Biographical Sketch of Dr. John Black Howard, St. Joseph, Buchanan 
County, MO

>From "History of Buchanan County, Missouri, Published 1881, St. Joseph
Steam Printing Company, Printers, Binders, Etc., St. Joseph, Missouri.
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Dr. John Black Howard was born in Elizabethtown, Hardin County, 
Kentucky, on December 16, 1819.  His parents, John H. Howard and
Sarah Marrifield, were most excellent persons, but very poor.  His
father died when he was but eight years old, leaving his family,
consisting of a wife and eight children in very destitute circum-
stances.  He was fortunate enough to be able to attend a seminary
for a short time, and became so well versed in the rudiments of
English that he afterwards taught schools, successfully, in the
same neighborhood and also in Washington County.  When twenty three
years of age he began the study of medicine in Elizabethtown, 
Kentucky, and continued his studies four years and nine months be-
fore he commenced the practice.  He was wholly without means and 
had to struggle hard to make a living for himself and his mother's
family.  A young friend of his, Mr. E. H. Haycraft, a young apothe-
cary, having determined to come to the then promising town of St.
Joseph, he concluded to accompany him.  His business flourished and 
he prospered.  His advice and prescriptions became so popular that 
he was compelled to resort to the practice of his profession, and 
very soon he had a large and lucrative practice, and in 1851, not
withstanding his immersion in the mysteries and labors of his pro-
fession, he felt a restlessness and disquietude which he could not
cast off, and for which he could not account.  A fair girl, a Miss
Herndon, had recently come to St. Joseph, and the Doctor was acci-
dently thrown into her association.  He found her image constantly
rising upon his mental vision wherever he might be, and he could
only be satisfied when in her presence.  He had been so platonic
and reserved in ladies' society theretofore that no one suspected
that he could ever have awakened in his bosom a tender sentiment,
but that cunning little god, who takes delight in discharging his
arrows everywhere, saw fit to shoot one straight into the Doctor's
heart, and, like all others who receive the fatal shaft, he had to
succumb, and the consequence was he married Miss Sarah Herndon, of 
Richmond, Kentucky, April 10, 1851.  They have five children living:
Kate R., Martha, Ann M., Dixie and Leo P.

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