Howard, James S.

HOWARD

Posted By: Joyce Hickman
Date: 11/21/2008 at 13:43:23

James S. Howard

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.272, York Twp.)
James S. Howard, farmer, P. O. Oakland, was born in Aurora, Erie Co., N. Y., in December, 1832. He is the son of Joseph B. and Lucy B. Howard. His father was born at Paris, Oneida Co., N. Y., and died in Aurora, N. Y., about 1840. He was a prominent merchant in his day. He moved to Erie County, N. Y., at an early day, and engaged in merchandising, afterward becoming a heavy business man, having as many as three branch stores. He manufactured the first saleratus in Western New York in 1818. He was a personal friend of President Fillmore, and was a leading spirit in his native county, being the prime instigator in the establishment of the Aurora Academy. His (subject's) mother was born in Rome, Oneida County, N. Y., and died in her native State. Our subject received a common school education. His father died when he (subject) was young. He apprenticed as a salesman, and followed this profession in New York and several of the Western States. He was at time station-master at Comstock, Wapello Co., Iowa, on the Des Moines Valley Railroad. From 1853 to 1858, he was mining in California. He came to this county and located on his land, in Lynn Grove, which he had purchased eight years previous. Here he has since lived and farmed. He has held various township offices - Trustee, School Director and Road Supervisor. He has had six children, four of whom are living - two sons and two daughters. Mr. Howard has a brother in the Chicago Post Office, and a sister, who is the wife of Hon. William Aldrich, who represents the First District of Illinois in Congress. In politics, Mr. Howard is a Republican.