Edited by
Wally Howerton
Contributing Editors
John F. Howerton
Bryan R. Howerton
Volume Eight, Issue 1 Winter 2004
FROM THE EDITOR
Greeting Cousins:
The winter months afford me time to browse the Howerton Heritage Database in search of interesting letters, facts, and quips. I like to include these from time to time mostly because of the style of writing that was used a hundred or more years ago. "A Sweet Letter" just oozes with affection to a small child during the Civil War era.
A reminder to keep one of Howerton Heritage's founder fathers, John F. Howerton, in your prayers. John has been suffering from a few health related problems.
Haven't heard of any reunions lateley. Sure could use some stories and pictures .
See you in the spring!
Wally
Letters of Interest - William P. Howerton
A "Sweet" Letter to Harriett E. Howerton
Mabel Howerton 1914 - Jan 30, 2004
Mary M. Howerton Feb. 5, 1923 - Jan. 6, 2004
Rosalie Mae Howerton Green April 15, 1917 - October 5, 2003
William Philip Howerton was born in 1849 in Halifax Co, Va; the son of William Matthew Howerton and Adriana E Tucker. The following letters or excerpts from letters revolve around William's association with Virginia Military Institute and letters of recommendation involving employment.
To: John H
Howard, Esquire
Richmond
Dear Sir,
I have received a letter from William Howerton of Halifax asking a recommendation as to his qualifications as a teacher.
Mr Howerton graduated with good credit at the VMI and the catalog which I enclose shows his standing in his class. He was an industrious pupil with us and he is capable of making a good assistant.
I am, Very Respectfully,
/s/ J H
Smith
Lexington, Va
8th Jan, 1874
To: G C
Wharton
Rector of Blackburg College
I take pleasure in stating that Mr William P Howerton graduated at the Virginia Military Institute in 1870. He stood fifth in the class of 52 members. The class was considered one of the best classes we have turned out as to its intellect. He stood first in drawing, fourth in natural philosophy and second in mechanics. Mr Howerton desires to apply for the place which is to be filled at the Blacksburg Agricultural and Mechanical College and requests me to send this letter to you to be used in his behalf.
/s/ Thomas
H Williamson
Professor of Practical Engineering and Architecture College, VMI
Lexington,
Va
February 1st, 1876
To:
General G C Wharton
Rector, A & Mech College
New River Depot, Pulaski County, Va
My Dear General,
Mr William P Howerton of Halifax Courthouse, Va writes to me in regard to an appointment for the chair of practical mechanics and C at Blackburg. Mr Howerton is a young man of cleverness and graduated high with us in 1870 and was distinguished in natural philosophy and was number one in drawing. I am not able to speak specially of his fitness for the chair of practical mechanics but I know he was good on his courses here and was five in general merit. I am very respectfully,
/s/ J H Smith
February 8th,
1876
Virginia Military Institute
Charlotte,
N.C.
June 25th, 1884
To All Whom It May Concern:
Professor W P Howerton was engaged in my school as teacher of mathematics and some of the English studies. It affords me pleasure to state that I regard him as an excellent teacher in math for the reason that he lays great stress upon matters pertaining to the practical and analytical thus rendering everything plain and easy for his classes.
As to other departments besides math I had not so good an opportunity to judge, but have every reason to believe from intercourse with him that he will sustain himself in all the requirements of the schoolroom as a teacher of high grade.
Very Respectfully,
/s/ W A Barrier
Principal
Macon School
Charlotte, N.C.
Letter from Robert E. Lee to William P. Howerton
Mr W
Howerton
Secretary
Virginia Dialectic Society
Virginia Military Institute
Dear Sir,
I received your letter of the 1st instant informing me of my having been elected an honorary member of the Virginia Dialectic Society of the Virginia Military Institute and received with gratitude this mark of regard of the Society. Be pleased to express to it my thanks for the honor conferred on me. My best wishes for its success and prosperity. I am very respectfully,
Your Obedient
/s/Robert
E Lee
Lexington, Va
February 1st, 1876
Harriett E Howerton was the small daughter of William Matthew Howerton and Ariana E. Tucker born in Halifax County, 24 November, 1857
6th
Military District Headqtrs
Dept of S.C., Ga and Fla
October 25th, 1863
My Little Harriett Eliza Howerton,
My dear lady. I got the two cakes carefully thread tied and labeled to tell from whom the present came. They are very sweet, not the sugar, not the syrup put in to make them taste sweet. No, I feel them to be sweet with something sweeter than sugar, than syrup or even honey from the honey comb. Don't you know what that is that makes everything so sweet in this world?
Yes, you do or you would have never thought to send sweet cakes to an old man with a long white beard and I know too what it is and how it was that you, you a young lassie primping herself, I'll be bound for a bear, should have sent sweet things so far to an aged grandpa.
Your Pa was far away with that old man waiting in all the wearisomeness of camp for the wary enemy, the wily Yankee to attack our country and shed the blood of her fathers and sons and insult her daughters and grasp her good things and her glories and bear them away.
You heard how hard the soldiers live in camp and Momma was making up a bundle of comforts and luxuries to send to Papa and you, you little titania witch (get Momma to tell you who she was) for O, it is the prettiest tale ever told by an old bird who used to live on a stream called Avon and he was called a swan.
Though you would make another heart glad, not with sugar nor syrup but with love and kindness. Oh, that is what I feel not taste with my heart, not my palate. For to know you have won a heart and that it the triumph of man, matron, widow or witch.
Sincerely Yours, Dear Child,
/s/ Henry
A Wise
Brigadier General, CSA
Commanding, Wise's Brigade
Hqs, Adams Run, S.C.
[NOTE: Henry A Wise was a former governor of Virginia].
Wandrous Howerton was born in 1865 in Crittenden Co, Ky; the daughter of Samuel Howerton and Mary Ann Postlethwaite. NOTE: The middle name of Wandrous may have been “Mandena
Algernon M Howerton was born in 1845 in Dinwiddie Co, Va; the son of Thomas H Howerton and Ann J Williams
Artemisy M Howerton was born in Apr 1879 in Knox Co, Ky; the daughter of David Howerton 8-577 and Elizabeth West
America A Howerton was born in 1848 in Crittenden Co, Ky; the daughter to Henry Howerton 7-340 and Rachel Catharene Postlethwaite. On 28 Sep 1887 she married George W Book at Crooked Creek Baptist Church, Crittenden Co, KY NOTE: There are two other America Howertons in the DBMost of us have heard about Commodore Perry but how about:
Perry Commodore
Howerton was born 9 Mar 1886 at
Newfoundland, Elliott Co, Ky; the son of John Breckenridge
Howerton and Ellen Lewis.
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