. Their daughter Leta died in 1907 and fourth child must have been born and died between 1900 and 1910.  They have purchased a home by 1920 and Arthur continues as a janitor. In 1940 Arthur says that he is unable to work. Arthur died of a stroke on 19 Nov 1943 at the age of 77.  Emma died in 1954 in Dallas, where their son Henry was living.