Snapshots of History by Mike Avitt
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I wrote about this picture in the January 23, 2025 Record-News but I stumbled upon some more information.
This photo is rare for two reasons: it is a pre-1894 photo and the names are given for the people in this week’s picture. I know it was taken before February 1894 because that is when it burnt to the ground. An 1893 Sanborn plat puts this building at 107 S. Fillmore and Dr, William Horne’s office was next door (109 S. Fillmore) in his brother John’s drug store. Dr. Horne is seen in the photo at far left.
William Towle appears in the Ringgold Record newspapers as early as 1872. In 1875 Ringgold Record announces Wm. Towle is in his new quarters on the west side of the square in Mount Ayr. His business was called Towle’s Boot & Shoe Store which offered new footwear as well as repairs for used footwear. All of the buildings north of the alley on the west side of the square were lost to fire on February 24, 1894.
Mr. Towle’s luck and health took a turn for the worse when the insurance company paid out only $800 on Towle’s total loss. In March 1895, Towle had relocated to 115 W. Monroe, a building that would burn in November 1900. Towle was not located there in 1900, John Lester was. Mr. Lester is also pictured in the above photo.
William Towle’s health began to fail and he took up residence with John Dowling and his wife Susan. Towle was about 72 years old at this time. The spring of 1896 would be one of chaos and criminal accusations for Mr. Towle and those connected to him.
It seems Towle had family in Canada and when they came to take him home, Mr. and Mrs. Dowling wanted compensation for the care given to Towle. Mr. Towle’s son and daughter had to pay off some debts before they could take their father to Canada. This they did by selling some property, but in the meantime a third party claimed they had cared for Mr. Towle as well. It got ugly.
I didn’t fully comprehend the story in the newspaper, but the son and daughter were eventually allowed to take their father home. There was at least one arrest and many hard feelings.
I mentioned John Lester in the photo. He was a shoe repairman and was occupying the shop at 115 W. Monroe in November 1900 when the bank next door caught fire. The shoe repair shop was only slightly damaged by the fire but the shop was in such bad shape to begin with ..… they torn it down anyway!
On October 8 I’m speaking to a group put together by the Ringgold County Economic Development Corporation. We will be traveling around the county on a small bus and I’ll point out some landmarks, talk about transportation history, and hopefully answer some questions.
