Vermilion county Illinois, GUY C. HOWARD ==================================================================== Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Joy Fisher ==================================================================== p. 262, 265 GUY C. HOWARD. Among the most prominent merchants of Armstrong, Mr. G. C. Howard takes the lead. He is noted for his success and excellent business qualifications. He was the son of Joseph, whose father, Nathan, was a native of Ohio, and who was of English descent. This gentleman came to Illinois among the pioneers, and located three miles northeast of Danville. His wife, Nancy, was of Irish ancestry, This worthy couple were blest with six children; Joseph, Clinton, Milton. Richard; Julia, who married C. Campbell, and died in this county; and one other, who died quite young. Our subject's father, who was born in Ohio, is the eldest of these children. Here he was united in wedlock with Miss Barbara Snyder, a daughter of Asa B. Snyder, who was also a pioneer. Of this marriage there was but one child, our subject. The father had been previously married to a daughter of Ralph Martin, another pioneer of this county. It was here in Vermilion County that the father died in the year 1850. eighteen months after the birth of their son. The mother lived and devoted all her attention to her child, whom she reared on the farm with great care and precision, and whom she has educated in the district schools. When he became of age he was married to Miss Emily, daughter of William H. Price. This happy event occurred in April, 1878. He was profitably engaged in farming until 1887, when he found employment as a clerk for a Mr. Tilton, in Potomac, for about eighteen months. From here he came to Armstrong, where he has a general store and where he enjoys great prosperity. His stock is valued from'$3,000 to $5,000. His trade runs from $12,000 to $15,000 a year. He carries an unusually fine line of general merchandise. Mr. Howard is a Democrat, and a member of the A F. & A. M. of Potomac, his wife being a member of the "Eastern Star" of that lodge. When our subject began business he had nothing to help him on but a determined character and a pair of willing hands. These, however, are effectual instruments, and never fail to prove themselves true weapons in his battles with the ordinary obstacles of life. From what we have already seen of his energy, we cannot but predict for him a bright and prosperous future.