My Genealogy Hound

R. S. HOWARD, furniture and undertaker, Le Roy; born in Madison Co., Ky., June 15 1827; he was raised upon a farm until 17 years of age, when he commenced to learn the trade of cabinet-maker, which he followed until June, 1846, when he enlisted in the 2d Regt. Ky. Vol. Inf., to serve one year in the war with Mexico; leaving Louisville with his regiment in June, he went down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans, thence by vessel to Brazos at the mouth of the Rio Grande River, then marched to Mexico, crossing at Matamoras; he served under Gen. Taylor, and was in many engagements—the heaviest being the battle of Buena Vista, in which his regiment suffered severely in killed and wounded—among the former, the Colonel, Lieutenant-Colonel and his Captain; he remained in Mexico until June, 1847, when he, with his regiment, returned to New Orleans and were mustered out of service; returning to Jessamine Co., Ky., he again resumed his trade, and after completing the same, he engaged in the furniture business until 1859, when he emigrated to Illinois and purchased a farm in Empire Township, McLean Co., upon which he located and followed farming until the winter of 1862, when selling out, he removed to Bloomington and engaged in the furniture trade for a period of ten years; closing out his business in 1872, he then came to Le Roy and purchased the furniture business of H. M. Morehouse, which he has since continued; he admitted R. C. Hollowell as a partner in 1876, since which time the style of the firm has been Howard & Hollowell. Mr. Howard is a strong temperance advocate, and has never used intoxicating liquors, profane language nor played cards. He has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having been an active member of the M. E. Church since 1844—his wife becoming a member soon after. His marriage with Lavina Sageser was celebrated Dec. 27, 1848; she was born in Jessamine Co., Ky., Dec. 17, 1830; they have no children of their own, but have raised, from infancy, a nephew of Mrs. Howard’s, by the name of Joseph S. Sageser; he was born in Jessamine Co., Ky., March 24, 1856. Mr. Howard has extended to him all the advantages of a liberal education. After attending the common schools at Bloomington until 16 years of age, he entered the Commercial College, graduating from the same after a study of two years, when he entered the Wesleyan University at Bloomington, where he attended for four years; he is now attending his first course at the Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia. Mr. Howard proposes to have him graduate from the Wesleyan University, at Bloomington, during the coming year, after which he will return to the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and remain until he graduates from the same.