Washington

HOWE, Elhanan Winchester & Frank L.

Biography of Elhanan Winchester HOWE (father of Frank L.)

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, pp 210-211 
(portrait p 211)

Elhanan Winchester HOWE, of Northfield [Washington County, Vermont], was born 
02 March 1825 in the town of Winhall [Bennington County, Vermont], and was 
the son of Joel and Rebecca (WAKEFIELD) HOWE. He was one of a family of 
fifteen children, and as his parents were poor, he had to push his way in 
life unaided and alone. He received his education in the common schools in 
the town of Manchester [Bennington County, Vermont]. He commenced the marble 
business in South Dorset [Bennington County, Vermont] in 1853; continued the 
same at Northfield in the firm of Howe & Sawyer; and was also interested in 
an enterprise of the same nature at Montpelier [Washington County, Vermont]. 
In 1860 he formed a business alliance with George W. SOPER, and later became 
a partner in the firm of F. L. Howe & Company, at Northfield, which at 
present is one of the most prominent in the state, carrying a very large 
stock of ornamental work.

Mr. HOWE was appointed postmaster at South Dorset in 1850, and held the 
office five years. He has served as deputy sheriff of Washington County, 
Vermont, for twenty years, and has been its sheriff since 1890. He has ever 
been a strictly temperate man, and has proved a reliable and efficient 
officers in the enforcement of the law. As a Master Mason Mr. HOWE is 
affiliated with DeWitt Clinton Lodge, No. 15. On 03 July 1848 in Dorset 
[Bennington County, Vermont] Mr. [Elhanan Winchester] HOWE united in marriage 
with Miss Pamelia J. [born in Vermont about 1827], daughter of John C. L. and 
Eliza (VIALL) SOPER. [Approximate years of birth of wife and children, all 
born in Vermont, calculated from their ages in the 1880 census enumeration of 
the family in Northfield, Washington County, Vermont.] Their children are: 
Frank L. [born about 1859], Wilbur C. [born about 1863], and Helen M. [born 
about 1869].

Biography of Frank L. HOWE (son of Elhanan Winchester HOWE)

Encyclopedia Vermont Biography: A Series of Authentic Biographical Sketches 
of the Representative Men of Vermont and Sons of Vermont in Other States. 
Dodge. Burlington: Ullery Publishing Company, 1912, p 229

Frank L. HOWE, marble and granite dealer, Northfield, was born 20 March 1859 
at Northfield [Washington County, Vermont], son of Elhanan Winchester and 
Pamelia Jane (SOPER) HOWE. Educated at Northfield High School; entered 
preparatory department of Norwich University in January 1875, and the regular 
scientific course in September 1876, remaining until December 1879, when he 
was honorably discharged; was a musician and corporal in the corps of cadets; 
member of Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity; degree of B. S. conferred by the 
university in 1889. Has been engaged in the marble and granite business in 
Northfield since 1881, as a member of the firm of F. L. Howe & Company.

Enlisted in Company F, First Regiment Infantry, Vermont National Guard in 
1875; was promoted to first sergeant, second and first lieutenant, and 
captain; on the breaking out of the Spanish-American war he was the senior 
captain in the regiment; was mustered into the U. S. service as senior 
captain of the First Regiment, Vermont Volunteers, 16 May 1898; served with 
his regiment at Camp Thomas, Chickamauga Park, Georgia; mustered out of 
service 26 October 1898, resuming his former office in the Vermont National 
Guard; was promoted to major and lieutenant colonel, and at his own request 
placed upon the retired list in 1909, having served thirty-four years.

Republican; has been deputy sheriff of Washington County; and trustee of 
Norwich University since 1892; member of the board of directors of Northfield 
graded and high school since 1902. Member of the Episcopal Church; vestryman 
and senior warden for several years. Past master of De Witt Clinton Lodge 
No. 15, Free & Accepted Masons, of Northfield; Member of the Modern Woodmen 
of America. In 1881 [Frank L. HOWE] married [Miss?] Lillian Emogene MOORE of 
South Dorset [Bennington County, Vermont]; they have two children, Harold 
Moore (graduate of Norwich University, class of 1905) and Muriel Lillian 
(Mrs. Earl L. BEAN).

Submitted by Cathy Kubly