Willis M. Howenstein

HOWENSTEIN, POERS, GIBBS, WHITFIELD, BURT, RAY, CHANNOCK, TENENT, RENKEN

Posted By: Diane (email)
Date: 2/24/2002 at 21:25:22

Willis M. Howenstein is the proprietor of the pioneer drug store of Parkersburg. The business was established in 1868, by Dr. M. I. Powers, who conducted the business alone for a short time, when he took as a partner, H. L. Gibbs, who remained in the firm about one year, when Dr. Powers was again alone for a short time. Mr. Howenstein bought one-half interest in the business, November, 1870, and has been connected with the business since that time. After about six months partnership with Mr. Howenstein, Dr. Powers sold his interest to A. J. Whitfield; then the name of the firm became Howenstein & Co., by which it has since been known, though several changes have been made since that time.
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In 1874 J. D. Burt became the partner of Mr. Howenstein; his present partner is F. P. Ray. Mr. Howenstein was born in Ohio, in 1835. When twenty-one years of age he went to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he read medicine for a time. He traveled overland to California in 1858, and returned in 1865. He came to Parkersburg, November, 1868, and was for some time in the employ of C. Channock, who started the first lumber yard in Parkersburg. Mrs. Howenstein was formerly Carrie E. Tenent, a native of Wisconsin. They have one daughter, and lost two sons. The drug store now being run by Frank Ray, was established by Mr. Eno Renken, and is now doing a thriving business.
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Source: History of Butler and Bremer Counties, Iowa
Union Publishing Co., Springfield, IL, 1883
Pages: 434