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Below is a family biography included in the Biographical Review Volume of Biographical Sketches of The Leading Citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts published by Biographical Review Publishing Company in 1896.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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HENRY CLAY MILTON HOWE, one of the leading farmers of Enfield, was born there on January 10, 1823, son of John and Rhoda B. (Babbett) Howe and grandson of Solomon and Polly (Holmes) Howe.

Solomon Howe’s birth occurred on September 14, 1750. He studied for the ministry, and graduated from Dartmouth College. After that he became a Baptist preacher, and had pastoral charges in several New England towns, among which was Enfield, then Greenwich, where he resided a number of years. He died in New Salem, November 18, 1835, eighty-five years of age. His wife also lived to a good age. They were the parents of nine children; namely, Abigail H., Hannah, John, Nancy, Solomon, Jonah, Jedidiah, Silas W., and John Milton.

John Howe, the eldest son, was a native of Brookfield, Mass., where he was born December 20, 1783. Throughout his life he devoted considerable attention to agriculture. He also engaged in the printing business, publishing hymn-books and spelling-books, and in 1804 issuing the first number of Howe’s Genuine Almanac, for which he made the astronomical calculations. It was one of the leading almanacs at that time, and he continued to publish it up to 1826. The last years of his life were spent in Enfield, on the farm that is now owned by his son, and which he purchased in 1841. His death on February 16, 1845, closed a very successful life. In politics he was a Democrat. He was much interested in the welfare of his town, which he served as Assessor and in other capacities. On matters relating to religion he had liberal views. His wife died on September 13, 1837. Six children were the fruit of their union. They were: John H., Myra M., Frances M., Henry C. M., Bolivar J., and Fenelon W.

Henry Clay Milton Howe, who is now the only survivor of those who in his boyhood days made up the family circle, received a good practical education in the public schools of Enfield. He then turned his attention to agriculture, and has continued to reside on his present farm, the same to which his parents moved when he was eighteen years of age. It is one of the most productive farms in Enfield, and contains about one hundred acres, including the pasturage and tillable land. Mr. Howe carries on general farming and dairying.

On July 20, 1848, he was united in marriage with Miss Theolocia Ann Johnson, who was born in Dana, Worcester County, on April 20, 1824, and is a daughter of Nathaniel and Martha (Joslyn) Johnson. Her father was one of the leading men of Dana, and for many years was a teacher in the public schools. During his residence there he held in turn nearly every office within the gift of the town. He also served as a Justice of the Peace and as a Representative in the State legislature. He died in Dana, seventy-nine years of age. His wife bore him four children, of whom, besides Mrs. Howe, there is now living but Nathaniel L. Johnson, a prominent citizen of Dana, who has served as State Senator and Representative, and is now President of the Barre Bank. The deceased were: Eliza Mann Johnson, a spinster; and Charlotte Augusta, who married Sylvester Lincoln. Mr. and Mrs. Howe have had four children, of whom three are still living, namely: William F., born November 17, 1855, a prosperous merchant of Enfield, at one time Postmaster of Enfield, married to Miss Harriet Hubbard, and father of two sons and a daughter — Grace L., Theodore L., and Warren F.; Edwin H. Howe, the present Postmaster of Enfield, graduated by Eastman College at Poughkeepsie, N.Y., in 1882, married to Miss Annie A. Williams, and father of one son, Donald Williams Howe; and Theolocia Lillian, wife of Hiram Weyant, of Boston. Henry Johnson Howe died when he was but four years and nine months old.

Mr. Howe is a supporter of Democratic principles. He has several times served his town as Assessor, and for a number of years has filled the office of Surveyor. His views on matters pertaining to religion are liberal. Mrs. Howe is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in the Biographical Review Volume of Biographical Sketches of The Leading Citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts published in 1896. 

View additional Hampshire County, Massachusetts family biographies here: Hampshire County, Massachusetts Biographies

View a map of 1901 Hampshire County, Massachusetts here: Hampshire County Massachusetts Map

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