Julius M. Howard Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 494-495

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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HON. JULIUS M. HOWARD. As an enterprising and progressive citizen of 
Turton, South Dakota, and one who, through his own efforts, has 
established himself among the prominent and well-to-do men of the 
place, we take pleasure in giving a brief biography of the gentleman 
whose name stands at the head of this sketch. He was born in St. 
Lawrence county, New York, in 1848, and is a son of Jonas M. and 
Lucetta Howard, the former a native of St. Albans, Vermont, the latter 
of St. Lawrence county, New York. The father, who died in 1874, was a 
millwright by trade, but the latter part of his life was devoted to 
farming. Our subject comes of good old Revolutionary stock, and while 
his great-grandfather was fighting for American independence, his wife 
supported herself and seven children.  

J. M. Howard is the only child of his parents, who were married in New 
York state, and there he was reared to manhood in much the usual manner 
of farmer boys of his day in that locality, his education being 
acquired in the common schools. In 1872, he married Miss Altha J. 
Ewing, who was also born in New. York and reared upon a farm. In 1879, 
accompanied by his wife and mother, he removed to Missouri, and later 
purchased a farm of two hundred acres near Pleasanton, Iowa, where he 
erected a cheese factory and engaged in its operation in connection 
with farming. His was a model farm, supplied with all conveniences and 
accessories needed by the progressive agriculturist of the present day, 
and upon the place was a fine orchard of one thousand trees.  

On selling his farm there in 1882, Mr. Howard came to Spink county, 
South Dakota, and located on the southwest quarter of section 4, 118-
61, where he lived for one summer in a rude claim shanty. On locating 
there there was only one other house to be seen from his farm; the 
prairie having been recently burned off, was black as far as the eye 
could reach; and all supplies had to be hauled from Redfield, the 
nearest town at that time. In 1883, Mr. Howard built a good house and 
barn, and continued to improve and cultivate that farm until 1888, when 
he removed to a tree claim in Benton township. In 1892 he rented his 
land and for three years engaged in general merchandising at Doland, 
but at the end of that time sold out and moved to Turton, where he 
built his present comfortable residence. In early days he was engaged 
in raising heavy draft horses, but later his farm was all devoted to 
the raising of wheat. He is still the owner of six hundred and forty 
acres of fine farming land, about six hundred of which have been placed 
under a high state of cultivation, the rest being pasture land. Upon 
the place is a complete set of farm buildings, and its neat and thrifty 
appearance testifies to the skill and ability of the owner his chosen 
calling.  

Mr. Howard is at present a free-silver Republican, and takes an active 
and influential part in local politics, rendering his party efficient 
service. In 1890 he was elected to the state legislature, and most ably 
represented his' district in that august body for one term. At present 
he is serving as township treasurer.