Friday, September 28, 2012

WILLIAM H. HOWARD


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      WILLIAM H.HOWARD is a well known business man of Creston, being at the head of a prosperous real estate and insurance business.  He has demonstrated his ability to make a success of the enterprise and is considered one of the most capable men of this section.

      W. H. Howard was born in Monmouth, Illinois, on September 5, 1840, being the son of Henry C. and Cynthia A. (Bonner) Howard, natives of Kentucky.  In 1843, the father moved with his family to Missouri and there was judge of Barry county, besides holding other offices of trust.  After attending the public schools of Missouri, our subject completed his education in the Cherry Grove Seminary of Abingdon. Illinois.  When rebels invaded Springfield, Missouri, our subject was thrust through with a sabre and left weltering in his own blood for dead.  His father and brother were taken prisoners and desolation reigned on every hand.  Fate decreed that Mr. Howard should not end his existence in that untimely way.  Recovering from his wound he enlisted in the Seventy-first Illinois Infantry.  For three months, he was in active duty and received his discharge, his time being out.  He immediately re-enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Illinois Infantry for one hundred days and served the time with great credit to himself.  As soon as those days were done he again enlisted, this time in the Seventh Illinois Calvary where he served with distinc- tion until the close of the war, then he gave his attention to farming in Iowa and South Dakota until 1880, when he came to what is now Creston, Washington. This time stamps him as one of the early pioneers of this favored region and for nearly a quarter of a century, Mr. Howard has devoted himself steadily in faithful labors in this county. He did general farming and stock raising until 1900, when he sold a portion of his interests and devoted himself to real estate and insurance. Mr. Howard has al- ways been a prominent man in this section, has held many offices, and at the present time is police judge.

      In 1872, Mr. Howard married Miss Marietta J. Wilson, of Sidney, Iowa.  In 1881, he was called to mourn her death.  In 1894, Mr. Howard married Mrs. Desdemona Dearling of Davenport, Washington.  By his first wife, the following named children have been born to Mr. Howard: J. Edgar, an abstractor in Davenport, Washington, and representative to the legislature for his district; Mrs. Ena Ferguson, living on the ranch; George L., a professor in the Western Iowa College at Council Bluffs, Iowa.  Mr. Howard is secretary and part owner of the Silver Hill mining company.


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