Biography of Howell W Runnels Jr, Bowie County, Texas *********************************************************** Submitted by: V Richardson Date: Apr 2000 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/bowie/bowitoc.htm *********************************************************** Watlington Manuscript 1920 Howell W. Runnells was born on the old Runnell's homestead now owned by him and situated twelve miles northwest of Texarkana, and is now fifty-three years old. The fifth child and second son of a family of fourteen children, he is now the only one living. In 1840, his father, -- Howell W. Runnels, -- in company with his brothers, Hardin R., Edmond S., and Hiram, came from Mississippi to the southwester frontier, and first settled on the Brazos River, but shortly afterward came to this part of the Lone Star Republic, and located permanent houses here, where they became prominent and influential in the development of the agricultural resources of the district by the time of the admission to Texas to the Union in 1845. One of the four brothers, Hardin R., who was familiarly and widely known as "Dick" Runnells, became especially prominent in the political and other civic activities, and finally had the distinction of being elected governor of Texas in 1857, defeating his opponent, the redoubtable General Sam Houston, the hero of San Jacinto, by an overwhelming majority. Gov. Runnells died at Old Boston in 1873, and was buried in the family graveyard two miles east of Boston, the present county site of Bowie. Not long ago the writer visited this lovely spot, and stood with uncovered head, in awe and reverence, above the mortal remains of the illustrious man, --this erstwhile idol of the Texas Democracy. By parting the entangled vines, briars and other dense mass of nearly half century's growth and utter, absolute neglect, and by stooping, sometimes crawling, the tomb, or rather what was once the tomb of governor Runnells, was finally found. The brick wall, some two feet in height, originally enclosing the grave, had crumbled and fallen away in places, and the once large, beautiful marble slab which covered the entire length and width of the grave, was broken in two diagonally across the sacred inscription: "to the Memory of Hardin R. Runnells", and so effaced by time and mould and neglect, as to render the other lines of the inscription almost unintelligible. Inside the fallen brick wall, the moldy earth covering the remains, was sunken to nearly half its depth, and altogether in a shameful state of utter decay, the result of somebody's neglect. For forty-seven years, here had lain the mortal remains of "Dick Runnels", and ex-governor of the great state of Texas, amid the gloom and solitude of this lonely spot, without the touch of pruning knife or other implements, no even a flower or a shrub, placed by loving hands, now to be seen. Surely, I reflected, something is WRONG! Somebody has woefully blundered, and as I pondered, the charitable thought was uppermost that, if those most interested, would visit the desolate and so long forgotten graveyard, they would take immediate steps to undo the wrong so long existing. With this brief digression, the original subject will now be resumed. Howell Runnels, now the only surviving member of the immediate family, was only about eight years old at the time of the family removal from the old Red River farm to Texarkana, where he attended public schools, afterward continuing his studies in the Texas Agriculture & Mechanical College at Bryan. He is one of Bowie County's most successful farmers and stock growers, and with his son, Jack, -- his "right bower", an industrious up to date farmer -truly a "chip off the old block", still gives active supervision to the homestead plantation, so endeared to them through the memories and associations of the past. This fine river farm comprises about 2,000 acres, seven hundred acres under cultivation, and a large amount of cotton, grain, and hay is annually produced. His stock of cattle, hogs and horses, is quite numerous, and under the direct control of his "factotum", Alf Webb, an old time ante bellum, in Mr. Runnels family for twenty years past, and who feels very keenly his dignity as "boss of the ranch". In April 1912, Mr. Runnels was elected Mayor of Texarkana, and re-elected the next year, by big majorities over all opposition, which was emphatic testimony of his personal popularity and to the confidence reposed in him by the voters of the city. On April 18, 1894, he married Miss Katherine M. Neely, a native of Mississippi, and from this union were born six children, all of whom are living, -- Howell R., -- Jack N., --Octavia, --George Elizabeth, -- Hardin Richard, -- and Patsy Dardin. Mr. Runnels has a beautiful home on Rose Hill, with many valuable acres surrounding it, and Jack lives near by, owning a splendid home where his family resides, but for the greater part of the time, Jack may be found in strict business attendance upon his farming interest on the Red River. He always has a number of fine coon and possum dogs, and after the days work is done, he dearly loves this exciting sport. "Uncle Alf", too, enjoys the hunt, but the catch more, and will tell you "There is nothing better than possum on tatter's." Jack and Uncle Alf are great cronies, and neither could hardly get along without the other.