 Howe's
birth in 1874 was accidental. A town named "Summit" was
located
northeast of the present downtown area of Howe. The main
building
was a store and post office run by S. W. Young. The Houston and Texas Central Railroad came into the area wanting to build a town site. Jabez Haning donated land for the town. The town was named for Milton G. Howe, a superintendent of the H&TC Railroad and former Civil War Captain. "The little town of Howe was recently incorporated by a vote of the citizens and on the 27th ult. the election was held resulting as follows: For Mayor, Geo. McCrary Marshal, J.M. Carver Aldermen: J.T. Edwards, W.H. Stevens, Wm. Smith, H.P. Wilson, S.W. Young" (The Sunday Gazetteer, Sunday, November 2, 1884, pg.2) It is believed that the block of land located east of the railroad tracks and between Haning and Tutt Streets was the site where much of the building of Howe was. The first school was built in 1877 - it being only a shack. The second school house was built by Mr. Henry Stevens east of town. It was a small box plank room about 18 by 24 feet, which served as a school house and church. All denominations preached in this little room. A larger school was built in 1884. The Marshall-Bean School, brick school house, was built in 1898. Mr. Bean gave the land and Mr. Marshall gave the money for the building. It cost about $8.000.00. Records indicate that the Methodist Church built their first building in the same block in 1877. The Baptist Church was meeting in the homes of members beginning in 1879. They rented the school building in 1880. The Baptist moved into their new building in Janaury 1884. It was located on the southwest corner of Davis and Denny Streest. Located along the railroad tracks were grain companies. At one time, there were four - G. B. R. Smith (later became Kimball Milling Co.); Paul Bean Grain Co.; Luper Wheat Co.; Ferguson Seed Farms (located where Ferguson Field and Howe Concrete now stand). Cotton Gins populated this area as well. G. T. McDonough's father built a cotton wharf which was located where Corbin's Garage is now on Tutt Street. The train depot was located east of the tracks on the north side of Haning. There was a time when several trains came through Howe each day. The railroad built side tracks and each grain company and cotton gin was furnished the use of railroad cars for transport of their wares. In a field at the east end of Davis Street was a creek running very shallow at that point. Settlers could cross this creek at that point and came into Howe down east Davis Street. It was an important geological factor for Howe because these settlers were carrying everything they owned in their wagons, including seeds, etc for planting their crops the first year they lived here. Howe continued to grow. Houses were built by Mrs. Anderson, Maj. Guinn, Mrs. Douglas, Mrs. Savage, Mr. Martin, J. D. Stark, Billie Jackson, Mr. D'Spain, Jabe Haning. By 1880, the population was 500. The election to incorporate Howe was held in 1884 with 40 people eligible to vote - 37 yes; 3 no. George M. McCrary was Howe's first mayor. Aldermen were W. W. Smith, J. T. Edwards, Henry Stevens and S. W. Young. J. W. Culver served as marshall and would later become mayor serving for 20 years. The 1880s was a time of change for Howe. The Bank of Howe was organized by W. H. H. Bean and William Tolbert. The bank chartered as the Farmer's National Bank in 1901. In 1885, Major J. S. Quinn built an inn located on the southwest corner of Haning and S. Hughes Streets where the fire station stands now. Major Quinn sold the inn to J. F. McCoy between 1916 and 1918. McCoy moved it 2 1/2 blocks southwest of its original location. It was later used as a duplex and a private home; being torn down in 1967. The need for grain storage and shipping facilities located near the railroad tracks led to the forming of the Farmer's Alliance Cooperative Association. By the late 1880s, Howe had become the largest grain shipping center in Texas, gaining nationwide prominence by its heavy shipments of red rustproof oats. Hogs and cattle were also shipped out of Howe. In 1894 the Farmer's Alliance was assumed by the Howe Grain & Mercantile Corporation. About 1890 S. Hughes' saloon was replaced with a blacksmith shop built by Ed Hannah. It was torn down in 1967. A metal building housed Dwain's Paint and Body Shop for many years until it relocated to the access road of US Hwy 75. In the late 1880s and early 1890s, J. D. McKinney operated a livery stable; J. D. Padgett owned a restaurant; and there was the Holt and Barton Restaurant and Meat Market. During this time freight was also shipped into Howe and delivered by wagon and teams of horses and mules to the stores. Mail was also shipped into and out of Howe by train. Passenger cars arrived on these trains as well. The Howe Depot became a gathering place for the men and boys if the land was too wet to work. They would play washers, marbles, etc. The train depot was a vital part of Howe until post-World War II. Automobiles were used for travel and trucks were used to transport goods. Howe's train depot was moved in the 1950s. Today, maybe one or two trains wll come through Howe without stopping.  Howe History Towns Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |