Edmund Howorth
As one of the pioneers and extensive landowners of Union township, Edmund Howorth has for over half a century been identified with the agricultural development of Crawford county.
He was born in North Lancastershire, England, December 23, 1823, a son of Ferdinand and Mary (Howorth) Howorth, the former of whom was also a native of Lancastershire, whence he emigrated to the United States in 1842, locating in Athens county, Ohio. Here he remained until 1853 and then moved to Union township, Crawford county, Iowa. He had followed the occupation of wool comber in the old country but upon taking up his residence in Iowa he engaged in farming and continued along this branch of industry until his death. His wife, who was also a native of England, departed this life in Crawford county, her remains being interred in the Dow City cemetery. Of the eight children born to this couple but two survive: Edmund, of this review; and Daniel, who resides in Dunlap, Iowa.
Edmund Howorth obtained his early education in the elementary schools of England and continued to reside in the land of his birth until 1850, when he decided to seek new fields for his endeavors and came to the United States, eventually, in 1853, locating in Union township, this county, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land for one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. This he improved and continued to reside upon until 1901, a year later taking up his abode in Dow City. During this time he had, by unwonted thrift and diligence, added to his landholdings until they aggregated twelve hundred and five acres, all of which is located in Union and Goodrich townships.
The marriage of Mr. Howorth was solemnized in 1862, when he was united to Miss Sabina Goodrich, a daughter of Isaac Goodrich, of Goodrich township. She died in November, 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Howorth became the parents of nine children, of whom the following survive: John William; Mary; Lulu; Isaac, who lives in Goodrich township; Margaret, who became the wife of Fred E. Butler and lives in Lewiston, Idaho; and Frank C, who resides in Union township.
The active work of the farm is now entrusted to the sons, who have added very materially to the estate, bringing it to an unusual state of cultivation and greatly enhancing its value. While general farming in all its branches is carried on, they make a specialty of raising blooded horses, in which they have met with unusual success.
Mr. Howorth is an independent Republican and has served as trustee of Goodrich township. In his religious faith he is a consistent and faithful member of the Baptist church. He has now passed his eighty-seventh milestone on his journey through life and in reviewing his career it is found to be characterized by industry and integrity in all his business dealings and by faithfulness to every trust imposed upon him in other relations of life.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.