My Genealogy Hound

MILTON S. HOWES, a prosperous farmer and produce dealer of Swift River, and a member of the Board of Selectmen of the town of Cummington, was born in Ashfield, Mass., February 14, 1857, son of Jonathan and Betsey (Williams) Howes. Mr. Howes’s grandparents were Micajah and Roxanna (Cranston) Howes.

Jonathan Howes, Mr. Howes’s father, was born in Hawley, Franklin County, Mass., April 5, 1808, and received his education in the town of Ashfield. In company with Nathan Williams, his wife’s brother, he purchased a farm consisting of one hundred and sixty acres situated in Ashfield, where he followed agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred on January 25, 1860, in the fifty-second year of his age. Jonathan Howes was originally a Whig in politics, but later joined the Republican party. He was a respected citizen and a member of the Congregational church. His wife, Betsey Williams, was born March 29, 1817, daughter of Nathan Williams. She became the mother of eleven children, all of whom are now living, and are named as follows: Annis, Roxanna, Betsey S., Willis W., H. Maria, Augusta M., Harlan P., John L., Micajah J., Isabelle E., and Milton S. Mrs. Betsey W. Howes still survives and resides in Ashfield.

Milton S. Howes attended the schools of Ashfield, and at the age of twenty went to Florence, Mass., where he was employed in a meat market for one year. He then returned to Ashfield and engaged in the produce business with his brother John L., buying farm products, which they shipped to Holyoke for a market. In March, 1886, he sold his interest in that enterprise to his brother and came to Swift River, where he has since been engaged in the same business. He is one of the Directors of the Cummington Creamery Association, and markets six hundred pounds of their product weekly. He conducts the J. Willcutt farm of three hundred acres, keeping twelve cows, some valuable young stock, and four horses which are constantly upon the road. His principal market is the city of Northampton, where he supplies many families with fresh country produce. Mr. Howes is a Republican in politics, and has been a Selectman of the town of Cummington for the past five years.

On March 19, 1879, Mr. Howes was united in marriage to Linda E. Willcutt. She is a daughter of Jesse and Mary (Dyer) Willcutt, the former of whom is a retired farmer of Swift River. Mr. and Mrs. Howes have four children, namely: Jesse M., born March 2, 1880; Howard M., born February 23, 1884; Almon D., born July 7, 1887; and Bessie L., born February 6, 1893. In religion Mr. Howes is of the Baptist faith, and Mrs. Howes is a member of the Congregational church.