Tower, Ark A.

Ark Tower was born in 1879. He served as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army's Company "C" 8th Infantry at Fort Egbert from 1901-1903. The Army was stationed adjacent to Eagle, Alaska, at Fort Egbert in 1899, to provide law and order, build roads and communications (including the Washington-Alaska Military Cable and Telegraph System) and assist indigent miners. An avid photographer, Sergeant Tower photographed daily life and military activities in and around Fort Egbert, developing and mounting his own photographs. Sergeant Tower was a first cousin to Senator John Tower of Texas. He died in 1958 and was buried in the uniform he wore during his service. [Information about Fort Egbert from the Eagle Historical Society and Museums, http://www.eagleak.org/city.htm].