The Tower family members were earlier settlers to Ionia, Michigan. The patriarch of the family was Osmond Tower. His sons Osmond S. Tower and Angelo E. Tower were active in the business life of Ionia. Both sons served as captains with Company E, Sixth Michigan Cavalry during the Civil War. After the war, Angelo continued with his business interests. He was most involved in lumber and other investments, first in Ionia, later in the western United States, particularly Washington State, Tacoma area. Osmond was involved in banking and various commercial investments, notably as a stockholder and officer in the First National Bank of Ionia (later State Savings Bank).
Other individuals represented in the papers are Louis Lovett, who was vice president of the First National Bank, and who, in addition, had a lively interest in lumber investments and financial loans. Another family member, W. B. Heath, was cashier at the bank. Also represented in the collection is George W. Webber, who was a lumber dealer and general merchant in Ionia. He also served a term in Congress (1881-1882), and was president of the Second National Bank of Ionia.
From the guide to the Tower Family papers, 1841-1937, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)
