HOWE, 'widow' died 1875

HOWE, NEWELL, JACOBIA

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 9/24/2023 at 19:12:39

Contributors note: This woman has a first name! Please reply to this obituary if you know who she is!

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DEAD - Mrs. Howe, the poor woman whose sickness we made mention last week, is dead. She died yesterday morning and her funeral takes place this afternoon. No relatives except her only child, a girl about 14 years old, was present at her death, yet friends were there to smooth her dying pillow and witness the vital spark go out.

Her wealthy McGregor relatives have treated her most shamefully, and may yet regret their unfilial treatment of the poor unfortunate woman, whose life troubles are now forever over and she is at peace in the quiet grave.

~North Iowa Journal, Wednesday, August 25, 1875; pg 3

Note: buried in an unmarked grave Oak Hill cemetery

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Mentioned in the obit was the following article from the Aug 18, 1875 North Iowa Journal:

Sick - Mrs. Howe, a widow lady who some time ago removed from McGregor to this city, has been lying very sick for several days past. She is in very straitened circumstances, but, through the kindness of some of our citizens, who are ever ready to help the needy, her wants have been supplied. We learn that Mrs. Howe has relatives in McGregor who are among the wealthiest and most highly respected citizens there, and they have been notified of her condition, but thus far have failed to provide for her or even answer the letters that have been written them. They certainly ought to have respect enough for the lady and themselves too, to do something for her. The action of Mrs. Howe's McGregor relatives is not such as would be expected of people in their standing.

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Related articles:

The death of Mrs. Howe, sister-in-law of Mrs. H.E. Newell, who came to her widowhood by the death of her husband on an eastern railroad, occurred at Lansing this week. The case has about it the most distressing features -- McGregor News
~North Iowa Journal, Wednesday, September 1, 1875, pg 4

Our Lansing Letter, Special Correspondence of the Dubuque Time, Lansing, August 30:
Mr. Editor - To-day on the train from Dubuque, Drs. Andros and Clark, of McGregor, arrived, and held a conference with Dr. Craig, of this city, in reference to a post mortem examination of the remains of the late Mrs. Howe, who was buried here last Wednesday. About 1 o'clock p.m. the physicians named repaired to the cemetery, about a mile distant from the city, when the body was exhumed and the examination made. What the decision is, your correspondent can not now state. The history of the case is this:

Mrs. Howe was widowed by the death of her husband on an Ohio railroad. Since her widowhood she has been in straightened circumstances, and has employed her time in making hair nets and other ornaments for the head worn by ladies. During a portion of her widowhood she resided in McGregor, and so great was her destitution that she removed to this city some months since, to gain if possible a living for herself and daughter, about fifteen years of age.

Pledging the faith of her McGregor relatives, she procured a small room and devoted her time to making hair work. Meantime a wealthy citizen of McGregor whose wife died a year ago of consumption, paid his respects to Mrs. Howe, and it is said made her frequent visits, going so far in his attentions as to correspond with her and take her out riding.

This intimacy between Mrs. Howe and the man continued until intimations that all wasn't as it quite ought to be on the Potomac were on many lips. During all this time Mrs. Howe remained in sorrowful poverty, and her appeals to her McGregor relatives for aid were met with indifferent success, and finally death came to her relief and she was buried here last Wednesday and laid to rest.

So extreme was her destitution the ladies of Lansing headed by Mrs. Senator Kinne raised a purse of $35 to care for her in the hour of death, and defray the funeral expenses. Mr. and Mrs. Newell and Mrs. Jacobia, of McGregor, attended the funeral, on Wednesday, and took with them Mrs. Howe's daughter.

After the funeral obsequies were observed, rumors that the deceased came to her death by means of an abortion performed by a doctor living in Wisconsin, were rife, and examination to-day will settle the matter. As for the inculpated man, he is wealthy, the father of several daughters of good repute, and has business relations of an extensive character. His friends believe him innocent of the ruin of this woman, while the more incredulous portion of the community incline to the opinion that the post mortem examination will reveal the most startling facts. However this may be, your correspondent, bad as the case is, prefers to regard the implicated man as innocent.
~The Dubuque Times, Wednesday morning, September 1, 1875, pg 1
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The Howe Case
Our Lansing correspondent, a day or two ago, gave the only particulars yet published of the case of Mrs. Howe, who recently died in that city, and whose body was exhumed under strong suspicion that she died from an attempt at abortion. At that time, however, the result of the autopsy had not been declared. We now learn that the physicians concur in the declaration that the uterus was found in a perfectly natural and healthy condition, with no evidences of recent impregnation, and consequently no evidences of abortion.
~The Dubuque Times, Friday morning, September 3, 1875; pg 1