North Star Township Biography
FRANCES HENRY HOWES
Source: BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF GRATIOT COUNTY, MICHIGAN published by J. B. BEERS & CO., Chicago, 1906
FRANCIS HENRY HOWES, who owns and occupies a fertile, well-cultivated farm of eighty acres in North Star township, was born May 1, 1835, in Onondaga county, New York. His parents were Francis and Betsey E. (Bogardus) Howes, the former a native of New England, and the latter of New York. They died in Granby, New York, leaving five children, of whom Francis Henry was the fourth.
Mr. Howes was reared in Oswego county, New York, where he was living at the time of his enlistment, in April, 1861, in Company E, Twenty-f ourth New York Infantry. He remained two years in his country's service and as a soldier always did his duty promptly and cheerfully, making a war record of which anyone might well be proud. After the war he returned to Oswego county, and followed farming. He was married in that county in April, 1864, to Mrs. Jerusha Amelia (Neal) Morton, the widow of Lewis Morton and about a year and a half after marriage left his native State and located in Gratiot county, Michigan, settling in North Star township, on a farm which he had previously purchased, and upon which he has resided ever since. His interests have been centered in farming all of his life, and he has been very successful, being one of the prominent agriculturists of his section. When he settled on his farm the land was all wild and had to be cleared before cultivation could be undertaken, a task which meant years of incessant labor. Mr. Howes has been a tireless worker and a practical man of business, acquiring a handsome competency during his long and active career. He is a man of the highest type and has many stanch friends in the community, where he is regarded as a leading citizen.
To Mr. Howes and his first wife two children, Lewis A. and Frank R., were born. Mrs. Jerusha A. Howes died June 7, 1888, in her fiftieth year. Mr. Howes married (second) June 30, 1889, Mrs. Ida E. (Harmon) Cooper, a native of New York, the widow of Harold D. Cooper, of Jackson county, by whom she had one child, Hallie Emily.
Mr. Howes has been a member of the Adventist Church for about thirty years and has served for some time as deacon and treasurer of the church.
Created on ... October 09, 2001