Lanson Orville S. Howell

DABNEY, EYERLY, GRIMES, HOWELL, HUGHART, HUGLIN, SMITH, WILLIAMS

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 6/28/2006 at 22:12:33

Lanson Howell is one of the leading and representative stockmen and farmers of Madison county, where he owns eighteen hundred and thirty acres of rich and valuable land, his home farm alone comprising sixteen hundred and thirty acres which is operated under his immediate supervision and direction. He has lived m this county since reaching the age of two years, his birth having occurred in Coshocton county, Ohio, September 23, 1847, his parents being Aaron and Margaret (Smith) Howell, who were natives of New Jersey and Pennsylvania respectively. The former was a son of David Howell, a thrifty and progressive tool manufacturer of New Jersey, who occupied a position of prominence in business circles in his community. His son, Aaron Howell, following his marriage, removed with his bride to Coshocton county, Ohio, where he engaged m farming until 1849, in which year he arrived in Madison county, Iowa, settling in Crawford township, where he took up a timber claim of one hundred and twenty acre. Throughout his active business career he followed farming and applied himself so diligently to his work that at the time of his death he had become the possessor of twenty-five hundred acres of Iowa land. He was in many respects a remarkable man. He had practically no educational advantages but was naturally of a studious nature and used every opportunity to educate himself. He was a profound student of the Bible, was locally known as an able mathematician and his interest in the higher branches of learning was manifest in his proficiency in astronomy and in other ways. Blindness overtook him at the age of fifty-five years and his death occurred January 11, 1894. The community thereby lost one of its most respected pioneers and representative citizens. For many years he was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, long identified with its official board, and his life was at all times in consistent harmony with the teachings of the denomination. His widow survived him for about five years, passing away in 1899.

Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Howell were the parents of seven children, as follows: Emerson, who is a veteran of the Civil war, having been a member of Company C, Forty-eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and is now a resident of Bisbee, Arizona; Lanson, of this review; Martha, who gave her hand in marriage to G. W. Eyerly, of Madison county, and passed away in 1802; Helen, who is the widow of John Dabney and now makes her home in Long Beach, California; Nelson, whose demise occurred on the 10th of October, 1908; Wilson, who died in infancy; and Alice H., who is the wife of L. R. Grimes, of Plainview, Texas.

Lanson Howell, brought to Madison county by his parents when but two years of age, became a pupil of Sarah Gamble in one of the little old-time log schoolhouses of the pioneer period, crude in its appointments, while its curriculum was limited to the three Rs. The instruction of that early day, however, made an indelible impress upon his mind. He was equally well trained in farm work, too, learning not only the rudiments but also the principles of agriculture under the direction of his father, whose broad and successful experience well enabled him to direct the labors of his son. He assisted in the work of the home farm until after he had attained his majority and then started out on his own account in 1868, purchasing a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of land in Lee township, Madison county. Following his marriage he and his young wife began their domestic life upon that place, his attention being given to general farming, stock-raising and feeding. Upon that farm he remained until after the death of his wife in 1877, and as his father had in the meantime become blind, Mr. Howell then returned to the old homestead, where his good mother could administer to the wants of his two motherless little children, Charles and Ollie May, while Mr. Howell took charge of her farming interests.

As the years passed Lanson Howell became an active factor in the life of the community. His financial resources increased, his operations became larger and by additional purchase he increased his holdings until his aggregate possessions now comprise eighteen hundred and thirty acres of rich land in Madison county and four hundred and twelve acres in Warren county, Iowa. His personal attention is given to the operation and further development of his home farm of sixteen hundred and thirty acres, whereon he is extensively engaged in raising and feeding stock, being today recognized as the foremost stockman of western Iowa. He generally keeps on hand from two hundred and fifty to three hundred and fifty beef cattle, which he raises for the market. His experience and study of every phase of his business enables him to speak with authority upon stock-raising and feeding and the consensus of opinion recognizes the soundness of his judgment on all such points. In addition to his agricultural and stock-raising activities Mr. Howell has financial interests of considerable importance, being a director in the First National Bank of Winterset, president of the Patterson Mercantile Company of Patterson, Iowa, and he also at one time had large land holdings in Texas and the Dakotas but has disposed of his property interests in those states.

It was on the 25th of April, 1873, that Mr. Howell was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth L. Hughart, a native of Kentucky and a daughter of Rev. Campbell Hughart, a pioneer preacher and farmer of Madison county. Mr. and Mrs. Howell became the parents of two children: Charles, a resident of Douglas township, Madison county, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work; and Ollie May, who died in infancy. The wife and mother passed away on the 19th of October, 1877, and on the 6th of September, 1887, Mr. Howell was again married, his second union being with Miss Mary E. Williams, a native of Illinois. By this marriage there were eight children, namely: Wesley E., residing on his father's farm in Warren county, who wedded Miss Emma Huglin and has two children, Lanson and Vernice; Vernon H., who is deceased; Darwin C. and Erwin M., both at home; Luther R. and Ruth, twins, the former at home and the latter deceased; one who died in infancy; and Curtis W., at home.

In politics Mr. Howell is a democrat where national issues are involved but does not adhere strictly to party lines in local elections. For many years he has served as township trustee and he finds time to cooperate in many public movements which have resulted beneficially to the community in which he lives. He has given freely of both time and money to the building of the Methodist Episcopal church of Patterson, has always taken an active and helpful part in church work and for many years has served on the official board. He is recognized in various relations as an able manager, a good organizer and a farsighted man. He is optimistic in his belief that there is always a way and an opportunity to accomplish an honorable purpose and in his business career he has never allowed obstacles nor difficulties to bar his path. Success has left him unspoiled, for everywhere he is known as a pleasant, genial gentleman, always approachable, always affable and courteous. Public-spirited, he is interested in everything pertaining to the welfare and progress of his community; charitable, he gives freely where aid is needed and gives without ostentation. He is one of the foremost citizens of Madison county whose splendid qualities of mind and heart have gained for him an unusual hold upon the warm and affectionate regard of his fellow citizens. To know Lanson Howell is to know one who has learned to place correct valuation upon the things of life, to maintain an even balance between the opportunity for self-advancement and the opportunity to aid in public affairs. High ideals and worthy purposes have found exemplification in his career and Madison county may well be proud to number him among her citizens.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915,” by Herman Mueller.