Clay County Georgia Biographies - William M. Howell 1828 Submitted by Charlene Parker Sep 2002 ****************************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profitor for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. ****************************************************************************************** From "History of Bethel Association Including Centennial Meeting", by Alexander Lee Miller W. M. HOWELL This useful minister of the Gospel, was born July 20th, 1828, in Twiggs County, Georgia. His parents, Hiram and Mary Howell, were noted for their generous hospitality, and were members, at the time of their death of Beulah Church, Stewart County, Georgia. While growing up his opportunities for attending school were limited and it was not until he reached his twentieth year that his father felt able to extend to his son this privilege. Not being satisfied with a meagre education, and convinced that it was his duty to preach the Gospel, he spent a year or more in the Academy at Pleasant Valley and Lumpkin. From there he went to Union University in Tennessee, and remained there three years. From a boy he was fond of reading and especially of reading the New Testament. He united with the Richland Church, Stewart County, Georgia, in 1852, and was baptized by Rev. E. C. J. B. Thomas, the first Sunday in August in that year. He removed to Alabama in 1859 and was ordained at the request of Daleville Baptist Church. After engaging in ministerial work in Alabama and Florida he returned to Georgia and supplied churches in Stewart and Randolph, Clay, Early and Calhoun Counties. He married the 19th of October 1858 to Miss H. N. McKeither, of Stewart County and from nine children born, they reared four. He was Clerk of the Bethel Association for fifteen years, from 1881 to 1895, inclusive. following notes added by Debra Crosby 1850 Stewart County Georgia Census page 48 135 Hiram Howell 50 m GA Farmer 2000 Mary 40 f Ga Matthew 25 m Ga William 22 m Ga Lewis 19 m Ga Sarah 18 f Ga J. D. 14 m Ga Sousan 11 f Ga Mary 9 f Ga Martha 8 f Ga James 6 m Ga Nancy 4 f Ga Randolph County Georgia Deeds ANTHONY CRUMBLEY of Randolph Co. to HIRAM HOWELL of Randolph Co. Lot #47, 9th Dist. Wit.: Benjamin Foster, Sarah S. Thompson. Nov. 9, 1837/Nov. 3, 1838