My Genealogy Hound

Samuel C. Howell, farmer, brick and stone-mason, of Washington County, Ark., was born in Hawkins County, Tenn., in 1833, being a son of Madison and Eliza (Dunavan) Howell, who were born in Tennessee and Virginia, respectively. The father was a boot and shoe-maker by trade, and resided in his native State until 1844, when he came to Washington County, Ark., purchased a farm, and engaged in tilling the soil and working at his trade. He met with the best of success in both occupations, and was in comfortable circumstances at the time of his death, in 1853. Mrs. Howell was taken by her parents to Tennessee at an early day, and was there married in 1831 to Mr. Howell, by whom she became the mother of ten children, seven of whom are living. Her death occurred in 1886. Samuel C. Howell received the rearing of the average farmer’s boy, and was educated in the common schools of Washington County. He learned the brick and stone-mason’s trade in his youth, and worked at that occupation in Fayetteville. By energy and perseverance he has overcome many obstacles, and is now a well-to-do farmer of the county. He owns 285 acres of good farming land in two different sections, and has an orchard of twelve acres, consisting of the finest varieties of fruits. In 1855 he was married to Miss Mary J. Gibson, who was born and reared in Tennessee, and a daughter of William Gibson, of that State, and their union has been blessed with three children: Francia, Josephus and Angeline, wife of Harvey Keene, of Oregon. Mr. Howell joined the Southern army at the beginning of the war, but was never in active service, being on detailed duty the most of the time, and engaged in the blacksmith and shoe shops. He was an eye witness of the battle of Prairie Grove. He is a firm Democrat in politics, and he and family worship in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.