Samuel C. Howard

SAMUEL C. HOWARD, an extensive farmer of Sheridan township, is a native of Douglas County, Illinois, and a son of Rev. Wesley and Martha Ann (Lowe) Howard, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Indiana.

Rev. Wesley Howard went to Douglas County, Illinois, when a young man, was married there, and continued to live in that county until 1866. In that year the Howard family, in company with several other families, traveled by wagon to Cherokee County, Kansas, and located in Sheridan township, in sections 35 and 36, township 31, range 21. The caravan of 16 wagons was only five weeks making the journey, all arriving at their destination without serious accident. Rev. Mr. Howard first purchased 160 acres of wild land, the only building on it being the usual log house of the pioneer. Later, he added to this farm 80 acres of land in Labette County, and at the time of his death, in September, 1879, owned 240 acres of good farm land. His wife died June 22, 1904. For many years he was a Methodist minister, first preaching in Illinois, and later becoming well known as a minister of that denomination in Cherokee County. Always interested in the best welfare of the community, his influence was toward the right. In politics he was a Republican, always voting the straight ticket. His family consisted of nine children, as follows: William A., pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Weir City, formerly pastor of the charge at Mound City, Kansas; Samuel C., subject of this review; Clarence W., a farmer of Sheridan township; Mary Eveline, wife of C. R. Mumaw, residing in South McAlester, Indian Territory; Henry Allen, deceased at the age of 23 years; Laura J., deceased, who was the wife of James Howard; Hattie E., wife of Christopher Johnson, of Carterville, Missouri; Francis Wilson, living at Hot Springs, Arkansas; and Robert B., a painter and paperhanger of Krebs, Indian Territory.

Samuel C. Howard was educated in the home schools, and grew to maturity on the homestead in Sheridan township, where he remained, taking care of the father and mother, until death claimed the father, when he took full charge of the farm. Here he still resides and manages the work of the farm, bringing to his assistance the experience acquired by long residence on the place. The land produces all of the small grains, besides quantities of hay. Along with his general farming, Mr. Howard raises a great deal of stock.

In politics our subject votes the Republican ticket, always standing for the principles of his party, and religiously he is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Howard has never married but devoted his whole life to his parents, showing a degree of filial love seldom equaled. He is well known in the county and held in the highest esteem by all.

History of Cherokee County Kansas and its representative citizens, ed. & comp. by Nathaniel Thompson Allison, 1904, transcribed by James von Brookner, student from the USD 508, Baxter Springs Middle School, Baxter Springs, Kansas, 1/22/97