Benjamin F. Howald

HOWALD, TRIVER, MONCRIEF, DISBROW

Posted By: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs (email)
Date: 4/7/2009 at 15:40:49

BENJAMIN F. HOWALD, one of the leading merchants of Audubon, was born in Holmes County, Ohio, near Shanesville, August 30, 1850. He is the only son in a family of eight children, five of whom still survive. His father was a shoemaker by trade; later Henry Howald became a farmer and contractor in Ohio, and died at the age of eighty years. The mother was Miss Magdalene Triver, a native of Germany, who died when Benjamin was but eleven years old. Mr. Howald received a good common school education at the district school. He left home at the age of fourteen years, and commenced clerking in a store at Orrville, Ohio, after which he went to Cleveland, where he continued clerking until he was twenty years of age; the firm with whom he was employed did a large business, and with them he acquired a thorough knowledge of business methods, laying the foundation of his future success. In 1870, in company with his father, he came to Chicago, Illinois, and thence made a trip through the southwestern States, remaining about two years in Texas, where he engaged in stockraising. He then came to Atlantic, Iowa, where he engaged in the drug business with his brother-in-law, Dr. A. S. Moncrief; he remained here some time, and from Atlantic he came to Audubon where he embarked in the dry goods business on a small scale; this was in November, 1878. He carries a general stock of merchandise, including clothing and gents' furnishing goods; both departments are under Mr. Howald's control. In 1879 he was united in marriage to Miss Eleanor Disbrow, of Atlantic, Iowa, a daughter of Perry Disbrow, now a resident of Lewis, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Howald have one son George H. Howald. Mr. Howald is a member of Veritas Lodge, No. 392, A. F. & A. M.; and of Godfrey Commandery, and is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, No. 163. Mr. Howald has in the course of erection a fine brick business block, 50x95 feet, two stories in height, with a basement. There are no partitions on the first floor, the ceiling being supported by iron columns, thus leaving the space in one commodious room. The second floor will be fitted up in suites of rooms and offices which will admit of very handsome furnishings, as the building will be finished in good style; it will be substantial throughout, and reflects much credit upon the thrifty young merchant of Audubon. He began his career in a modest way, and the proportions it has assumed is indexed by the large building which is to accommodate the growing trade. Audubon has many fine buildings, and Mr. Howald has given cause for increased pride in this direction.

1889 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES, IOWA
W. S. DUNBAR & CO., PUBLISHERS
113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO

page 750-751