My Genealogy Hound

Thomas H. Howard, ex-sheriff of Linn Township, Moniteau County, is a son of James and Elizabeth Howard, and was born in Wilson County, Tenn., in 1819. The parents were natives, respectively, of North Carolina and Tennessee, and in 1821, with their two children, they immigrated to Missouri, locating near where our subject now lives; the third day after their arrival the mother and little daughter died, and were buried in the same grave. The greatly bereaved father and son thus left alone remained together on the farm, which they cultivated until the father’s death, in 1838. After the death of his first wife he married Jane McDaniel, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of Edward McDaniel. Eight children blessed this union, seven of whom survive. James Howard served in the War of 1812, and held the office of justice of the peace in Cole County. Thomas H. Howard was but a child when his parents settled in Missouri, where he grew to maturity and has since lived; he obtained his education in the primitive log cabin, and when about twenty years of age commenced farming for himself on the old homestead, which he continued three years. He then purchased and removed to his present farm, which he has greatly improved. Mr. Howard was elected constable in 1843, in which capacity he served several years, and was then elected assessor of Moniteau County, holding the latter office five terms, four by election and one by appointment. He became sheriff of the county in 1854, in which position he ably served two years. In 1841 Mr. Howard married Messina Hargis, who was born in Howard County, Mo., in 1820, and died in 1851, leaving three children: James A. J., John D. H. and Thomas H. F. In 1855 Mr. Howard married Harriet Smith, who was born in Moniteau County in 1834, and was a daughter of Reuben and Judida Smith, natives of Tennessee, who immigrated to Missouri about 1816, first settling in what is now Cooper County, and later removing to what is Moniteau County; the father died in 1852 and the mother about 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Howard have two children, Henry B. S. and Richard P. W., both living at home. Mrs. Howard is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Howard is one of the leading and enterprising farmers of Linn Township, and takes an active interest in politics, his sympathies being with the Democratic party.