Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Howland, W D 
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Author: Bio/Gen Record LaSalle/Grundy 1900

W. D. HOWLAND.

In taking up the personal history of Mr. Howland we present to our readers the 
life record of a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family of Grundy 
county. The Howlands are of sturdy New England stock, and the family was 
founded in America in early colonial days. It is thought that the original 
ancestor in this country was John Howland, who crossed the Atlantic in the 
Mayflower, but this is not definitely known. However, it is an authentic fact 
that the present generation descended from one of the old colonial families of 
Massachusetts. Asaph Howland, the grandfather of our subject, was born at 
Brandon, Vermont, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. In the Green Mountain 
state he was married, and the following children were born of the union: 
Philinda; Polly; Miranda, who died in early womanhood; Asahel, Warner, Stephen 
and Lorenzo. The grandfather of our subject was a shoemaker by trade and a 
very industrious and highly respected man. In 1825 he removed to Wayne county, 
New York, and there died when about seventy-five years of age.

Stephen Howland, the father of our subject, was born in Brandon, Vermont, 
August 8, 1806, and acquired a common-school education. When nineteen years of 
age he removed to Wayne county, New York, and was there employed as a farm 
hand for some time. When about thirty years of age he was married, in Cato, 
New York, on the 2d of October, 1836, to Catherine Bosworth, who was born 
March 3, 1817, in Westfield, Massachusetts. Her father, Caleb Bosworth, was 
born about 1792 and was a son of Caleb Bosworth, Sr., a shoemaker by trade, 
who through his well directed efforts became a wealthy man, owning 
considerable real estate. He was descended from old Puritan ancestry of 
Massachusetts, the family having been established on American soil during an 
early epoch in colonial development. Caleb Bosworth, Sr., died in Westfield, 
Massachusetts, in the year 1819. He was a gentleman of the old school and a 
man of sterling worth who won the high respect and confidence of all who knew 
him. His children were Henry, Caleb, Howard, Margaret and Sophia. Caleb 
Bosworth, Jr., inherited land from his father in Westfield, Massachusetts. In 
early manhood he wedded Mittie Dewey, a native of Westfield and a daughter of 
Timothy and Asenath (Sexton) Dewey. Her father belonged to an old New England 
family of English lineage, was a wealthy farmer and a man of excellent 
character whose quiet and unostentatious life gained him the respect of all 
with whom he came in contact. He assisted all of his children in getting a 
good start in business life, and died at Westfield, Massachusetts, when about 
ninety years of age. He was the father of eleven children, namely: Clarissa, 
John, Charles, Abigail, Sally, Timothy, Larcomb, Mittie, Daniel, James and 
Rowland.

After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Howland they took up their abode in Cato, 
New York, where he conducted an iron foundry and also engaged in the 
manufacture of potash for some time. On selling his interests there he removed 
to Greene county, New York, and was engaged in merchandising in the village of 
Red Creek. In July, 1855, he visited Illinois and purchased a farm in Grundy 
county. The following year he came with his family to his new home, making the 
journey across Lake Ontario and by rail from Hamilton to Chicago. The land 
upon which he located was wild and unimproved, but was pleasantly situated on 
the banks of the Mazon creek, and comprised a tract of two hundred and forty 
acres, capable of high cultivation. With characteristic energy Mr. Howland 
began the work of transforming it into rich and productive fields, and 
successfully prosecuted his labors until February 15, 1864, when he was called 
to his final rest. He was a good business man, very energetic and industrious, 
but had not had time to clear the farm of all indebtedness when death claimed 
him. In politics he was a Democrat, and was a man ever true to his honest 
convictions. After her husband's death Mrs. Howland remained upon the farm for 
two years and then rented the property for some time, while she resided in 
Newark in order that her children might avail themselves of the educational 
privileges there afforded. Later she returned to the farm, and through her 
energy, patient industry, good management and thrift she cleared the property 
of all indebtedness and was prospered in her business affairs. She built a 
substantial and tasteful residence, good barns and other necessary 
outbuildings, drained the farm and has now one of the best properties in the 
township. She is a woman of strong character, of marked intelligence and very 
progressive, and certainly deserves great credit for what she has accomplished 
in life, having not only won financial success but also reared a family of 
children that have been a credit to her name. In addition to the homestead she 
now owns eighty acres of land, in Livingston county. She is now a well 
preserved old lady of eighty-three years, who enjoys the esteem and love of 
all with whom she has been brought in contact. Her children are: Polly Jane, 
who was born May 18, 1838; Viola D., who was born February 8, 1840; Edward B., 
born January 20, 1842; Charles W., born October 7, 1844; S. Emmet, born 
October 13, 1845; Catherine I., born November 29, 1847: Frank F., born January 
3, 1851; Lillian, born December 31, 1857; and Mittie D., born December 21, 
1862. All were born in New York with the exception of the last two, who are 
natives of Illinois.

W. D. Howland, whose name introduces this review, acquired his education in 
the common schools near the old homestead and in the schools of Gardner. He 
has made farming his life work, and remaining upon the old homestead has cared 
for his mother's property, having conducted this farm since he was fifteen 
years of age. For the past seventeen years he has rented it. He has been to 
his aged mother a most dutiful and affectionate son, thus repaying her for the 
care and devotion which she bestowed upon him in his early years. Mr. Howland 
has been twice married. He first wedded Huldah Sutton, and to them has been 
born one son, Harry D. After the death of his first wife he wedded her sister, 
Susan M. Sutton, who was born December 1, 1858, and is a daughter of Henry B. 
and Catherine A. (Campbell) Sutton. They have two children—Henry Ernest and 
Catherine Emma.

After his marriage Mr. Howland brought his bride to the old home place, and 
throughout his business career has carefully managed the property, thereby 
deriving from it a good income. His methods of farming are progressive and 
enterprising, and his labors have resulted in bringing to him a creditable 
success. He is a man of high moral character whose trustworthiness in business 
and in all life's relations is well known to all with whom he has been brought 
in contact. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. He 
has held the office of school trustee and commissioner of highways, and has 
been a very capable official, discharging his duties with promptness and 
fidelity.

Charles W., a son of W. D. and Catherine (Bosworth) Howland, served in the One 
Hundred and Twenty-seventh Regiment of Illinois Volunteers during the civil 
war and participated in the siege of Vicksburg. He worked on the great trench 
which was dug to the Mississippi, and while thus engaged was taken ill. After 
ten months spent in the south he was sent home, and he died October 28, 1863.


Additional Comments:
Source:  Biographical and Genealogical Record of La Salle and Grundy County, 
Illinois, Volume 11, Chicago, 1900, p667-669

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