Charles Everett Howell

GLOSSER, HOWELL, HUGHART, LOVELACE

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 8/13/2004 at 00:29:36

Charles Everett Howell, an enterprising farmer and stockman of Douglas township, was born in Jefferson township, near the Union Chapel, on the 16th of February, 1874, a son of Lanson and Elizabeth (Hughart) Howell. The father was a native of Coshocton county, Ohio, born September 23, 1847, and the mother was born in Kentucky. When but two years of age the father was brought by his parents in an emigrant wagon to Warren county, Iowa. In 1849 the grandfather, Aaron Howell, came with his family to Madison county, buying land from the government at a dollar and a quarter per acre. He was an industrious and capable man and at the time of his death owned twenty-five hundred acres, from which he derived a handsome income. There were four sons in his family: Emerson, who served in the Civil war as a member of Company C, Forty-eighth Iowa Infantry; Lanson; Nelson, whose death occurred October 10, 1908, in Lee township, Madison county; and Wilson, who died in infancy.

Lanson Howell gained his early education by attending the district school taught by Sarah Gamble. The term was short, the building crude in its appointments and the curriculum was limited, but that school and others like it were an indomitable force in the development of the intellectual life of the state in pioneer times. When Lanson Howell was twenty-one years of age he began farming in Lee township, but as his wife died and his father was stricken blind he returned to the homestead and has lived there continuously to the present time. He has been a heavy feeder of stock and is known as a prosperous stockman. He owns eighteen hundred and thirty acres of land in this county and four hundred and thirty in Warren county, being one of the most extensive land owners in the community. His interests also connect him with financial affairs as he is a director and stockholder in the First National Bank of Winterset. He has held all of the township offices but has not cared to take an active part in a wider political field. He considers religious work of paramount importance and is an active member of the Methodist church and is assisting substantially in building the new church of that denomination at Patterson, Iowa. His first wife passed away October 19, 1877, and Charles E. is the only surviving child of that marriage. His sister Oilie died in infancy. The father married a second time and has a number of children by that union.

Charles E. Howell became a student in the district schools at the usual age and after completing his elementary and secondary education entered Simpson College at Indianola, Iowa. He took an active part in college affairs and for one year played upon the varsity football team. When he had attained his majority he began farming near Patterson and lived there for six years. However, on the 18th of February, 1901, he purchased three hundred and forty-seven acres of fine land in Douglas township and removed to his newly acquired property. Although he was compelled to go in debt to buy his farm he soon paid off all of his obligations and is ranked among the well-to-do men in his locality. He has bought other land from time to time and now owns six hundred and ninety acres in this county and one hundred and sixty acres in Kansas. The stock business has seemed to him to offer unusual opportunities and he feeds from three hundred to five hundred head of cattle a year, the sale of which nets him a good profit. The buying, feeding and selling of cattle demands practically the whole of his time but he has not neglected any of the duties devolving upon him in connection with public affairs. He is a stockholder and director in the First National Bank of Winterset and is well known in financial circles of the county. His gratifying success is the reward of his own efforts and business acumen and in all of his dealings he has observed the rules of business honor and integrity. His home is supplied with modern conveniences and is a true index of the progressive spirit of its owner.

On the 30th of January, 1895, Mr. Howell married Miss Sadie Lovelace who was born near Patterson, a daughter of Samuel A. and Mary (Glosser) Lovelace, both natives of Hocking county, Ohio. Her father, who was born on the 9th of December, 1846, was a farmer in his early life and in the '50s made the overland journey from Pennsylvania to Iowa. While living in this county he was for some time a preacher in the United Brethren church and after removing to Montgomery county was stationed at Grant City. He passed away November 21, 1891. His wife was born on the i6th of February, 1837, and is now residing with Mrs. L. T. Fogler on a farm near Patterson. The Glosser family were early settlers of Madison county and were honored by those who knew them. Mrs. Howell is the only child born to her parents and by her marriage has seven children: Hazel, who was born December 5, 1895, and is at home; Lanson Orville, who was born in 1897, and is assisting his father with the farm work: Mardacie, born February 6, 1899; Garland Claire, born December 23, 1903; Clarence Everett, born September 24, 1904; Blanche M., born August 4, 1906; and Charles Aaron, born January 14, 1910.

Mrs. Howell is a member and an able worker in the West Star Methodist Episcopal church of Douglas township. Mr. Howell joined the Masonic order at Pitzer and held office in the lodge at that place. The room in which the meetings were held burned and the lodge is now extinct but Mr. Howell is a member of Evening Star Lodge, No. 43, A. F. & A. M., of Winterset. He is also a member of Lebanon Chapter, R. A. M., and belongs to Des Moines Consistory, No. 3, and to Za-Ga-Zig Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine at Des Moines, having attained the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite. His political adherence is given to the democratic party and he has held a number of local offices. being at present township trustee. His father is known as one of the foremost residents of this county and Mr. Howell of this review has proved worthy of his parentage, there being no better known or more highly esteemed man in the county than he.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915”