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Submitted by Cheryl VanWormer 






				MAJ. PHILANDER R. AND MARY (LOWRY) HOWE.

	Philander R. Howe was born in Norwich, Chenango Co., N. Y., Jan. 29, 1812.  His father, 
Capt. Orin Howe, was a native of Connecticut, where he was born in 1784; he was a farmer, and in 
1802 removed to Chenango County.  Here he met his destiny in the person of Miss Jane Mead, whom 
he married.  She was the daughter of John Mead, one of the prominent citizens of that county.  
Capt. Howe resided in Chenango until 1824, when, by reason of reverses in business, he decided to
try his fortunes in the wilds of Michigan.  He came to Washtenaw County and purchased a farm in 
the township of Lodi.  He returned East, and the following spring came back and built a log house
and made some minor improvements.  Michigan was at this time an almost unbroken wilderness, and 
Capt. Howe's purchase was upon the verge of civilization, there being only one settler west.  He
returned to the State of New York, and the following May returned with his family, which 
consisted of his wife and six children,-Betsy, Philander R., Polly Harlow, Sarah, Edwin, and Jane.
	Capt. Howe was a man of more than ordinary ability, and he at once took a prominent and 
leading position in the affairs of the county.  He was for years a prominent member of the 
Legislature; he was a member of the first Constitutional Convention, and was conspicuous in
military matters.  He died in February, 1848.
	Philander R. received such advantages for education as were afforded by the district 
schools of that day; he studied surveying, and was also engaged as a teacher.
	In 1833 the Black Hawk war broke out, and Maj. Howe enlisted.  He received a minor 
position in the regiment, but, as he evidenced much military acumen, he received a commission as 
major from Governor Mason.  In the spring of 1835 he went to Wisconsin, where he was engaged as a
surveyor.  He remained, however, but a short time, and returned to Washtenaw County, and for some
time was engaged in the location and purchase of lands; he located and purchased in different 
portions of the State over twelve thousand acres.  In 1845 he was appointed marshal of the county
for the purpose of taking the census.  This work he conducted successfully, doing the work 
himself, with the exception of three townships.  In 1835 he purchased the farm where he now 
resides; he did not make a permanent settlement, however, until 1847.  In the spring of that year
he was married to Miss Mary Lowry.  She died in 1871.  Maj. Howe has been prominently identified 
with Portland.  In 1839 he was elected supervisor, which position he held for five terms.  He has
never sought political preferment, having a decided distaste for political life.  He is 
emphatically a man of affairs, industrious, sagacious, and enterprising.  He has accumulated a 
well-won competency, and is in every way worthy of the prominent position he holds among the
representative men of the county.




This biography is taken from "HISTORY OF IONIA AND MONTCALM COUNTIES, MICHIGAN" 
by John S. Schenck. Philadelphia:  D. W. Ensign & Co., 1881.  Pages 335-336.  Portland.