Archibald Howes 1856 - 1919

HOWES, BEDFORD, BILLMIRE, PRITCHARD, BURBANK, LEWIS, WATERS

Posted By: Michael J. Kearney (email)
Date: 1/24/2008 at 23:06:54

The Clinton Herald Tuesday June 3, 1919 p. 8 While at the supper table at the home of his daughter in Oak Park last night, celebrating his anniversary of entering the Northwestern railway service, Archibald Howes of Clinton, aged 63 years, dropped dead of heart disease, superinduced by the heat. Mr. Howes was born in Aurora, Ill., November 30, 1856, and yesterday finished 46 years of service in the employ of the Northwestern railway. He was married to Miss Emma Bedford of Pottsville, Pa., who with one daughter, Mrs. Harry Billmire of Oak Park, Ill., are left to mourn his death. The deceased, a son of the late Philip Howes, who came to Clinton in 1859, before the first Northwestern railway bridge was built, was one of the veterans of the Northwestern railway employees. In addition to his family, Mr. Howes leaves the following brothers and sisters, the surviving members of a larger family, Edward M., William H., Richard N., George W., Philip L. and Benjamin D. Howes, Mrs. Elizabeth Pritchard of Minneapolis and Mrs. Esther Burbank of Sioux City. Mr. Howes was a member of Emulation lodge, 255, A.F. & A.M., and of DeMolay consistory, A.A.S.R., Masons. Delphic chapter, Rose Croix, of the consistory, will have charge of the burial service at the funeral. Members of the family will arrive with the body this evening. It will be taken to the family home in Eighth avenue and it is expected funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon, with Rev. G.R. Cady of the first Congregational church officiating.

The Clinton Herald June 5, 1919 Final Services for A.F. Howes Veteran Engineer Laid to Rest in Springdale Cemetery This Afternoon Many Tributes Given House Filled With Floral Offerings As Mute Testimony to High Esteem in Which Deceased Was Held - Rose Croix Services at Grave
With simple services at the home, 413 Eighth avenue, and the Rose Croix service, under the auspices of Delphic chapter of DeMolay consistory, at the grave in Springdale cemetery, final trubutes were paid this afternoon to thememory of Archie F. Howes, veteran Northwestern railway engineer, who died suddenly Monday night, while at supper in the home of his daughter, Mrs. Harry Billmire in Oak Park, Ill. The funeral party arrived yesterday afternoon with the body of Mr. Howes, whose death was due to heart failure. In the party were Mrs. Howes, who was visiting at the Billmire home, Mr. and Mrs. Billmire and their two sons and County Treasurer W.H. Howes, who went ot Oak Park, summened there by word of the death of Mr. Howes, who on the day of his death completed 46 years of service for the Northwestern railway. At the services at the house at 3 o'clock this afternoon, there was a large gathering of relatives and friends, representative of the close friendships which had been formed by the deceased. The casket was covered and the house was fairly filled with floral offerings, mute testimony of the high esteem in which Mr. Howes was held. The services were in charge of Rev. George R. Cady, pastor of the Congregational church. Pall-bearers wer John Pickering, Frank Benjamin, Frank Darling, William L. Smith, Bert Zigenfus, Robert Primrose, J.D. Benjamin and Daniel Stamm. The deceased was the son of the late Philip Howes, one fo the city's pioneers, who came to Clinton as an engineer on the Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska railroad in 1859, now the Chicago & Northwestern railway, but for several years devoted his time and attention to fruit culture. Born in Bristol, England, March 2, 1830, a son of Richard Howes, the father was reared by William Lewis, a Scotchman, the parents having died when Philip Howes was a child. With Mr. Lewis, Philip Howes came to America in 1836, the Lewis family locating in Minersville, Schuykill county, Pennsylvania. Rears Big Family In 1849, Philip Howes went west to Indianapolis and became a locomotive fireman, returning to Minersville for his marriage, March 2, 1852, to Miss Esther Waters. To them were born the following children: Philip M., who died in infancy; Edward M., Archie F.; Thomas R.; William Henry; Philip L.; George W.; Richard N.; Benjamin D.; Sarah M.; Elizabeth M.; Esther S. and John L. Of that large family, in addition to the parents, Philip M., Archie F. Thomas R., George W., Sarah M. and John L., have passed away. Following his marriage, Philip Howes went to Chicago, where he eventually became an engineer on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad, running between Chicago and Aurora and had charge of the noted old engine Rocket. Coming to Clinton in 1859, Mr. Howes continued in the railroad service until 1872, in the meantime however in company with William Coons, purchasing 120 acres of land in 1865, upon which he engaged in gardening and fruit raising. To his family Mr. Howes imparated the indomitable courage and will powwer that made him a successful railroad man and later a successful fruit grower. A number of his sons followed the footsteps of their father in the railroad service and, like him, his son Archie became a veteran among the Northwestern company's emoloyees. Like their father, too, some of the sons became prominant in the city's political and business affairs. The passing of Archie F. Howes marks the further reduction of a big pioneer Clinton family that was a power in the upbuilding of the city.