Edited by
Wally Howerton
Contributing Editors
John F. Howerton
Bryan R. Howerton
Volume Five, Issue 4 Fall 2001
FROM THE EDITOR
Greeting Cousins:
After several years of the Howerton Heritage website being published, it's time to ask the readers for comments. What would you like to see on the website? Publishing stories and pictures on the internet is far easier than doing a hard copy newsletter so we can get fancy if we like. I will say that there are no plans, either now or in the future, to give internet access to the database.
But how 'bout some help from our readers. Is the Howerton family at a standstill? I haven't received an obituary in six months. . . . . or weddings, births, etc. Reunions are being held and our readers would be very interested in seeing photos or hearing stories of other Howerton families. Please don't assume that we have a crystal ball. We depend on you!
Regards,
Wally
Mrs. Kathleen Howerton: Teacher
Reverend T. J. and Velma Knox: 60th Anniversary
Danny Ray Howerton: December 13, 1957 - August 1, 2001
UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT
By Bryan R Howerton
Over the course of many years it has been the privilege of this writer to be acquainted with a large number of Howertons and their descendants. The vast majority of them were gentlemen in the former, more definitive sense of the term. One of their more noticeable characteristics has been their respect for women and appreciation for the higher ethical and moral standards that mothers, through example, pass to their children. The Howerton men seem to feel that the women within their families are to be protected and highly respected. Some have gone to great lengths to maintain that standard, as illustrated by the actions of three brothers on a Sunday morning in 1876 in Knox County, MO.
These three brothers, all born in Knox County, MO were the sons of Henry Heritage Howerton and Sarah F Brooking. They were Henry Tage, born 1 Apr 1843; Charles Burton born 14 Feb 1845; and Thomas A Howerton born 5 Jul 1854. Henry Tage Howerton had married Mary Catherine Long, daughter of David Long and Elizabeth Somerville, on 9 Jan 1868 in Knox County, MO and they were the parents of David Long Howerton born 1 Oct 1868, Ollie Lee born 4 Feb 1870, Tage Augustus born 21 Dec 1872, Wade Hampton born 1 No 1878, and Mary Ethel born 6 Dec 1880. Charles Burton Howerton had married Jane M Reid on 5 Apr 1870 and their children were Lonney Howerton born 13 Feb 1873, and Mark Tage born 16 Jan 1876, Richard Burton born 1878 and Lula Jane"Pet" b 26 Aug 1879. Thomas A Howerton was unmarried at the time of the incident cited herein.
On Sunday morning, 30 Jul 1876, a group of several people including Henry Tage Howerton, Charles Burton Howerton, Thomas A Howerton, and David Long (father-in-law of Henry Tage Howerton) were on their way to church in the southwest part of Knox County, MO.. Some of the group was riding in wagons and buggies and others were riding horses. The party was passing the home of Jesse H Hymers, who was married to the sister of the wife of Henry Tage Howerton, both of whom were the daughters of David Long. Information handed down within the family indicates it was common knowledge that Hymers had habitually mistreated his wife. The party was accosted by Jesse H Hymers and his brother, William F Hymers and others. An argument began immediately between Hymers and Henry Tage Howerton, who was riding in the wagon with David Long and others. Members of both parties were armed with revolvers and the quarrel soon led to a general fracas during which several shots were exchanged. Conflicting evidence failed to ascertain which party fired first. Jesse H Hymers was shot in the bowels by Henry Tage Howerton and died the following day. William F Hymers was shot and wounded by Charles Burton Howerton and eventually recovered from that wound.
Henry Tage Howerton, Thomas A Howerton and David Long were arrested and examined by the Judge of Knox County Probate Court. Henry Tage Howerton was charged with the murder of Jesse H Hymers and the other two were charged with aiding and abetting in the crime. Testimony indicates that David Long tried to quell the disturbance and that insufficient evidence was presented to support the charges against Thomas A Howerton and David Long, who were released. Henry Tage Howerton was held for trial at the next term of the Knox County Circuit Court.
Charles Burton Howerton went to Kansas immediately following the fight, where he was subsequently arrested and brought back to Edina, where he was released after waiving examination and giving bond for his appearance at the scheduled trial. In December 1876 he was indicted for assault and battery with intent to kill William F Hymers and at the same time Henry Tage Howerton was indicted for the murder of Jesse H Hymers. Both Charles and Henry were granted a change of venue to the Lewis County (MO) Circuit Court, where they were afterward tried and acquitted.
A direct descendant of Henry Tage Howerton has in her possession, a letter which states, in part: "The above is one person's evaluation of the situation which does not coincide with stories told in the family. Henry T's wife related the incident to her grand daughter, who is my husband's oldest sister. There are court actions on record in Lewis County verifying the acquittal. No testimony is on record. Thomas Howerton and Charles Howerton were brothers of Henry T Howerton. David Long was Henry T Howerton's father-in-law. . . . . Jesse H Hymers was the husband of a sister of Henry T Howerton's wife (they were brothers-in-law). She had supposedly been mistreated for a long time by this Hymers, and the family considered she needed protection from him.
Guess we will never know the details, other than this." Henry Tage Howerton continued in Knox County, MO following the above incident and became a leading citizen as reflected in the following extract from the book, "History of Lewis, Clark, Knox and Scotland Counties, Mo [1887]."
"H. T. Howerton, one of the leading stock farmers of Knox County was born Apr. 1, 1843 in Knox County, Missouri and is the 3rd of 7 children born to Henry T and Sarah (Brooking) Howerton, natives of Bourbon County, KY., and Gloucester County, VA, respectively. They were married in Lewis County, Missouri and after a few years residence there came to the present site of Edina, which the father helped to survey and lay out, and build the first grist mill erected in the county, near that place. They remained on their farm near Edina until they sold out and moved to a farm previously purchased, and situated on Salt River in the western part of Shelton Township. After a long life of hard labor, the father died at this place in June 1876; the mother still lives with her son Thomas. Our subject was educated at the common schools near Edina, and the Catholic school of that place, and at the age of 16, enlisted in Company F, Second Missouri Regiment, Confederate Army at Forest Springs, and remained in service until he received his discharge in Feb 1862. In the spring of the following year he crossed the western plains to Idaho City, where he joined a pack train and engaged in mining. He returned to Missouri in November 1865. Jan 9, 1868 he was united in marriage to Mary, daughter of David and Elizabeth Somerville Long, natives of Mason County, WV; in which county Mrs Howerton was born Feb 5, 1848 and from where, when but 6 years old, she came with her parents to Knox County. To this union 5 children were born, 4 of whom are living: David L. (a schoolteacher of Macon County); Tage Augustus; Wade H.; and Mary Ethel. To the original 160 acres upon which our subject first moved, by persistent effort and careful management he has continually added until now he owns a fine farm of 580 acres, 560 being meadow land.
The farm is under a fine state of cultivation, and well stocked. Mr. Howerton having proved himself a successful stock dealer, making most of his money in this business. He probably deals as extensively as any other man in Knox County in livestock, and at present has about 200 head of cattle on his farm. He is one of Knox County's prosperous farmers and enterprising citizens. He is a Democrat and cast his first presidential vote for Horace Greeley in 1872."
Henry Tage Howerton died 8 Feb 1921 in Knox County, MO, attended by his son, Doctor David Long Howerton. He was buried beside his wife in the IOOF Cemetery, Hurdland, MO.
Charles Burton Howerton had served in Company A, 50 Regiment Missouri State Militia (Union) during the Civil War. When first enrolled he was described as: 5'10" tall; Sandy Complexion; Gray Eyes; Brown Hair; and a Farmer by Occupation. Following acquittal of the charges against him, he moved to Wise County, TX where his wife, Jane, died 29 Feb 1884, after which he moved to Donley County, TX; in 1891 he moved to Roger Mills County, OK. In 1906 he moved to Wagoner County, OK and resided there and in Muskogee County, OK until his death in 1922. He was buried in Mt Tabor Cemetery, Hurdland, MO. Charles Burton Howerton was a farmer during the earlier part of his life and later worked for a railroad.
Charles B Howerton participated in a "land-rush" of prospective settlers in western Oklahoma in 1892 and homesteaded 160 acres of land. The following is quoted from page 2, History of Roger Mills County (OK):
"What took place after 12 o'clock noon on April 19, 1892? The crack of army carbines by cavalry men started the on-rush of land seekers lined up along the Texas Panhandle eastern border. Men, many with their families, traveled entirely by horse power, - in wagons, spring-wagons, and horseback. Those with whom this brief historical sketch writer became acquainted staked their claims mostly along the Washita River and its tributaries of Dead Indian and Wildhorse Creeks comprising the "CUSTER BEND" community located some seven miles northeast of what would in a few days be the town of CHEYENNE (described in a subsequent chapter herein).
The name Custer Bend was chosen because the location was in the general vicinity of the most northern sharp bends of the Washita and named for Gen. George Armstrong Custer who liked to eat onions and incur the enmity of Indians. Later it was nicknamed "Snakie" Bend because of the crooked alignment of the Washita River through that area. The names of the original settlers in this Snakie Bend area later to become the Strong City Community were Bob and George Hutton; Sam Maddox; John, Shell, and Jim Caffey; Mr. Hitchcock; Mr. Howerton; John Osborn; Charlie (C. E.) Guernsey; Billy Brown; Mr. Tramell; Mr. Maltbie, H B Bradford; Mr. Williams; F O Leach and Mr. Joe Purdy. These names, from the best of my memory, could be in error by omission or possibly include some names of those who came after the "Opening". This author surely welcomes correcting where error is detected."
Following the altercation with the Hymers, Thomas A Howerton remained in Knox County, MO for the remainder of his life. On 28 Mar 1877 he married Martha "Mattie" Brown (b 25 Dec 1860 MO - d 26 Aug 1933 Knox County, MO) in Knox County, MO. Their children were: Thomas Alfred born 5 Feb 1878, Mary Myrtle born 12 Nov 1879, Charles Thomas born 15 Mar 1882, and Grover C born 14 Feb 1884. He died 20 Jan 1931 in Hurdland, Knox County, MO and was buried in Mt Tabor Cemetery at Hurdland.
NOTE: Information in this article is based upon records in Knox, Lewis and Macon Counties, MO and Roger Mills County, OK; letters and correspondence with various descendants of the three principal Howerton brothers involved; and published histories of Knox, Lewis, Clark, Macon, and Scotland Counties, MO and Roger Mills County, OK.
Dixie Carolyn Howerton was born in Mar 1894 in Arkansas; the daughter of James E. Howerton 9-615 and Iomer V. Ray. In 1900 she lived in Comanche Co, TX. About 1913 she married Claude Herman Hamlin in Texas. Dixie and family took refuge in a storm cellar as a tornado approached their home. While in the cellar, she was fatally bitten by a spider. Her great-granddaughter Deana Thomas estimates her death occurred in 1927.
ed note: I can imagine that this story makes Bryan Howerton a bit sqeemish. Bryan was bitten by a Brown Recluse spider about a year ago. Fortunately, he was on antibiotics at the time.
MRS. KATHLEEN HOWERTON
Teacher
Kathleen Lewis Howerton was born January 20, 1914, in Griffithville, Arkansas, to Jennie and W.V. Lewis. She started to school at Griffithville but was raised primarily at penitentiaries, as her father worked for the penal system. She graduated from Little Rock High School. After her high school graduation she attended Little Rock Junior College and after a couple of years there, she began her teaching career at Griffithville in 1935. During this time she was also school principal. Mrs. Howerton started teaching during the time when a college degree was not required: instead, certification was based on an examination taken in the county supervisor’s office. She taught at Griffithville from 1935 until the spring of 1940. During her first tenure here, she married and moved around with her husband for a while; therefore she was out of the teaching field from 1940 to 1944. Then in 1944 she taught a year in Texas while her husband was stationed there in the Army. After this, she and her husband were divorced and Mrs. Howerton returned to Conway to Arkansas State Teachers College (University of Central Arkansas) and completed the requirements for her degree.
After completing her college degree, she taught for three years in Tucker as her father was working at Tucker prison as head warden.
Mrs. Howerton returned to Griffithville in the fall of 1953 and resumed her teaching. She remained at Griffithville until her death on March 2, 1971.
Although her college major was English, she taught in nearly every field and even worked in the Head Start program. Mrs. Howerton's teaching duties were not restricted just to the typical school day. During her last tenure at Griffithville, she taught night classes at Beebe Junior College.
In 1960, she spent six months in the tuberculosis sanitarium at Booneville. Although ill, she continued her teaching. While there she taught two other patients and helped them get their high school diplomas.
Mrs. Howerton, in every sense of the word, was a dedicated teacher. She can be seen all around the community because "Miss Kathleen’s memory will always be kept alive by her former pupils who not only learned their lessons but also learned to love a truly great lady."
--Griffithville FBLA, November 26, 1975
Editor's note: The entire text above was copied from:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~arwhite/Howertons_History_Of_Griffithville.html
The History of Griffithville, Arkansas By Mrs. Kathleen Howerton is listed at the website courtesy of Griffithville Future Business Leaders of America 1976, Published by White County Historical Society White County Heritage 1980
60th Anniversary
Reverend and Mrs. T.
J. Knox
A reception was held in honor of the Reverend T. J. and Velma Dalton Knox celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Their son, Carl Knox and their daughters, Darlinda Lawson and Janice Gaither, and their grandchildren and great-grandchildren hosted the reception Oct. 20, 2001, in the fellowship hall at Lynn Garden Evangelical Methodist Church.
The couple was married Oct. 18, 1941, in Rogersville, Tennessee. T. J. retired from Tennessee Eastman after 38 years of service. Velma is a homemaker.
Velma's parents were O. C. Dalton & Bertha Howerton. Her grandparents were William Calvin "Will" Howerton & Manerva Emaline "Emma" Lakins.
photo and text submitted by:
Donna Love, Grants Pass, Oregon
daughter
of Margaret Howerton Saso
Margaret is the last of her brothers and sisters yet living. She is 83 years old, in great health, a prayer warrior who still volunteers as my librarian for the Rogue Community College Small Business Development Center. Margaret is the daughter of Clarence Howerton of Quincy, Illinois, and Emerett Alice Davis of Shelbyville, MO.
OBITUARY
DANNY RAY HOWERTON
December 13, 1957 - August 1, 2001
Danny Ray Howerton, 43, of Quincy, formerly of Hannibal, MO died at 1:40pm Wednesday (August 1, 2001) in Blessing Hospital. Mr. Howerton was born December 13, 1957 in Quincy, a son of David and Shirley Hirner Howerton. Mr. Howerton was a 1976 graduate of Quincy High School and formerly worked for Home Depot in Quincy as a sales associate. He was of the Catholic faith. Memorial contributions may be made to the Leukemia Society or Barnard Cancer Center in care of Barnes Hospital, St. Louis. (Information provided by the Quincy Herald-Whig.)
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