Willis K. Howell

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Willis K. Howell

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

Willis K. HOWELL, a well-known business man of Morristown, is a native of the place, having been born there October 30, 1860. The HOWELL family, of which Willis K. HOWELL is a descendent, came from Southampton colony prior to 1749 and settled at Troy, Hanover township, Morris county, New Jersey. Benjamin HOWELL being the head of the family at that time, he being the founder of the family in New Jersey. He was to eventually become a large land holder and one of the substantial men in his community, and filled a number of offices during the Revolutionary War. John HOWELL, great-grandfather of Willis K. HOWELL, attended Princeton College, but did not graduate as his services were needed on the home farm, and he followed the occupation of farming throughout the active years of his life. His son, Benjamin HOWELL, grandfather of Willis K. HOWELL, was born on the old homestead at Troy, New Jersey, and was for many years a surveyor, also a merchant, later becoming a large land holder. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Lemuel C. COBB, of Hanover township. Their children were:

Monroe,
Benjamin Franklin,
Elizabeth,
Phebe,
Lemuel,

all now deceased. Benjamin Franklin HOWELL, father of Willis K. HOWELL, was born in Troy, New Jersey, October 9, 1822, died in 1908. He came to Morristown, New Jersey, in 1858, the year of his marriage to Francis H. WILLIS, born November 11, 1825, died March 5, 1912. Three children one of whom died in infancy, the surviving members being

Willis K. and
Lillian Helen,

the latter named unmarried, resides at the old homestead. Mrs. HOWELL was a daughter of Thomas C. and Deborah (FARRAND) WILLIS, the former named an iron manufacturer, fought in the War of 1812, died in August, 1864.

Willis K. HOWELL was sent as a young boy to the Morristown Academy, and to other private schools of the place. Anxious to begin a man’s work he left school at the age of nineteen years and entered into association with his father in the lumber and real estate business, a partnership which continued until the death of the latter. Besides real estate he has always been interested in lumber and is at present associated in a number of enterprises involving the timber and lumber manufacturing business in the south. For the past fifteen years Mr. HOWELL has been extensively interested in the ice business, opening in the wholesale trade. Mr. HOWELL is a Republican in his political sympathies, and a member of the Washington Association, also Grand Army of the Republic. His family are members of the Second Presbyterian Church of Morristown.

He married, October 24, 1893, in Boston, Massachusetts, Hester, daughter of Charles E. and Sallie C. WASHBURN, of the distinguished WASHBURN family of Maine. Her father, now deceased, was born at North Livermore, Maine, and was a man well-known in many lines of literary activity. He was a minister to Paragua under Grant’s administration, an editor, and an inventor, as well as a public man of great force and influence. Mrs. Charles E. WASHBURN is still living in New York City. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. HOWELL, all of whom are living:

Willis WASHBURN, born March 7, 1895;
Lawrence Benjamin, December 27, 1897;
Catherine Frances, April 6, 1899;
Thurlow WASHBURN, April 10, 1900;
Sidney Kirkpatrick, February 8, 1907.

This biography was transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003).