JOHN Z. HOWARD

Among the representative business men and prominent farmers of Cedar county must be numbered John Z. Howard, who was born upon his present farm on section 3, Gower township, April 27, 1867, and is a representative of an old and honored family, being the son of Ziba and Josephine (Roberts) Howard, who came to this region at an early day in its development. They were brought here by their respective parents and on reaching years of maturity were married in this county. The father was a son of Daniel Howard, a pioneer of Iowa, who reared a large family of children. Throughout life Ziba Howard followed farming in Gower township where he died in 1868. His widow never married again but continues to reside on the old home farm with our subject. She is the daughter of Robert and Isabelle Roberts. John Howard is the youngest of her five children, the others being: George, now a resident of Cedar Bluffs, Iowa; Robert, who died in Boulder, Colorado, in 1909; and Isabelle and Hannah, both deceased.

John Z. Howard was reared and educated in much the usual manner of farm boys and as his father died during his infancy he remained with his widowed mother and as soon as old enough began to assist in the work of the farm. He is today the owner of four hundred and twenty acres of very productive and valuable land, all in Gower township with the exception of forty acres which is just across the line in Cass township. Besides the cultivation of this place he also operates one hundred and twenty acres belonging to his mother. He also owns a general store in Plato, Gower township, which he has employed a man to carry on for the past four years.

In 1896 Mr. Howard was united in marriage to Miss Frances Moore, who was born in Gower township in 1873, a daughter of Thomas Moore, and they have become the parents of seven children, namely: Ernest, Eunice, Bernice, Ralph, Russell, Mabel and Rachel. Mr. Howard is one of the leading citizens of his community, taking an active part in public affairs, and his aid can always be counted upon to further any movement which he believes calculated to prove of public benefit.