1868: Samuel Towle
Samuel Towle, East Nissouri
Born in Montreal in 1828, Samuel Towle moved with his parents to a farm on the governor’s road west of Woodstock. In 1839, the family settled on Lot 13, Concession 12 in East Nissouri. He married Jane Graves around 1852 and that same year, he purchased 200 acres of land on Lots 23 and Lot 24, Concession 11, which he divided amongst himself and his brothers. In 1861 he served on the East Nissouri Township Council as Deputy Reeve and as Reeve in 1862 and from 1866-1870. In 1868, he was elected County Warden. During his time on Council, he is credited with reducing the Township’s debt at the 10th concession debenture caused massive debt for East Nissouri.
After retiring from municipal politics, he ran as the provincial Liberal candidate in the North Riding of Oxford County. Later in life he became a lay preacher and a plaque to his memory was placed in Lakeside Anglican Church. The first Warden from East Nissouri, Samuel Towle passed away on February 24, 1892 and was buried at Christ Church Anglican Cemetery in Lakeside, Ontario.
