Henry S. Howell 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 476-479

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

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HENRY S. HOWELL is one of the foremost business men of Artesian, South 
Dakota, owning the best store in the city, and carrying a large and 
well selected stock of drugs, jewelry, wall paper, paints, etc. His 
career illustrates most forcibly the possibilities that are open to a 
young man who possesses sterling business qualifications. It proves 
that neither wealth nor social position, nor the assistance of 
influential friends at the outset of his career are necessary to 
success. It proves also that ambition, perseverance, steadfast purpose 
and indefatigable industry, combined with sound business principles, 
will be rewarded, and that true success follows individual effort only. 
His many friends will be pleased to find his portrait in connection 
with this biography. 

Mr. Howell was born in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1852, and is a son of 
Harvey P. and Frances (Pitman) Howell, natives of Ohio and Virginia, 
respectively. The father was a carpenter by trade. Our subject is the 
second in order of birth in a family of five children, and was reared 
in Louisville, Kentucky. While still a boy, he learned ornamental glass 
staining, completing his apprenticeship at the age of sixteen years, 
and as he became an adept at that work he commanded as high as five 
dollars per day. He continued to work at his trade for three years, but 
as new inventions in machinery took the place of many workmen and so 
reduced the wages, he then retired from the business. When quite young 
he attended school for,a few years, but the greater part of his 
education was obtained in night schools while learning his trade. 

At the age of nineteen, Mr. Howell entered the employ of H. O. Palmer, 
a druggist, with whom he remained for four or five years, and during 
that time he thoroughly mastered the business. He then bought out his 
employer and successfully engaged in the drug business in Sparta, 
Wisconsin, for twelve years. His store, which was 20 x 75 feet, and 
well stocked, was destroyed by fire in 18X8, at a total loss of $ 
2,000. Coming to Artesian, South Dakota, he purchased a small stock of 
drugs from W. S. Stuart and embarked in business here. To meet the 
growing demands of his trade, he has enlarged his stock from time to 
time, and in 1890 he erected his present store building. He is now at 
the head of a large and profitable business, which has mainly been 
secured by fair and honorable dealing. 

In 1889 Mr. Howell went to Princeton, Illinois, where he was united in 
marriage with Miss Priscilla Staples, who was born in Iowa, but was 
reared in Princeton and is a graduate of the high school in that city. 
Her parents, John K. and Anna M. (Leach) Staples, were both born and 
reared in London, England. To our subject and his wife were born two 
daughters, namely: Mildred and Marjorie. They began housekeeping in a 
small building attached to the rear of his drug store, and there one 
child was born, but in 1897 Mr. Howell erected their present 
comfortable residence in the western part of the city. 

Politically he is a stanch Democrat, and during President Cleveland's 
second term he served as postmaster of Artesian. He was the first clerk 
of the village board after the incorporation of Artesian, and his 
public and private duties have always been discharged with the utmost 
promptness and fidelity. Socially he affiliates with the Ancient Order 
of United Workmen, the Masonic fraternity, the Modern Woodmen of 
America, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.