submitted by Joy Fisher (sdgenweb@yahoo.com) *********************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ut/utfiles.htm *********************************************************************** HON. JOSEPH HOWELL. Without special advantages at the outset of his career, Hon. Joseph Howell made steady progress. His advancement was not marked by leaps and bounds but by the steady progression which results from the utilization of each opportunity for intellectual and moral development. His constantly expanding powers led to his selection for important positions of honor and trust in connection with the state and the church. He was born in Brigham city, Utah, February 17, 1856, and a contemporary writer has said: "Reared amidst the most humble surroundings, his parents, friends and neighbors never realized that the barefooted, sun-tanned youth herding cows in the Boxelder hills was destined to become one of Utah's most capable and successful business men, an empire builder and a representative of his fellow citizens in the largest and most distinguished people's forum of the world-the United States congress." In the public schools Joseph Howell mastered the lessons therein taught, but at that period the educational system of the state had not been developed to Its present high standard. He afterward attended the University of Utah, then the University of Deseret, and when his college days were over he went to Wellsville, where his rare abilities were soon manifest in positions of public life. The recognition of his powers and capabilities came to him when Bishop William H. Maughan chose him as his counselor. He was also selected for the office of mayor of Wellsville and was made a member of the board of regents of the University of Utah. He likewise became a member of the hoard of trustees of the Brigham Young College and his association with two of the oldest and most prominent of Utah's educational institutions indicated his deep interest in the intellectual progress of the state. Mr. Howell was also called upon for legislative service and for three terms represented his district in the territorial general assembly and for one term in the state senate. Throughout all these activities he was the same commanding figure, wise in council, cool-headed, keen and conservative in judgment, just and charitable, winning the respect and esteem of both friend and opponent alike. In the fall of 1902 he was nominated for congressman-at-large by the republican party and was elected. He served in the fifty-eighth congress and so creditable and satisfactory was the service that he rendered to the law-making body of the nation that he was reelected to the fifty-ninth, sixtieth, sixty-first, sixty-second, sixty-third and sixty-fourth congresses. During the fourteen years in which he served in the national halls of legislation he was a faithful servant, his ability and the esteem in which he was held by his fellowmen being evidenced by the positions which he held on the most important committees of the house of representatives. He ever placed the general welfare before personal aggrandizement and proved a very approachable man, ready to listen to argument or reason. He was nevertheless firm in his convictions, strong in his party ties, an honest and conscientious worker. If every day at nightfall he did not record something done, he at least recorded something pursued with honest and intrepid resolution. Mr. Howell was married at Wellsville to Miss Mary E. Maughan, a daughter of Bishop William H. Maughan, and again and again he attested the fact that her companionship meant more to him throughout all the varied activities of his useful life than all else in the world. They became the parents of ten children, five sons and five daughters, namely: William M., Joseph M., Luther M., Reese M., Wesley, Mrs. Mattie Cannon, Mrs. Barbara Richards, Mrs. Mary Stoddard, Mrs. Ruth Felt and Victoria, all of whom are yet living. The first break in the family circle came in the death of Mr. Howell on July 18, 1918. His home life was simplicity itself. The most complete and absolute confidence existed between the father, mother and children. They shared with each other every interest, every pleasure, every sorrow and every joy. Of Joseph Howell it has been written: "He was a typical representative of western life, one of those heroic figures nurtured by the mountains and the snow; a native-Utahan who grew up with the state, kept abreast of the times and made stepping-stones of obstacles on which he climbed to success and power; a self-made man, practical, intelligent and strong, whose accomplishments are visible evidence of his individual worth. Joseph Howell was a very dependable man. Men had confidence in him, in his integrity and in his judgment. They knew where he stood, and once having 'put his hand to the plow,' they knew he would prove steadfast and true. He was more than an ordinary man, in fact he was an extraordinary man, otherwise he could not have received such a long train of recognition at the hands of the people of his city, county and state and held so many responsible positions of trust on boards of directors of banks and other important institutions in which he was largely interested." Extracted from: UTAH SINCE STATEHOOD HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL ILLUSTRATED VOLUME IV CHICAGO-SALT LAKE: THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1920