HOWARD, Rosa 1838 - 1930

HOWARD, DORT

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 8/4/2014 at 01:08:08

PIONEER WOMAN IN COUNTY DIES
MRS. ROSA HOWARD HAD BEEN ACTIVEIN MANY ORGANIZATIONS

CLEAR LAKE, July 9 – Funeral services of one of Clear Lake’s oldest residents, Mrs. Rosa Howard, 92, will be held Thursday morning at the Congregational church, the Rev. W. B. Milne officiating. The body will lie in state from 9 until 10 o’clock before the funeral Thursday morning, and until that time will be at the Howard home, North Third Street. Burial will be made in the local cemetery.

Rosa Dort Howard was born at Keene, N.H., March 28, 1838, and died at her home in Clear Lake where she had lived for more than 73 years. She was married to Thomas O. Howard. The following spring she accompanied her husband and parents, Mr. and Mrs. Welland Dort to Clear Lake. They traveled as far as Dubuque by train and from there overland.

The corner on which the Howard home now stands was a grove of black walnut trees upon their arrival. The father and husband hewed down the grove and built the home using much of that wood in its construction. Today the casements and doors show this expensive wood underlying coats of white paint. The logs were split by a saw mill which stood across the street on the lot in which the John Cole family now resides. With few changes this house has been hers for 73 years.

Her husband, Lieut. T. O. Howard, Company b, was killed in action August, 1864 at Pleasant Hill, La. The Tom Howard G. A. R. post of Clear Lake was given his name. Several years ago a G. A. R. memorial quilt was presented Mrs. Howard which she in turn gave to the Historical society at Des Moines.

She was one of the founders of the Baptist Church which was dedicated in 1872 on the lot just south of the present W. F. Rich home on North Third Street. She held her membership in this church until the time of her death.

She was a charter member of both the Women’s Relief Corps and the Order of the Eastern Star. She held the office of chaplain in the latter organization for 20 years, regularly attending the meetings up until nine years ago.

A row of trees in the city park stands which her husband planted and one that her father had planted at the time it was dedicated. She leaves one son, T. O. Howard, Valley, Wis.; 12 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren and four great great-grandchildren.

Transcriber’s Note – Rosa Dort Howard was born March 28, 1838, died July 8, 1930 and was buried in the Clear lake Cemetery, Section 3 Row 8.