John Reed Towers was born July 2, 1824 in Anderson, South Carolina. He married Anna Melvina McGhee (b. July 16, 1826, d. April 27, 1906) in 1843. He moved to Cartersville, Georgia in 1849, and then to Rome, Georgia in 1855. John R. Towers moved to Marietta, Georgia in 1886, and died there September 29, 1903.

War Service Records:

1861 June 3 - Capt. John R. Towers, age 36 years, appears on Company Muster-in Roll of Capt. Towers' Company, Georgia Volunteers (became Company E). Muster-in date June 3, 1861, at Howard's Grove, near Richmond Va. Joined for duty and enrolled May 14, 1861 in Rome, Ga. for the War.

1861 June 3 - Lt. Col. J. R. Towers, Co E, appears on a Roster of the 8th Georgia Regiment, Anderson's Brigade, Field's Division, Longstreet's Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. Date of entry into Confederate service: June 3, 1861; date of commission: June 3, 1861, by election.

1861 June - Capt. J. R. Towers, Co. E, appears on Regimental Return of 8th Georgia Infantry. Recapitulation shows all Co. officers present.

1861 Nov. - Capt. J. R. Towers, Co. E, appears on Regimental Return of 8th Georgia Infantry. Present.

1862 Jan. - Capt. J. R. Towers, Co. E, appears on Regimental Return of 8th Georgia Infantry. Present.

1862 Jan. 28 - Lt. Col. John R. Towers appears on a Register containing Rosters of Commissioned Officers, Provisional Army Confederate States.

1862 Feb. 14 - Lt. Col. Jno. R. Towers appears on a Register of Appointments, Confederate States Army. Date of appointment: Jan. 28, 1862; date of confirmation: Jan. 28, 1862; to take rank Nov. 14, 1861; date of acceptance: Feb. 14, 1862; delivered: Genl. J. E. Johnston; Secretary of War: J. P. Benjamin.

1862 July - Lt. Col. J. R. Towers appears on a List of killed, missing and wounded, of the 8th Regt, Ga. Vols., in the battles of June 28 and July 1, 1862 (in the Seven days battles before Richmond, Va.) Missing June 28, 1862.

1862 July 3 - Lt. Col. J. R. Towers appears on a Descriptive List of prisoners of war captured by the Army of the Potomac from June 26 to July 1, 1862, and forwarded to Fort Columbus, N.Y.H. John R. Towers, Lt. Col. 8th Regt. Ga. Where born: S.C.; Age: 37; Height: 5 feet 9 in.; Hair: brown; Eyes: blue; Complexion: fair.

1862 July 6 - Lt. Col. John R. Towers appears on a Roll of Prisoners of War at Fort Columbus, New York Harbor. Captured before Richmond, on June 28, 1862. Sent to Fort Warren July 8, 1862.

1862 July 31 - Lt. Col. J. R. Towers appears on a record of Prisoners of War at Fort Warren, Mass. Received July 9, 1862. Released July 31, 1862, to be exchanged.

1862 July 31 - Lt. Col. J. R. Towers appears on a record of Prisoners of War at Fort Warren, Boston Harbor, and transferred to Fort Monroe, VA. July 31, 1862.

1862 Nov. - Lt. Col. J. R. Towers appears on Regimental Return, present, near Fredericksburg.

1862 Dec. 19 - Lt. Col. J. R. Towers appears on a Register of Medical Director's Office, Richmond, VA "furloughed Dec. 19, 1862."

1862 Dec. - Lt. Col. J. R. Towers appears on Regimental Return, absent, with leave, on furlough.

1862 Dec. 16 - Lt. Col. J. R. Towers appears on a Roster of the 8th Georgia Regiment, Anderson's Brigade, Field's Division, Longstreet's Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. Date of commission Nov. 16, 1861, by appointment. Promoted to Col. Dec. 16, 1862.

1862 Dec. 16 - Col. Jno. R. Towers appears on a Register containing Rosters of Commissioned Officers, Provisional Army Confederate States. Date of appointment: Dec. 16, 1862.

1863 May 7 - Col. John R. Towers, P.A.C.S., appears on a Register of Appointments, C.S.A., State of Ga. Date of appointment: Mar. 26, 1863; Date of confirmation: Mar. 26, 1863; To take rank: Dec. 16, 1862; Date of acceptance: May 7, 1863. Delivered Genl. R. E. Lee; Sec. of War J. A. Seddon.

1863 June 22 - Col. J. R. Towers appears on a List of Divisions, Brigades, and Regiments with names of commanding officers in the 1st Army Corps.

1863 July 11 - Col. J. R. Towers appears on a Register of Medical Director's Office, Richmond, VA. General Hospital No. 4, admitted July 10, 1863.

1863 July 15 - Col. J. R. Towers appears on a register of General Hospital No. 4, Richmond Virginia. Disease: V. S. [gunshot wound] R. hand; admitted July 10, 1863; returned to duty July 15, 1863.

1863 July 16 - Col. J. R. Towers appears on a Register of Medical Director's Office, Richmond, Va., under the head of "Register of Officers." Hospital No. 4, returned to duty July 15.

1864 Mar.-Apr. - Col. John R. Towers appears on Field, Staff and Band Muster Roll, near Cobham Station, Va. Absent, on sick leave.

1864 July-Aug. - Col. J. R. Towers appears on Field, Staff and Band Muster Roll, near Petersburg, Va. Absent, on sick furlough.

1864 Aug. 16 - Col. John R. Towers appears on an Inspection Report of Anderson's Brigade, commanded by Brig. Gen. Geo. T. Anderson. Near Petersburg, VA. Absent, furloughed by order of Gen. Lee.

1864 Aug. 28 - Col. J. R. Towers appears on an Inspection Report of Anderson's Brigade, commanded by Brig. Gen. George T. Anderson. Near Petersburg, VA. Absent, sick, by authority of Gen. Lee.

1864 Sep. 18 - Col. J. R. Towers appears on an Inspection Report of Anderson's Brigade, commanded by Brig. Gen. George T. Anderson. Near Petersburg, VA. Absent, wounded on June 30, 1864.

1864 Sept.-Oct. - Col. J. R. Towers appears on Field, Staff and Band Muster Roll near Richmond, Va. Present. As John R. Towers Col., signs certificate as Inspector and Mustering Officer.

1864 Sept.-Oct. - Col. J. R. Towers appears on Company Muster Roll, signs certificate as Inspector and Mustering Officer.

1864 Nov. 28 - Col. Jno R. Towers appears on an Inspection Report of Anderson's Brigade, commanded by Brig. Gen. George T. Anderson. Near Richmond, VA.

1864 Dec. 27 - Col. Jno R. Towers appears on an Inspection Report of Anderson's Brigade, commanded by Brig. Gen. George T. Anderson. Near Richmond on Chas. City Road.

1865 Jan. 27 - Col. Jno R. Towers appears on an Inspection Report of Brig. Gen. G. T. Anderson's Brigade, commanded by Col. Frank H. Little. Near Richmond, Va.

1865 Feb. 24 - Col. J. R. Towers appears on an Inspection Report of Anderson's Brigade, commanded by Col. Jack Brown. Near Richmond, VA. Absent, by authority of Gen. Lee indulgence.

1865 Apr. 9 - Col. John R. Towers appears on a List of Prisoners of War belonging to the Army of Northern Virginia, who have been this day surrendered by General Robert E. Lee, C. S. A., commanding said Army, to Lieut. Genl. U. S. Grant commanding Armies of the United States. Paroled at Appomattox Court House, Virginia.

1865 Apr. 9 - Col. John R. Towers appears as a signature to a Parole of Prisoners of War, belonging to the Army of Northern Virginia, this day surrendered by General Robert E. Lee, C. S. A., commanding said Army, to Lieut. Genl. U. S. Grant commanding Armies of the United States. Paroled at Appomattox Court House, Virginia.

Obituary:

Col. J. R. Towers died at his home in this city last Tuesday morning at 3:30 o'clock of pneumonia. He had been quite feeble for many months, having reached the 79^th year of his age last July.

He was born in Anderson District, S.C., in 1824 and moved to Cartersville, Ga., in 1849 where he resided. In 1855 he then moved with his family to Rome. When the Civil War broke out, he raised a company and enlisted in May 1861, and was elected Captain. He served throughout the long struggle and was in the surrender with General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox, Va., having been made Colonel of the famous Eighth Georgia Regiment.

After the war, he was elected Sheriff of Floyd County, making a most efficient officer. His people still had higher honors for him and he represented Floyd County in the legislature in the 1873 and 1874. Subsequently he was appointed keeper of the penitentiary, an office he filled with scrupulous fidelity for a number of years.

Sixteen years ago with his family he moved from Rome to Marietta and he proved himself a most worthy and upright citizen winning the esteem and confidence of our people.

Col. Towers was a devoted and consistent member of the Baptist Church and as long as health and strength would permit, he was a constant attendant upon divine worship.

He has lived a long and blissful life and his death was one of triumphant faith and glorious victory henceforth there is laid up for him a crown of righteousness at the right hand of God the Father.

He is survived by his aged and loving wife, whom he married in 1843, she being Miss Anna M. McGee of Anderson District S.C., they having lived happily together 60 years and 8 months. There is also living seven children - Col. W. M. Towers of Rome, Mr. John Towers of Birmingham, Alabama, Mr. A. A. Towers of Ellijay, Miss Talullah Towers, Mrs. W. R. Montgomery, Miss Asenath Towers, and Miss Mary Towers of Marietta, and a number of grandchildren and other relatives.

The eldest son, Daniel Towers, was killed at Richmond during the late war. Another son, Mr. Robert Towers [married Mary Emma Dean], and died in Rome eleven years ago, having two children Donegan and Mary Dean Towers, who have resided with their grandparents ever since, except the past few months. Mr. Donegan Towers being employed at Lindale, Ga., near Rome.

The funeral will be held at the family residence Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, September 30^th, conducted by Rev. C. E. W. Dobbs. The internment in city cemetery.

The pall bearers - Mr. S. K. Dick, Mr. J. H. Boston, Sr., Capt. W. J. Hudson, Judge J. M. Stone, Mr. M. R. Lyon and Mr. T. H. Shockley.

The sympathy of our people go out to the stricken and bereaved family in their great sorrow.

[Source: ? newspaper, provided by Andrea Towers Rohaly].

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