Jefferson County Online The Fairfield Weekly Ledger

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Fairfield Weekly Ledger
Jefferson County, Iowa
Transcribed by:  Joey Stark

Note:  Typographical errors (followed by [sic]) and spelling variations in names in this document are intentional and reflect the actual newspaper articles.   Transcriber’s notes are occasionally included and are indicated with [Ed. note:….].  Surnames shown here are in UPPER CASE for easy location; not rendered as such in the newspapers.

July 2, 1868
 

IN MEMORIAM

DIED, June 18, 1868, at the residence of his mother, in Round Prairie, Jefferson Co., Thomas H. HOWELL, late 1st Lieut. G. Co., 30th Iowa Vol. Infantry.

The deceased was the son of John and Violet HOWELL, and was born in Floyd county, Va., August 10th 1839.

His father, John HOWELL, was a man of more than ordinary ability.  He represented his county as a member of the lower house of the Va. Assembly in the year 1838.  In the autumn of 1842 he removed with his family to Iowa, and subsequently was elected a senator from Jefferson county.  His judgment was considered sound and his integrity in every respect unimpeachable.

Thomas inherited these traits of his father in an eminent degree and was greatly loved by all who knew him. Though he died young, yet his experience was large.  In 1859 he visited the pineries of Wisconsin and in the following year pushed his fortunes among the gold fields of the Rocky Mountains.

In the winter of ’61 and ’62 he returned to Iowa, when the writer made his acquaintance, and can truly say, that to know him was to love him.  At the date of his return, war had cast its horrid shadow over the republic, and young HOWELL took a deep and earnest interest in the efforts of the government to suppress the rebellion.

When President Lincoln promulgated his proclamation for three hundred thousand men, he responded with alacrity, and was one of the first to inscribe his name upon the Co. roll of Captain Robert D. CREAMER.  This was early in August 1862.  He was mustered at 7th corporal and gained at once the esteem of his company.  He was soon promoted to a sergeantcy, and in June 1864 received a commission of 1st Lieutenant, which position he held until mustered out of service in June 1865.

His disease, chronic diarrhea, was contracted during Sherman’s celebrated march through the rebel States.  The campaign was essentially over; the troops were congratulating themselves upon the happy issue of their toils; upon the preservation of the Union and the integrity of its territory.  None were more jubilant than Lieut. HOWELL, when suddenly while enroute from Raleigh to Washington, the full destroying disease seized upon him, nor relinquished its victim until death interposed.  At times, however, he was, to all appearances, in the highway to recovery.  But these seasons were only temporary.  The Lieutenant soon comprehended that death was not far in the future.

But he was ready.

Shortly after his return from the army he experienced religion, and connected himself with the Missionary Baptist church, of which he was a devout and consistent member to the day of his death.  He died in full and complete hope of a glorious immortality.

“My consolation,” said he, “is beyond the grave.”

His mind was unclouded and serene to the moment of his departure.

“He had fought a good fight, he had finished the faith.”

As a soldier, he was irreproachable;  as a man, universally beloved;  as a christian, pure and without guilt.  He has left behind a name that shall be cherished as precious by all those whose lot a kind Providence associated with his.

He lies in the Lamberth burial ground of Round Prairie.  A large concourse attended the remains to the grave and listened to an impressive discourse by the Rev. Mr. SKYLES, from 2nd Cor. 4th chapter, 17th verse:  “For our light affliction &c.”

It is with a full heart that we pen these lines.  We knew Thomas intimately.  A more social companion never lived.  With a mind unruffled at all times, he shed a gladness wherever he went.  In the darkest days of the rebellion he never despaired of his country, and his buoyant spirit diffused itself into all around.

It is hard, very hard, to say, farewell!  But it is the language of time, and we submit.  Yet

“Who would not sing for Lycidas?  he knew
  Himself to sing and build the lofty rhyme.”
 Edward B. HEATON.