My Genealogy Hound

John C. R. Howard. Of Granville County, N. C., nativity, Mr. Howard from the date of his birth, March 18, 1831, has resided either in his native State or in Bradley County, Ark. His youth and early manhood, however, were passed in the State of his birth, and there he attended the common schools, which favored him with a good practical education. His father, Thomas Howard, was also born in Granville County, and married after growing up, Miss Rachel Gooch, and their deaths occurred in their native State, in 1839 and 1857, respectively. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, a farmer by occupation, and he and wife became the parents of four sons and four daughters, only John C. R. and his sister, Nancy, being now alive. The paternal grandfather, Allan Howard, was born, and died in Granville County, N. C. The maternal grandfather, Daniel Gooch, was of English descent. John C. R. Howard was married in his native State, in 1853, to Miss Rebecca Gordon, whose birth occurred in Granville County, in 1835, she being a daughter of William and Nancy Gordon, also of that county. The father’s death occurring there in 1858, and the mother’s in Bradley County, Ark., in October 1871. Mr. and Mrs. Howard have had three children born to them: Rachel P. G. (wife of T. A. Berry, a farmer of Bradley County), William T. (who makes his home with his parents) and Samuel L. (also at home). Mr. Howard emigrated from North Carolina to where he now lives, and entered 120 acres of land on which he is residing, but he is now the owner of 280 acres, with about seventy-five under the plow. His property is well improved with good buildings, fences, etc., and in connection with his farm work he gives considerable attention to raising blooded horses and cattle, some of his stock being the finest in the county, and always takes the premium at the county fairs. He is a worthy citizen in every respect, and is one of Bradley County’s most influential and progressive farmers. Although a Democrat in politics, he was formerly a Whig, and cast his first presidential vote for Zachary Taylor. He is a Master Mason, having become a member of that lodge in 1867, and during the war, being a Southern sympathizer, he joined the Confederate army and served the cause he espoused faithfully for two years, when he was taken sick and was not on duty but very little afterward.