Springfield-Greene
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of Many of the Representative Citizens
WILLIAM HOWELL. The late William Howell was one of the sterling pioneer characters of Greene county, there remaining today but very few of his type. He came here when the country was comparatively little developed. He was also an adventurer of the great plains of the Southwest, in the days of the hostile red man. He also served his country as a soldier. All this indicates that he was a man of courage, hardihood and strong characteristics. It is the names of such as he that the biographer likes to write of in a volume of the nature of the one in hand.
Mr. Howell was born at Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 1838. His father died when our subject-was about three months old and at the age of about one year his mother also died, he was then taken by his uncle, James Freeman, to raise, who was a resident of Ray county, Missouri. Mr. Howell lived here, receiving his early education in the district school and doing what work fell to him on the farm. When the war of the rebellion broke out our subject enlisted in Company C, Sixth Missouri Cavalry, serving his full term. He took part in many important engagements, including the battle of Pea Ridge, also the battle of Springfield, January 8, 1863. He remained in this city during the spring of that year, and while here met and married Lettie J. Gardner, who was born in 1840, in Tennessee, and was a daughter of James D. and Matilda Gardner, both Tennessee people. During his life he made two trips overland to New Mexico, which were hazardous in various ways and in later life he told many interesting incidents of the same.
Mrs. Howell is still living. She remained in Springfield during the time our subject was with his troops in the field during the Civil war, and at the close of the war he was honorably discharged as first lieutenant and located in this city where he spent the rest of his life, dying on August 30, 1901. His family consisted of three children, namely: John C., deceased; Charles A., who lives on South Florence street; and James Edward, living on Monroe street, this city.
Charles A. Howell was born on November 1, 1866, in Ray county, Missouri. He received a high school education in Springfield, in the early period of Professor Fairbank's superintendency. He has lived in the vicinity of Springfield since 1873, followed farming for awhile, and kept books for seven years. On June 10, 1896, he went into the feed business for himself in the old "elevator corner" at St. Louis and Jefferson streets which soon afterwards was destroyed by fire. He remained in this business, also carrying a line of wood and coal until January 1, 1909, since which time he has retained the last two lines, discarding the feed business, at the corner of Lena and Hayden streets, having been in business alone, and he has enjoyed a good trade which is all the while increasing. He was married on January 22, 1891, in Springfield., to Katherine C. Blackman, who was born on the old Blackman homestead a few miles south of Springfield and here she grew to womanhood and was educated. She is a daughter of J. M. and Fanny C. (Deupree) Blackman. Mr. Blackman was born in this city, March 4, 1840, and here his death occurred on November 22, 1904. He spent his life as a farmer. His family settled in Greene county in pioneer days. He became an influential citizen. He was a nephew of the well-known John P. (Jack) Campbell, who founded the city, donating ground for the public square and other important places in the heart of the city.
To Charles A. Howell and wife three children have been born, namely: Junius B., born August 22, 1893, is single and is employed in the McDaniel National Bank of Springfield; Mary E., born on September 25, 1895, is at home; Katherine F., born on November 8, 1900, is also with her parents.
Politically, Mr. Howell is a Republican. He belongs to the Royal Arcanum lodge, and is a member of the Christian church in which he is a deacon and active in the affairs of the same.
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