Edited by
Wally Howerton
Contributing Editors
John F. Howerton
Bryan R. Howerton
Volume Three, Issue 1 Winter 1998
Master Army Aviator: Chief Warrant Officer 5, Donald R. Howerton
Brother's Pass: Doyle Howerton, Sr. & Layton Howerton
Seventieth Wedding Anniversary: William "Cal" Calloway & Elsie Johnson Howerton
Lieutenant Colonel James R. Howerton
Making Molasses: Nat & Louisa Howerton
MASTER
ARMY AVIATOR
By Bryan R Howerton
Chief Warrant Officer (W-5)
Donald R. Howerton
Donald R Howerton was born 3 May 1951 at Tucson, Arizona; the son of Bryan R Howerton and Jean Freeman. As the son of a career Air Force officer he changed residence frequently, attending schools in Guam, Texas, California, Arkansas, Okinawa, Hawaii, and Virginia. Donald was active in athletic programs at the various schools attended. He played Little League baseball and was consistently elected team captain and played the position of pitcher, or shortstop or third base when others were pitching. He was the primary pitcher of the Air Force Little League on Okinawa in 1962 and 1963; his team won the Inter-service Championship in 1963 and traveled to Japan to participate in the Far East Championship. One of his major disappointments was his inability to participate in the Japanese playoff as his father was transferred to Hawaii during that period. In Hawaii he continued playing baseball and pitched in the American Legion League and was featured in Honolulu newspapers after pitching several shutouts and no-hitters.
Donald graduated from high school in Woodbridge, Virginia. He had seriously considered a possible career in major league baseball; however, the Vietnam War was in progress when he graduated from high school. He was encouraged to enter college, but he insisted upon militarily serving his country during the war. His parents finally relented and he was selected through competitive testing of applicants for training as an army aviator. He would complete his education by bits and pieces during his military service, primarily at Troy State University in Alabama.
Donald enlisted for aviator training in the U S Army in July 1969. Upon completion of basic infantry training at Fort Polk, Louisiana he entered primary flight training as a Warrant Officer Candidate at Fort Welters, Texas. Upon completion of primary training, he went to Fort Rucker, Alabama for advanced flight training. He graduated from training at Fort Rucker in October 1970 and was appointed a Warrant Officer (W-l) in the U S Army and received his wings as a qualified rotary wing (helicopter) pilot. A few years later he would also become qualified as a fixed-wing pilot and would maintain proficiency in both types of aircraft.
He has continued his service in the Army to the present and his divisional assignments have included the 101st Airborne Division, 25th Infantry Division, 1st Cavalry Division, and 2nd Infantry Division.
His outstanding aviator skills combined with his ability to instruct others led to additional duty as a standardization instructor pilot in the field and later, he served a tour at the Army Aviation Center as an instructor pilot. He also served a tour with the Attack/Aeroscout Branch of the Directorate of Evaluation and Standardization at the Aviation Center.
His primary interest centered around Attack/Aeroscout tactics and aerial night-fighting and tactical operations. During that period he recognized the inherent value of night-vision enhanced equipment in counter-terrorist activity. This led to his participation in development of tactics exploiting this new capability and the training of a select group of personnel in all aspects of such operations. Members of this group provided the nucleus of a special task force within the special operations group under the US Joint Chief of Staff. He served as Operations Officer of the new unit for some time and later as Standardization Officer. He was repeatedly selected as Air Mission Commander and Flight Lead on the most difficult missions. His superior officers described him as a tremendous leader who had earned the reputation Army-wide for being the most knowledgeable and skilled aviation night fighter in the Army.
His service has frequently taken him to widely separated points of the globe. Little is known or can be said concerning the details of this majority of his military service. During this period he commanded a fixed wing element of his unit and earned his "green beret" with the Army Special Forces and Operation Delta. He served a total of 16 years in special operations assignments. In recognition of that long, dedicated and effective service in special operations he was presented with the unit's colors st a ceremony prior to his departure an honor rarely awarded by a unit wherein outstanding individual performance is expected and considered routine.
He was one of the first warrant officers promoted to Master Warrant Officer; a rank that was eventually replaced by the newly created rank of Chief Warrant Officer (W-5), the grade in which he presently serves. Several years ago, Donald attained the rating of Master Army Aviator. He is qualified in both rotary and fixed wing aircraft and has amassed more than 8,000 flying hours as a pilot. He is qualified in more than 50 different aircraft, ranging from Soviet Army airplanes to multi-engine seaplanes. He holds numerous FAA type ratings and qualifications, including a Commercial Airline Transport Rating.
Following his long period of service in special operations, Donald was permitted to select his next assignment and in the spring of 1996 returned to the Army Aviation Center at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Upon arrival he was assigned as Chief of the Advanced Studies Branch at the Warrant Officer Career Center. On 24 September 1997 he became tile Deputy Commander of the U S Army Warrant Officer Career Center.
His military career has been distinguished by the numerous citations, medals and decorations he has been awarded in recognition of his outstanding service to his country and our allies.
Donald was married to Cynthia Fohn Nobles on 24 September- 1974 in San Antonio, Texas. To this union were born three children: John Thomas and Carrie Fohn were born at Enterprise, Alabama on 8 October 1978 and 7 October 1980, respectively and Lindsey Michelle was born 27 April 1982 at Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Continued frequent and prolonged periods of absence and the stressful nature of Donald's military duty had a negative effect upon their marriage which ended in divorce in 1983. He married a second time on 24 June 1985 in Newport News, Virginia to Linda Outlaw (nee McLain). This marriage also has the benefit of a daughter, Michella Outlaw contributing to their happiness. Now in his 29th year of military service, he and his wife, Linda has built a home in southern Alabama to which they plan to retire.
On 6 June 1997, Doyle Howerton, Sr., (78) of Roswell, New Mexico passed away. He was followed by his younger brother, Leo Layton Howerton (73), of Carlsbad, New Mexico, on 25 January 1998. They are the sons of Joseph Milton Howerton of Arkansas who came west in the 1930's to build trails in the Carlsbad Caverns.
WINFIELD SCOTT HOWERTON
Alton, Halifax County, Virginia
By John F. Howerton
Winfield's parents were Winfield Howerton and Elizabeth Lester. He is descended from five generations of Howerton's, all are Thomas Howerton's, except for his grandfather James, going back to the Thomas Howerton who arrived in Virginia in 1663. He was born on 16 March 1847 and married Tabitha W. Reaves (Reeves) on 18 December 1867. He and Tabitha have 126 known descendants (192 if wives are included) spanning six generations. One of his g-g-grandsons is retired Marine Master Sergeant Walter Scott Howerton III who is now the webmaster of our Howerton Heritage site.
The descendants
of Winfield Scott Howerton and Tabitha Reaves now live across the
length and breath of the United States, from the coast of North
Carolina to San Diego, California. The line came from the seven
children who were born to Winfield and Tabitha before her death
in 1905. The children were all born on the old home place at
Alton, Halifax County, Virginia, across the road from the
Howerton Family Cemetery where he and many of his descendants are
buried.
The children were:
Samuel Lewis, born 18
September 1868, died 3 August 1949
James Andrew, born 15 March 1870, died
12 November 1948
Nancy Emma, born 25 August 1871, died 23
November 1934
Elijah "Eliger" Thomas, born
19 April 1874, died November 1945
Luther "Micajah" Cager, born
18 June 1876, died 23 April 1938
Cornelius Nicholas, born 6 August 1878,
died 26 August 1946
Otto "Taw" Solomon, born 29
May 1882, died 9 April 1962.
After the death of Tabitha on 30 June1905, Winfield married Alice Lloyd Weatherall and had two children:
Lloyd L.; Elias G., born 15 April 1909.
No other information is known about either. In addition to the Winfield spelling, two other spellings have been discussed in the family: Winkfield and Wingfield. In the family cemetery at Alton there is a large stone that bears the name, Winkfield S. Howerton, Co. E, 1"' VA, RES. CSA. There may be some validity to the name Wingfield because Winfield's son Luther named his oldest son, Thomas Wingfield on 21 October 1909.
Several
descendants of Winfield have been very helpful in providing
information. James Gray Howerton, the son of Cornelius and a
grandson, and his wife, Virginia, of La Mesa, California, has
provided valuable information, including pictures of the old
family cemetery. Tevis Hart Williamson, the son of Sadie Ann and
a grandson, of Newport News, Virginia, has provided valuable
information.
Virginia Wolfe
Pettett, daughter of Emma Francis Howerton, wrote the following
letter to her second cousin, James Gray Howerton:
"I interviewed mom [Emma Francis, daughter of Luther Cager Howerton and Cora Reaves] for the information you asked about. I will try to relate what she remembers as clearly as I can. Frances believes there were three sisters Harriet, Lucy and Jane [no record of her] to Wingfield [Howerton]. Harriet married a Loveless [no record] and had a daughter Elizabeth. Elizabeth was older than Frances. Frances remembers her mother, Core, telling her who might explain why she wasn't in the picture. Jane was dead before Frances was born. Lucy gave her property to Luther Howerton, Sr. for him to take care of her. The property she [Lucy] gave to Luther Howerton, Sr. was across the road from the cemetery where Alma [she married Luther Cager Howerton, Jr., and now lives in the old home given to Luther, Sr. by Lucy]. Frances said Lucy lived in the old kitchen. Sadie Howerton [Sadie Ann Howerton was the daughter of Luther Howerton, Sr.] found Lucy dead in the bed Dec. 12, 1921 or 1922. Frances remembers watching the funeral from the window of the old kitchen (then Lucy's room). She was not allowed to go to the funeral. Frances recalls there were no deed to the property that Luch had owned when Luther Howerton, Sr. died. I am sending you a copy of an article Frances found in a trunk which had belonged to her father, Luther Howerton, Sr. It appears to be a eulogy for Elizabeth Howerton, daughter of Claybourn Lester. The problem is there is no date. However, the lady was 94 years old. Frances could not recall anyone named Elizabeth Howerton. Frances says the article was not written by Luther Howerton, Sr. because he could not write and it is not Cora Howerton's writing. Maybe this was one of Wingfield Scott's sisters-in-law's? Frances remembers that her father, Luther Howerton, Sr., built the upstairs to the present house that Alms now lives in, in 1929. After sharing the articles you sent me about "Retired Teacher Closes In On Her Halifax County Roots" Frances related that she has a copy of that article that appeared in the newspaper. Frances remembered cousin Billy Howerton. He was Luther Howerton, Sr.'s first cousin. She related that he was a tall man with chin wiskers [sic] (goatee). He died after Frances was married in 1934. He lived with his son-In-law Bob Fulf (sp). Frances believes he (Billy) had four daughters, one married Bob Fulf one married Albert Dixon and one married a Martin. Frances remembers that cousin Billy loved to laugh and tease. . . . P.S. Frances remembers nothing about Howerton property in South Boston or wherever, never heard of Seaton or Green's Folly. PPS. l'm enclosing a picture of the three remaining Howerton sisters taken July 4, 1996 sitting behind the Reaves (Reeves) family Bible. Picture taken at home of Frances Howerton Wolfe." The letter was dated February 1997.
[Note! Information in the brackets was added by editor]
WILLIAM
JAMES HOWERTON:
An Exceptional Man
By Bryan R Howerton
The least that can be said of William James Howerton is that extraordinary person of varied and exceptional talents who devoted a lifetime of service to his fellow men in two countries. He was born 7 Jan 1818 in Halifax County, Virginia; the son of James Howerton and Susan Independence Howerton, who were first cousins. The institution(s) in which he was educated has not been identified; however, existing records indicate he received a better than average education.
He moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1837 as did his parents. His parents lived in a house rented from Andrew Jackson who had just completed eight years as President of the United States. William lived separately and was employed as a clerk and bookkeeper in the retail mercantile business in the city of Nashville. In a letter dated 19 December 1837 he mentioned that he had been introduced to General Andrew Jackson and commented that, "I never in my life heard as sound a reasoner and as grat [great] a politician argue".
NOTE: It is interesting when writing he refers to the former President as "General Jackson."
James, father of William, had a long acquaintance with General Jackson, having served on his staff during the Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812. William's father accepted the position of overseer of the large plantation in Coahoma County, Mississippi owned by Andrew Jackson in February 1839. It is uncertain whether William accompanied his father to Mississippi initially but he is known to have joined him there.
On 12 February 1840 William married Harriett Jane Drew (a widow) in Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas, across the Mississippi River from Coahoma County, Mississippi. Two children, William Andrew born 31 Jan 1847 and Sarah A. born in March 1850 is known to have been born to this union in Coahoma County, Mississippi. Prior to 1845 William was practicing law in the area of Coahoma County, Mississippi and Phillips County, Arkansas.
Susan Independence Howerton, mother of William, died at Delta, Coahoma County, Mississippi on 14 March 1850. Shortly thereafter, William James in company with his father and brothers, moved to Texas. The family landed at Old Indianola in Calhoun County. The last survivor of the party which came with this family to Texas, was William Andrew Howerton, grandson of James Howerton, who died March 14, 1931, at Austin, Texas, and who was buried at Gonzales, Texas, his old home.
He resided at Hallettsville, Texas and continued his career as a lawyer and also pursued an interest in the field of medicine. He served as a member of the Texas House of Representatives in the Seventh Legislature. At the outbreak of the Civil War he raised a company of soldiers in the Lavaca County area for service in the cause of the Confederacy. His son, William Andrew Howerton, although only in his fifteenth year, enlisted in his father's company.
William J Howerton was commissioned a First Lieutenant in Company C, Ragsdales Battalion, Texas Cavalry on 26 December 1861 at Houston, Texas by Capt Drake, Mustering Officer, CSA. (NOTE: This unit was also variously identified as 1st, 2nd, and 4th Battalion, Arizona Brigade and as Davidson's and Daly's Battalion, Texas Cavalry.) In December 1863 William was promoted to Captain, Company G, Daly's Battalion. He later served as Commander of Company C, Daly's Battalion. On 22 January 1863 he was detailed to command an escort for 300 Union POWs to Vicksburg, Mississippi for exchange; a copy of his report, which was found in the Library of Congress, is quoted:
"Houston, Texas- March 16, 1863 To: Major Bloomfield, Chief Quartermaster:
Sir, In accordance with your order of 22 January I took charge of and proceeded with the U S prisoners of war captured at Galveston 1 January and proceeded by New Orleans & Texas Railroad to Beaumont where railroad transportation was broken because of high water. Thence by your order of the same month I proceeded by way of Sabine River on Steamer Roe-Buck to Barr's Ferry. Arrived there 5 February and left on the 9th for Alexandria. On my trip up the Sabine 2 prisoners (D. Chaplin of Co I, 42nd Mass Regt and H.C. Sellea, Co D, same regt) died and were buried at Barr's Ferry, La. On my arrival at Alexandria I found no preparations made to receive the prisoners and was detained there and on the river below until 22 February when I was ordered by Major General Taylor to parole all my prisoners and proceed under a flag of truce to Port Hudson and report to General F Gardener, Commanding Officer, with the
intention of proceeding by the way of Clinton to Tangipahoa and thence up the New Orleans & Jackson Railroad. On the 23rd I arrived at Port Hudson meeting Major Watts and Colonel Szymanski, exchange officers on the part of Confederate States Government, returning from Baton Rouge with Confederate States prisoners rnat aay exchanged. I was ordered immediately to proceed accompanied by Col Szymanski to Baton Rouge and there turn over the prisoners in my charge to the US exchange officer. On the 24th we arrived at and turned Baton Rouge with prisoners that day from States over all safe and sound except 2 went back sick from Beaumont to this place, one left in hospital at Beaumont and the two who had died previously. I herewith hand you the receipt of Col Szymanski, the exchange officer, for the 330 prisoners under my charge. Having thus reported the matter of the discharge of my duty under your orders I await your further orders and have the honor to be, sir, your very obedient servant. /S/W J Howerton Lt, Provisional Army C.S.
Comdg Escort & Guard US Prisoners.His service in the Confederate Army was performed in the Trans-Mississippi area, primarily in East Texas and Louisiana. In September 1864 he was retired from active duty by a certificate of permanent disability and then placed on detached service as Provost Marshal at Alleyton, Texas.
Following the war he moved to Apodaca, Neuvo Leon, Mexico in company with several other former Confederate Army officers. There he followed the profession of a physician for the remainder of his life. Following the death of his wife, Harriett, he married Frances Eugenia DeYoung about 1866. To this union were born, in Neuvo Leon, Mexico:Guillermo, born at Agualeguas10 Feb 1867;
Josefina, born at Marin 14 May1869;
Francisca, born at Apodaca 4 Apt 1871;
and Clara, born at Apodaca 27 Feb 1874.This second wife died 2 Mar 1874 and on 17 Mar 1875 he married her sister, Josephine DeYoung, who died 6 Nov 1893. Children born at Apodaca, Neuvo Leon, Mexico to the third marriage were:
Edward James, born 15 Aug 1876 and John Charles, born 2 Oct 1878.
(NOTE: Several of the children of William James Howerton, who were born in Mexico, were educated in United States, where they remained)
William James Howerton died 3 Jan 1896 in Apodoc,7, Neuvo Leon, Mexico.
SEVENTIETH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY:
William "Cal"
Calloway & Elsie Johnson Howerton
William Calloway Howerton & Elsie
Johnson Howerton
The children of William Calloway Howerton and Elsie Johnson Howerton hosted a reception Sunday, August 3, 1997, to honor their parents for 70 years of marriage to each other. It was held in the house where Elsie was raised ,JA where she and Cal were married and which still serves as their home. Elsie was born and raised in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. One of the things she enjoyed was her piano. She played at the Royal Theatre during silent moved times and taught piano for several years.
Cal moved with his family from Foster, Oklahoma, to Pauls Valley when he was 14. He enlisted in the Army for three years and upon completion and return home, he met the love of his life. The two was married August i, 1927. They experienced many hard times during the Depression years, but there were many good times. With their strong love for each other and trust in God, they have had a long, happy marriage together. in early 194O, at the onset of World War II, Cal and Elsie moved their family to Oklahoma City where they worked in the defense plant. After retirement, they returned to the same house in Pauls Valley where Elsie was raised, where they were married, and where they will live the remainder of their lives together. Their children are J. W. (Dill), Louise, Richard, Gerald, Donald and David. Cal and Elsie have 20 grandchildren, 31 great -grandchildren, and 3 great-great-great-great-grandchildren. All of their descendants are living. [Information supplied by daughter, Louise Howerton Stevens.
On 18 March 1998, Cal will be 95 years
old. To our knowledge, he is the oldest living
Howerton. We want to extend our best
wishes to Cal on his coming birthday.
LIEUTENANT COLONEL
James R. Howerton
James Richard Howerton
was born 15 February, 1909, in Foster, Oklahoma to William
Wiley Howerton and Emma Calloway. He was
the brother of Ca1 Howerton. At the age of seventeen he enlisted
in the Oklahoma National Guard and served until he enlisted in
the Merchant Marines where he
served as ship's radio operator. On 16 October 1934 he joined the
Army Air Force and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on 16
November 1942. During World War II he served in Burma and
India from 1942 to 9Jb. He served in many overseas
locations including the Aleutian Islands in 1948; Osan,
Korea 1954- 1955; Keflavik, Iceland 1958-
1959 Croughton, England 1960- 1963. Colonel Howerton retired from
the U.S. Air Force 1 April 1963. His field of expertise was in
communications and he worked with highly classified radar
programs.
He died 20 September 1981. He was
survived by his wife, Marguerite Hendrick Howerton and children,
James Richard Howerton, Jr., and Marguerite E. Howerton. (Information
supplied in a letter dated 13 July 1997 from Marguerite Howerton,
Shreveport, Louisiana.)
MAKING MOLASSES:
Nat & Louisa Howerton
"MAKING MOLASSES was a family affair back around 85 years ago for Net and Louisa Howerton and five of their 10 children, notes Beta Brothers of Muskogee, Oklahoma, whose grandmother was Louisa's sister."
Apparently, the above
picture (Picture Not Shown) is that of Nathaniel B. Howerton and
Louisa J. Miller who lived around Gobbler, Carroll County,
Arkansas. Nat was the son of John Howerton, born 24 June 1839 in
Jacksboro, Campbell County, Tennessee, and Rhoda Newberry, born
about 1835 in Tennessee. John was the son of Henry Howerton and
Margaret Bridges. He attended school in Barn Fork, Tennessee, and
after the family moved to Arkansas he attended the Allred
Schoolhouse in Newton County. He was a farmer, a Democrat and a
Baptist. Even though he had a wife and young children, he
entered the 3rd Regiment, Company A, State Troops (Arkansas),
Confederate on 11 May 1861, and served six months. According to
the Confederate Service Records at the National Archives,
Washington, D.C., he served in a number of Arkansas units and was
paroled 8 June 1865. He is described as 5'9" tall, dark
complexion, black hair, and blue
eyes.
John and Rhoda moved to Carroll County, Arkansas, where they had three children:
Nathaniel B., b. 16 October 1858, Osage,
Carroll County, Arkansas.
Margaret E., b. abt. 1860, Newton County, Arkansas.
Sarah, b. abt. 1861, place unknown.
There are no known records on the lives of the two daughters.
Linda Howerton Halpin of
Katy, Texas, wrote that she copied some material from a booklet
in the Clayton Branch Genealogy Library in Houston, Texas,
entitled: The Howerton's of Haskell" in Oklahoma. She copied
a comment that "John came from Tennessee and was originally
married to Mary Newberry and had two children, one son named Nat
Howerton. John divorced Mary and married her niece."
This information has been confirmed by John's descendants.
However, John's first wife was named Rhoda, not Mary. After Rhoda's
death (date unknown) she was buried in the
Gobbler Cemetery, Gobbler, Carroll
County, Arkansas, as was her son, Nat.
John married Armilda Jane Newberry in
Boxley, Newton County, Arkansas, 15 July 1867. John's
marriage to Armilda Jane produced nine children, and all were
born in Newton County, Arkansas: Isaac,
born March 1872
Brantly, born July 1874
Rachel R.E., born 1876
James Alex, born 20 October 1878
Obedience (Biddie), born Oct 1880
Clark Benton, born 28 March 1882
Samuel C., born April 1884
Clark Benton and Celia Elizabeth Watts had four known children and six known grandchildren. Thomas Jefferson and Sara Mahala Pietta had seven known children and five known grandchildren through one of their sons, Troy Cecil and wife had five children. Each of their children had at least two children for a total of twelve. The latest of their- grandchildren was born in 1991. Phillip Preston and Susie had five known children. Nathaniel B. Howerton, the oldest child of John and Rhode was born 16 October 1858 and married Louisa Jane Miller horn 19 February 1860 in Carroll County, Arkansas on 1 July 1883. They had ten children. Their ten children had at least sixty-two known children.
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