BIOGRAPHIES: Thomas J. HOWARD, Dallas Township, Barron County, WI

====================================================================
USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information 
on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as 
this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may 
NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other 
persons or organizations.

Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes 
other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file 
contributor, or the legal representative of the contributor, and contact 
the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent.   The submitter 
has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently 
for free access.

This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:  
Vic Gulickson <vic@indy.net>  10 June 2001	
====================================================================

Thomas J. Howard, an early settler, now deceased, was for many years one of
the active residents of Dallas Township, a good citizen, who took a
prominent part in all civic movements. He was a life-long worker in behalf
of prohibition, and labored for the improvement of highways, the betterment
of rural schools, and the general public interests of the county. He took
pride in his community, his home, his family and his farm, and was a
faithful husband, a loving father, a kindly neighbor and a useful citizen.
He was born in Briceville, Knox County, Indiana, June 16, 1836, the son of
John and Nancy (Young) Howard, who, when he was a boy, moved to Highland,
in Iowa County, Wis. There he was reared and educated. As a young man he
spent some time in the gold fields of California. For some years he was
superintendent of a brick yard near Eau Claire, in this state. In 1872 he
took a homestead of 160 acres in Section 8, east, Dallas Township. He made
the trip from Chippewa Falls, and to reach the homestead, cut his way
through the trees from Sioux Creek, across which he later built the first
bridge. He put up a set of log buildings, and started clearing the land. In
1873 he brought his wife here. For over forty years he continued to
successfully carry on general farming. He replaced the log buildings with a
good set of modern structures, he cleared over half the land, and built up
as good a farm as was to be found in the neighborhood. With all his busy
work here, he found time for public service, and was a member of the town
board for several terms and of the school board for several years. After a
long and useful life, he died Nov. 27, 1914, since which time his widow has
continued to live on the home farm. Mr. Howard was married at Eau Claire,
Aug. 6, 1871, to Nellie Ward, who was born at Kingston, Canada, on Dec. 25,
1844, the daughter of Ebenezer and Mary E. (Wilson) Ward, natives of
Scotland, both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Howard had six children:
Phillina, born May 28, 1872, is the wife of Albert Wilson, of Sumner
Township. Albert H., born Oct. 8, 1874, is now a land owner in Montana.
Eben L., born June 26, 1877, is now at Bones Ferry, Idaho. William, born
Dec. 11, 1880, married Ruby Thorne of Chicago, and lives on the home farm,
which he now owns and operates. He is an active, energetic and hard working
man, a good farmer and a good citizen, and has a high standing among all
who know him. Nancy M., born, March 13, 1883, is the wife of Archie Miles,
of Earl, Wis. Margie, born June 15, 1888, is the wife of Richard Thompson,
of Dallas Township. The family faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal
Church.

--Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co.,
1922, pp. 839-840.