Tozer, C. B.

TOZER, NORTHROP, WILLARD, HARVEY, WELCH

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 7/6/2026 at 07:40:02

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ken Wright wright@prestontel.com August 19, 2010, 9:07 am

Source: History of Jackson County, Iowa, 1910
Author: J. W. Ellis

History of Jackson County, Iowa, 1910, J. W. Ellis

C. B. TOZER.

For the past thirty years C. B. Tozer has been conducting a livery business in
Baldwin, and his success and the honorable record of his life entitle him to
mention among the substantial men of Jackson county. He was born in Grand
Detour, Ogle county, Illinois, February 1, 1844, a son of Benjamin and Eunice
(Northrop) Tozer. The father, a native of the Green Mountain state and of
Scotch-Yankee parentage, spent the early years of his life in Vermont, whence
he went to Canada. Later, returning to the states, he settled in Ogle county,
Illinois, and about 1856 came to Monmounth township, Jackson county, Iowa. He
finally took up his residence in Baldwin, where he lived until his death, which
occurred about fifteen years ago. He was a mason by trade and had followed that
occupation the greater part of his life. His wife, who was Miss Eunice Northrop
before her marriage, was born in Nova Scotia and was of German extraction. They
were married in Canada and she died in Baldwin about two years before her
husband. Unto them were born seven children, as follows: Emily and Maria, who
are deceased; C. B., the subject of this review; Arthur who has passed away;
Lucretia Delphine, the wife of Ira Willard, at one time auditor for Jackson
county but now a resident of South Dakota, living near Spearfish; Mary,
deceased; and one who died in infancy.
C. B. Tozer was reared under the parental roof and after completing his
elementary education in the public school attended college at Mount Morris,
Illinois. He remained at home until his marriage, when he engaged in farming in
Monmouth township, following that occupation with fair success for more than a
decade. About thirty years ago he came to Baldwin and started a livery
business, to which he has given his attention continuously since. Like many
other enterprises it began in a small way, but it has grown steadily until now
it has reached gratifying proportions. Ten horses are kept in the stables and
carriages, of different kinds are maintained in good condition to meet a varied
demand. Of late years Mr. Tozer has had the assistance of his son in the
business, the firm name being Tozer & Son, and the younger man, like the older,
is deserving a conspicuous place among the enterprising and progressive
citizens of Baldwin. Mr. Tozer owns the building the livery occupies and also a
house in the town, besides having forty acres elsewhere in Jackson county and
half a section of land in Shelby county, Iowa. As this valuable property
represents what he has accomplished through his own efforts he has every reason
to be gratified with the result of his years of unwearying labor. Mr. Tozer is
a republican in his political views and that he is public spirited and
interested in the welfare of his fellow citizens is manifest by the acceptable
service he rendered as the incumbent of many of the township offices, and after
the town of Baldwin was incorporated as councilman and as mayor. He was the
chief executive of the village for four years, and his administration was
marked by the same good judgment and progressive ideas that distinguished his
management of his private affairs. In his religious beliefs he is a
spiritualist, having become convinced of the fundamental truths of spiritualism
about twenty-five years ago, as the result of his own investigations, although
his father was an ardent advocate of that religion. The latter began inquiries
into the subject at the Rochester rappings.
In 1861 Mr. Tozer wedded Miss Mary Anne Harvey, a resident of Clinton county,
Iowa, and unto them were born two children: Kate, who with her brother owns
half a section of land near Philip, South Dakota, and lives at home; and Emma,
who died at the age of fourteen months. The wife and mother died and was laid
to rest in Buckhorn cemetery. In 1875 Mr. Tozer married a second time, his wife
having been Miss Lorette Haines, and they became the parents of three children:
one who died in infancy; Guy M., who has a half interest in his father's
business and with his sister owns half a section of land near Philip, South
Dakota; and Lena, who is the wife of W. W. Welch, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

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NOTE:
July 2026: This file was originally submitted to the USGenWeb Archives for Iowa. The National Coordinator, Linda Lewis, gave us permission to move the submissions to the IAGenWeb Project message boards and websites when the Archives site was discontinued.
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