Samuel P. Howell Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1789-1790 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	SAMUEL P. HOWELL, of Frederick, Brown county, is a native of the old 
Buckeye state, having been born on a farm in Licking county, Ohio, on 
the 23d of December, 1837, and being a son of George P. and Matilda 
(Preston) Howell, the former of whom was born in New Jersey and the 
latter in Pennsylvania. Elias Howell, grandfather of the subject, was 
likewise a native of New Jersey, where the family was early established, 
and he removed thence to Ohio, in the pioneer epoch in that great 
commonwealth, becoming a man of prominence and influence in public 
affairs and having represented his district in congress for two terms. 
He passed the closing years of life in that state. George P. Howell was 
reared to manhood in Ohio and was there married. He continued to be 
identified with agricultural pursuits in Licking county until I85z, when 
he removed with his family to McLean county, Illinois, where both he and 
his wife passed the remainder of their lives. They became the parents of 
six sons and three daughters, the subject of this sketch having been the 
third in order of birth, while of the number five are living. Captain 
Howell received his early educational training in the common schools of 
his native state and later prosecuted his studies in the schools of 
Illinois. With the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion his patriotism 
was roused to responsive protest, and on the 25th of August, 1862, he 
enlisted as a private in Company I, Ninety-fourth Illinois Volunteer 
Infantry, commanded by Colonel W. W. Orm. His command was assigned to 
duty on the frontier and there remained during a considerable portion of 
its service. The regiment was in active service in the various op-
erations in Missouri and Arkansas, later took part in the siege of 
Vicksburg and was present at the capitulation of Mobile and Spanish 
Fort. The Captain continued with his command until the close of the war, 
receiving his honorable discharge in August, 1865. Immediately after the 
organization of his company he was chosen second lieutenant, later was 
promoted first lieutenant and finally became captain of his company, 
over which he was in command at the time of the close of the great 
conflict, while he was discharged with the brevet rank of major.

	After having thus proved by faithful service his loyalty to the 
Union, Captain Howell returned to the old homestead in McLean county, 
Illinois, where he remained until 1869, when he removed to the eastern 
part of the county and engaged in farming on an extensive scale, opening 
up a farm of two thousand acres. He improved a most valuable property 
and there continued operations until the spring of 1883, when he located 
in McPherson county, South Dakota, having made an investigating trip 
through this section the preceding autumn. He became the owner of 
twenty-four hundred acres, twelve miles north of Leola, and there gave 
his attention principally to the raising of cattle and horses, while 
three hundred acres of the property were placed under effective 
cultivation. He maintained an average of seven hundred head of cattle on 
the ranch, which he still owns and operates, the property having been 
well improved and having greatly appreciated in value during the inter-
vening years, which have witnessed the settling of the country and the 
rapid development of all resources and industries.

The Captain has retained his residence in the village of Frederick in 
the winters, living on the McPherson county farm of summers, since 1898, 
and was one of the owners of the Bank oŁ Frederick, of which he has been 
president since January, 1894, while he is also part owner of the 
Frederick flouring mill, which is equipped with the most modern 
machinery and has a capacity for the output of two hundred barrels 
daily. He also has other capitalistic interests of importance, owning 
controlling interests in sixty-seven hundred acres of Brown county 
farms, and is known as one of the public-spirited men of this section of 
the state, being at all times ready to lend his aid and influence in the 
support of enterprises and measures which inure to the general good. In 
politics he gives an unwavering allegiance to the Republican party, 
having cast his first vote for Lincoln in 1860. Though he has never been 
ambitious for political preferment he has served in various local 
offices, having held the office of county commissioner for McPherson 
county for an entire decade, and having been a member of the first board 
of commissioners of the county. He has attained to the thirty-second 
degree in the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry and is also 
identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

	On the 8th of February, 1872, Captain Howell was united in marriage 
to Miss Mary Brooke, who was born in Media, Pennsylvania, being a 
representative of old colonial stock. They have six children, namely: 
Helen, who is now the widow of Bertine D. Gamble, of Milbank, and George 
Brooke, Mamie F., William E., Margaret and Jessie, who remain at the 
parental home, the elder son being the manager of the Frederick flouring 
mill.