Sketch of Lewis Howell, St. Charles County, Missouri >From "A History of the Pioneer Families of Missouri, with numerous sketches, anecdotes, adventures, etc., relating to Early Days in Missouri" by William S. Bryan and Robert Rose, Published by Bryan, Brand & Co., St. Louis Missouri, 1876. ********************************************************************** John Howell was born in Pennsylvania, but moved to North Carolina, where he had three sons: John, Thomas and Francis. John moved to Tennessee, where he died, leaving a widow and four children. Thomas lived in South Carolina until after the Revolutionary War. He marr- ied a Miss Bearfield. Francis married Susan Stone, daughter of Ben- jamin Stone, of South Carolina, and emigrated to what is now the State of Missour in 1797. He first settled thirty miles west of St. Louis, in what is now St. Louis County, where he lived three years, and then removed to what is now St. Charles County, and settled on what has since been known as Howell's Prairie. Soon after his settlement there he built a mill, which was called a "band mill," because it was run by a long band. This was doubtless the first mill erected north of the Missouri River, except perhaps a small one at St. Charles. Some time afterward Mr. Howell built another mill on his farm, which was run by a large cog wheel and was called a cog mill. His place was a noted resort during early times. Musters and drills were frequently held there, and Indian agents in conducting Indians to and from St. Louis, often stopped there for supplies. Mr. Howell died in 1834, in his 73rd year, and his wife died eight years later. They had ten children: John, Thomas, Sarah, Newton, Francis Jr., Benjamin, Susan L., Lewis, James F. and Nancy. John was married three times, and died in his 87th year, leaving nine children. He was a ranger in Capt. James Callaway's company. Thomas married Susannah Callaway, sister of Capt. Callaway, in whose company he also served as a ranger. They had fourteen children. Mr. Howell died in his 85th year, but his widow survives, in her 87th year. Newton married the widow Rachel Long. They had ten children, and he died in his 74th year. Francis Jr., married the widow Polly Ramsey, who was the daughter of James and Martha Meek. He died in his 82nd year, and his widow is still living, in her 87th year. They had no children. Mr. Howell served as a ranger two years, part of the time in Capt. Callaway's company, and was Colonel of Militia for five years. Benjamin married Mahala Castlio, and they had twelve children. He died in his 63rd year. He was Captain of a company of rangers for two years. Susan married Larkin S. Callaway, son of Flanders Callaway and died at the age of 33 years. She had seven children. James F. married Isasbella Morris, and died in his 33rd year. Nancy was married twice, first to Capt. James Callaway, and after his death she married John H. Castlio. Lewis received a classical education, and followed the profession of a teacher for many years. Some of the best educated men and women of the State received instruction from him. His life has been an eventful one, dating back to the very earliest period of the existence of our commonwealth, and as it cannot fail to be of interest to the reader, we here present the following autobiographical sketch, which he kindly prepared for this work, at the solicitation of the compilers: "When I was eight or nine years old, I went to school to an Irishman, about a year and a half, who taught school near where I lived. In about a year and a half after this, I went to school a few months to a gentleman by the name of Prospect K. Robbins, from Mass- achusetts, and when I was nearly twelve years old I went to the same gentleman again for a few months, and made considerable progress during this term in arithmetic. The War of 1812 then came on, and I was near- ly stopped from pursuing my studies. I studied as I had an opportunity. After the war I was placed by my father in a school in the city of St. Louis, taught by a Mr. Tompkins, who afterward became one of the Supreme Judges of this State. I did not continue in this school long, but was brought to St. Charles and placed in the care of Mr. U. J. Devore, with whom I remained several months. English grammar was my principal study while at St. Louis and St. Charles. I was now about sixteen, and when about seventeen, as my old teacher, U. J. Devore, had been elected as Sheriff, he selected me for his deputy. I was accordingly sworn in and entered the service, young as I was. There were but two counties at this time north of the Missouri River, St. Charles and Howard, the for- mer of which embraced now the counties of St. Charles, Warren, Montgom- ery, Lincoln and Pike. There were no settlements any further West at this time, until you came to the Booneslick country, embraced in Howard. I had to ride over the five counties before named, collecting taxes, serving writs, etc. I continued in this business a few months, when I relinquished the office of Deputy and entered the store of J. & G. Collier, in St. Charles, as one of their clerks. I remained with them a few months, and as my father and Mr. John Collier, the elder of the brothers, could not agree on the terms of remaining with them, I went back to my father's farm, where I labored a short time, when my father having some business in Kentucky, took me with him to that State. On our return to Missouri we overtook a small family on the road, moving to our State, by the name of Reynolds, originally from the city of Dublin, in Ireland. He and my father got into conversation, and he appeared so well pleased with the description my father gave him of this section that he determined, before we separated, to come to the neighborhood where we were living. With this gentleman, whom I believe was a profound linguist, I commenced the study of the Latin language. I can say without egotism, that I am very certain I was the first per- son that commenced the study of Latin between the two great rivers, Missouri and Mississippi. I found it very difficult to get the necess- ary books, and had to send to Philadelphia for the authors which my teacher recommended. With him I read Ovid, Caesar, Virgil, Horace and a few others. Shortly after this, as Mr. Reynolds had left the State, I went and spent a few months with my old teacher, Gen. P. K. Robbins, where and with whom I studied a few mathematical branches, and this closed by literary studies at school. I finally gave out studying med- icine, which I had long contemplated, and came home to my father's. I was now about twenty one years of age, and several of the neighbors and some of my relations being very anxious that I should teach school for them, I at last, yet somewhat reluctantly, consented, and accordingly taught school a few months, and was not very well pleased with the avocation. About this time there was considerable talk about the pro- vince of Texas, and about the inducements that were held out for per- sons to emigrate to that country. In consequence of this stir about Stephen F. Austin's colony, a company of us agreed to pay it a visit and examine the country and ascertain the prospects of getting land; but all finally gave out going except my brother Frank and myself. We, therefore, alone, left Missouri January 22, 1822, for the Spanish Pro- vince of Texas, which, however, we never reached. Having gone 50 or 60 miles sout of Red river, my brother, who was seven or eight years older than myself, and of more experience, thought it was imprudent to proceed further, on account of the difficulties in the way. We there- fore retraced our steps and arrived at home between the first and the middle of March. I labored on my father's farm until fall, and in October, when a few months over twenty two, I left home for the State of Louisiana. I took a steamboat at St. Louis and landed at Iberville early in November. This place was about 90 miles above New Orleans, where I remained until spring, having been employed by a physician, a prominent man of the parish, to teach his and a neighbor's children, and to regulate his books, etc., he having an extensive practice. I was treated rather badly by him, and in the spring I went down to the city of New Orleans and took passage on a steamboat, and returned to Missouri, and commenced farming, my father having given me a piece of land which I commenced improving. A year or two previous to this I went a session to a military school, taught by an old revolutionary officer. I took, at this time, a considerable interest in military tactics, and a year of two after this I was appointed and commissioned Adjutant of the St. Charles Militia, by brother Frank being Colonel of the regiment. This office I held for several years, when I resigned; it being the only military office I ever held; and the only civil office I ever had was that of Deputy Sheriff, as alread stated. After this time, I turned by attention to teaching and farming, and in June, 1833, I married Serena Lamme, the daughter of William T. and Frances Lamme, and great granddaughter of Col. Daniel Boone, the pioneer of Kentucky. I was then in my thirty fourth year. We have had six child- ren, three of whom have already gone to the grave, the youngest of those living being now about twenty two years old. I still continued teaching, and kept a boarding school, and had my farm also carried on, until the close of the Civil War, when I stopped farming, as the ser- vants I owned had been liberated. I therefore rented out my farm, and moved to the little village of Mechanicsville, where I built and com- menced a boarding school, being assisted by an eminent young lady, a graduate of one of the female seminaries of Missouri. This school was carried on for five sessions, the last two or three mostly by the young lady before named, as my health had somewhat failed. I have relinquish- ed all public business whatever. I cultivate my little garden with my own hands; am now in my 76th year; enjoy tolerably good health for one of my age; can ride 35 or 40 miles in a day, and I believe I could walk 20. I am a member of the Presbyterian Church, to which I have belonged upwards of 50 years. I attribute my health and advanced age to my temperate habits, having never yeilded to dissipation of any kind. ==================================================================== 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 profit or 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. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Penny Harrell ====================================================================