- CHARLES A. HOWARD, who is numbered among the honored pioneers
of Rock County and
- is now residing in La Cygne, Lime Co., Kan., is a native
of the Empire State. He wedded Miss Harriet HOXIE, a daughter
of Allen HOXIE, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work,
and in the spring of 1844, came to Rock County, his wife following
a year later, locating in the town of Cooksville. He was a mason
by trade, and also engaged in carpentering in this county. To
him belongs the honor of erecting the first brick building in
Cooksville, and many brick structures in that and adjacent places
still stand as monuments of his ability. After residing in this
county for several years, Mr. HOWARD, being attracted by the
discovery of gold in California, started for the Pacific slope
where he engaged in mining for about two and a half years with
reasonable success. He then embarked on an ocean steamer, the
famous "Yankee Blade," but the vessel was wrecked by
its crew during the voyage for the purpose of plunder and he
lost everything. He pawned his watch in order to pay his father-in-law's
passage home, while he himself returned to the mountains, but
after a short time was called home by the serious illness of
his wife, whom, the message said, was lying at the point of death.
Several months were then required to make the journey form California,
and before reaching Rock County, Mrs. HOWARD had in a great measure
recovered her health.
- Mr. HOWARD then continued to reside in Cooksville until 1860,
when he became a resident of
- Kansas, where he was residing at the time of the breaking
out of the Civil war.
- When the news came that Ft. Sumter had been fired upon and
the South had taken up arms
- against the Government, inspired by the spirit of patriotism
which fills the heart of every loyal American citizen, he enlisted
in the service of his country, in the 5th Kansas Cavalry. The
following year he was commissioned 1st Lieutenant of an Indian
Regiment acting as Captain; while engaged in charging a battery,
at the battle of Maysville, he was injured by having his horse
shot from under him. This injury resulted in disease which, after
the battles of Cone Hill and Prairie Grove, incapacitated him
for active service; he was sick all the winter and in the spring
of 1863, was obliged to tender his resignation. He then returned
to Wisconsin, where his family had removed in consequence of
the unsettled state of affairs in Kansas, and the strong determination
of the rebel leaders to make Kansas a battle ground, remaining
until fall, when having partially recovered his health, he re-enlisted
in the Independent Wisconsin Cavalry, remaining until the close
of the war.
- After the close of hostilities, Capt. HOWARD returned to
Rock County, and became a resident
- of Evansville, where he continued to reside until 1871, when
on account of his wife's failing health, he removed to his present
home in La Cygne, Kan. His honest upright course during the years
of his residence in that city, as has always hitherto been the
case, has secured the confidence and respect of his fellow townsmen.
None are held in higher esteem than Mr. and Mrs. HOWARD and they
richly deserve the respect which is tendered them by all.
- The children born of their union were five in number, but
only two are now living - Vie A., who is
- the wife of Henry CAMPBELL, a leading farmer of Rock County;
and Allen H., who is residing in Vernon, Kan. Those who have
passed away are Louis, whose death occurred at the age of twenty-one
years, caused by a fall from a building; and Melvin and Ella,
who died in infancy. Socially, Mr. HOWARD is a member of the
I.O.O.F., and of the Masonic Fraternity; and in politics was
a supporter of the Republican party until the organization of
the Prohibition party, when he joined its ranks. He has always
been found in the foremost part of the temperance movement, and
has been prominent in the promotion of education, social and
moral interests. He feels that the struggle to be made against
the liquor traffic will be greater than the rebellion, though
the weapons will be the brains and the ballot of the people,
and his heart and strength are devoted to the interests of the
party formed for the blotting out of one of the country's greatest
evils. He is uncompromising in his views regarding the method
of dealing with the liquor traffic, feeing that the object sought
will not be attained until the manufacture, importation and sale
of everything that intoxicates shall be prohibited, and in this
respect he is in advance of the majority of prohibitionists.
He believes, when the brotherhood of men shall be universally
conceded, that the victory will be easily won.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 579-580.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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