The Howe Family of Berrien County, Michigan

CHARLES F. HOWE. Through many years of an active business career Charles F. Plowe was engaged in farming but is now living retired in Buchanan, the competence which he acquired in former years being sufficient to enable him to now enjoy rest from further labor. He was born in Cortland county. New York, March 22, 1832. His father, Frederick Howe, was a native of Massachusetts, and removed from New York to Berrien county, Michigan, in 1835, locating in Bertrand township, among the earliest settlers who were subduing the wilderness and extending the frontier. He bought several claims and improved his land, transforming wild uncultivated tracts into rich fields, from which he annually garnered abundant harvests. About 1860 he built the brick house now occupied by Charles F. Howe, and, locating therein, he died in his seventy-sixth year. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Polly Bliss, was a native of Massachusetts and lived to be seventy-eight years of age. As pioneer people they were closely identified with the early history of Berrien county and aided in establishing its policy at that day. Mr. Howe owned a large tract of land at one time, mostly in Bertrand township. He was an influential resident of the community and filled various township and county offices, to which he was called by the vote of his fellow townsmen who recognized his worth and ability. He was in office at the time the old courthouse was built at Berrien Springs, acting as supervisor and was appointed on the building committee. This committee borrowed money of the state in order to build the courthouse. His son, Charles F. Howe, was in office when the board discharged this indebtedness to the state. Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Howe have become the parents of twelve children, who reached adult age.

The subject of this review, the only surviving member of the family,was three and a half years old when he came to this county. He was reared in Bertrand township amid pioneer scenes and environments and shared with the family in the hardships and privations of frontier life. His education was obtained in the early schools of the county and he remained at home up to the time of his marriage, which was celebrated in October, 1858, the lady of his choice being Miss Lucy Crowfoot, a daughter of Osmond D. and Maria (Sampson) Crowfoot. Mrs. Howe was born at Truxton, Cortland county. New York, July 7, 1837, and had the advantage of educational privileges m Homer Academy in that county. She afterward engaged in teaching school in New York, in Indiana and in Berrien county, Michigan, devoting seven years to that profession. She became a resident of Berrien county when nineteen years of age, removing to this locality in order to teach in the public schools here and was thus occupied until she gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Howe.

The young couple began their domestic life on the old Frederick Howe homestead in Bertrand township, where they resided continuously until 1897, when they removed to Buchanan, taking up their above in the old home which was built by his father in 1860. They have become the parents of five children. Osmond, born in 1859, married Fannie Long, and is now living m Lansing, Michigan. Fie is a graduate of the Agricultural College of that city and is now in the employ of the state. Frederick is a prominent farmer of Bertrand township mentioned on another page of this work. Harry B., born in 1865, is at home, assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Buchanan, Michigan, also assistant postmaster in that city. Lulu C, born in 1872, is the wife of Bryan Treat, of Buchanan. May, born in 1877, is the wife of Bird Lister, of Washington Heights, Chicago.

Mr. Howe gave his early political allegiance to the Democracy but in more recent years has been a stalwart Republican. He has taken an active interest in political and other questions affecting the welfare and progress of his community and for three years has served as township supervisor of Bertrand. He was for nine years superintendent of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and he is interested in all that pertains to progress for the agriculturist and for the community at large. His residence in the county covers seventy-one years, few men having so long been a witness of its growth and development. He has been identified with the making of the county, standing ever for its interests which work for material, intellectual, social and moral progress. Flis influence is always on the side of right and order and he is a man of genuine personal worth, who is respected by all with whom he has been brought in contact. He is now living retired in Buchanan, surrounded by the comforts and some of the luxuries of life, which have been secured through his kindly and well directed efforts in former years.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

FREDERICK W. HOWE, a prominent farmer residing on section 12, Bertrand township, is a native son of this township, born October 24, 1862. His father, Charles F. Howe, was born in New York, and was only three years of age when brought to Berrien county by his parents, Frederick and Polly (Bliss) Howe. For many years he was a resident of Bertrand township, living for a long period on the farm which is now the home of our subject. He married Lucy Crowfoot, also a native of New York, and they are now living in Buchanan, Mr. Howe having retired from active business life.

Frederick W. Howe, the second son and second child in their family of two daughters and three sons, was reared under the parental roof, becoming familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. At the usual age he entered the district schools and later was a student in Union school in the village of Buchanan, while subsequently he pursued his studies in the Northern Indiana Normal College, at Valparaiso. His education completed, he put aside his text-books and turned his attention to farming, which he has made his life work. He located on a farm on section 2, Bertrand township, known as the old Francis W. Howe farm. It comprised sixty acres, which he purchased and on which he lived for twelve years, when he sold that property and located on the farm which is now his home. Here he built a good residence and substantial barns in 1903. He has eighty acres of land which he devotes to general farming. He makes a specialty of the raising of potatoes, planting from ten to fifteen acres of that vegetable each year. His well improved place is indicative of the careful supervision of a practical and progressive owner.

In 1889 Mr. Howe was united in marriage to Miss Jennie E. Harding, a daughter of F. R. and Martha G. Harding. She was born in Niles township, this county, and by her marriage has become the mother of four children, Charles F., Marjorie G., Frederick H. and Jennie May, all of whom are still under the parental roof. Mr. Howe votes with the Democracy and is actively interested in local affairs, political and otherwise. In 1905 he was elected township treasurer and for several years prior thereto was township clerk. His official service, his business career and his private life all commend him to the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens, and his residence here, covering a period of forty-four years, has made him widely known. He represents a prominent and honored pioneer family and his lines of life have been cast in harmony with the record that has always been borne by those of the name in Berrien county.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ALONZO F. HOWE, secretary of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company of Berrien, Van Buren and Cass counties, and a resident of Buchanan, was born in Bertrand township, Berrien county, November 10, 1862. He represents one of the old pioneer families of this portion of the state, his paternal grandfather, Frederick Howe, having come from New England to Michigan at an early epoch in the development of this locality. He settled in Bertrand township and secured land from the government. There he aided in planting the seeds of civilization wliich have ripened and borne fruit in later years in the present advancement and progress of the county. His son, Frederick A. Howe, a native of Massachusetts, was reared in Michigan upon the frontier, and was married in Bertrand township to Miss Sarah A. Smith, a daughter of John Smith, who came from Pennsylvania to the middle west and settled in South Bend, Indiana, in 1843, removing to Bertrand township, Berrien county. Mrs. Howe was born in the Keystone state in 1836, and was a little maiden of only seven summers when she became a resident of this county. She is still living and is one of the worthy pioneer women of this portion of Michigan, where she has lived for almost two-thirds of a century. By her marriage she became the mother of three sons, one of whom has passed away, while George E. Howe is now residing in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Alonzo F. Howe and his mother are the only ones living in Berrien county. He was reared upon the old homestead farm in Bertrand township, and various tasks connected with the development and cultivation of the land were assigned him from time to time as his years and strength increased. After attaining his majority he was engaged in farming and in the stock business until 1903, when he came to Buchanan and retired from agricultural interests save for the supervision which he gave to his farm. He was president of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company from February, 1904, until December, 1905, and at a later date was appointed secretary of the company to fill a vacancy. He acted in that capacity until February, 1906, when he was elected to the office, which position he is now filling and in this connection he is giving capable service, bringing new business discernment and enterprise to bear upon the onerous and important duties which devolve upon him in this connection. He has a farm of one hundred acres in Bertrand township.

Mr. Howe was married on the 15th of

March, 1903, to Mrs. Anna M. Glover, nee Simmons. He is a Democrat in his political proclivities and active in the local ranks of the party. He holds membership with Buchanan Lodge, No. 68, A. F. & A. M., and in the line of official service has made a creditable record. He filled the office of supervisor of Bertrand township from 1897 until 1902, and was elected supervisor of Buchanan in 1905. He was also township clerk for two terms in Bertrand township and was chosen chairman of the county board of supervisors in 1902. His interest in public affairs is that of a citizen of known devotion to the general good and his zeal in behalf of public progress has been a conspicuous and valuable factor in the work of development and improvement. He has been a life-long resident of Berrien county and has carried forward the work which was instituted by his grandfather and continued by his father from pioneer times down to the present time, so that the name of Howe is a respected one in Berrien county, standing always for good citizenship.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.