Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1880-04-17


has passed away. Last Saturday morn
ing VIM. A. Howard died at the National
Hotel, at Washington. Few men were
better known throughout the country or
were more highly respected than was
the deceased. For many wears he was a
prominent man i'm the political history
of our state. Although for years an in
valid i'm body, his massive mind was as
vigorous as ever, and i'm every political
campaign he made his power felt. He
was an nnfinching Republican aud as
stump speaker was among the leading
campaign orators of the great west. His
loss will be felt not only by the citizens
of this state but the nation at large will
find void that will be hard to fill. He
realized that his end was approaching
and was ready to meet that dread terror.
to most mankind, death. wel anrei Z.
To the wife of Representative COnger,
a few days before his death, in reply t.
a remark about the patience with which
he endured pain, he said: Il was born
in poverty, and my mother had a strug-
gle against it through all the years OF
my young life. L have been sick great
deal, but / can truly say that merciesi
have been scattered all along. Goodness
and mercy have followed me all the days
of my life. and my only regret is that, 1
have not been more perfectly transform
ed"oul osf tae9er ~ s.a.r,a5sIiTl
The following brief biographical sketch
is from the Detroit Evening News: : /,
William AlansOn Howard was one of
the best known men of Michigan. He
was born at Hinesburg, VT, April s, 1913,
and had consequently just passed his
9th birthday at the time of his death.
When but IA years of age he went to Al
biOn, n. Y, to learn the trade of cabinet
maker, and remained there five years. In
1882 he went to Wyoming, n. Y, and en-
tered the academy at that place, and in
1885 entered Middlebury Vt.) college,
graduating in 1889, John S., SAKE, the
poet, and other distinguished men being
his classmates. After graduating he
taught school i'm Genesee county, N. Y,
but being in bad health was advised
to come west. This advice he took,
and reached Detroit April IL,
1910, with just $72 i'm his pocket.
He soon got position as mathemati-
cal tutor in the State University, and
put in his spare time studying law with
Witherell & Buel, and was admitted to
practice in 1912, and at once entered into
partnership with Alex. W. Buel, with
whom he continued until that gentle
man was sent to Congress. In 1854 Mr..
Howard was elected to congress from the
then first district of Michigan, and served
three terms in succession, and during all
that time was on the committee of ways
and means. Subsequently he embarked
extensively in numbering and the bank
ing business, suffering reverSeS in the
panic of 1857. In 1860 he served as
chairman of the Republican State Cen
tral committee, and in 1861 was appoint
ed postmaster of Detroit by President
Lincoln, position he held for 51a years.
He was first president of the Detroit
Daily Post company. In 1869 he was ap-
pointed minister to China, but declined,
and soon after accepted the position of
land commissioner of the Grand Rapids
& Indiana railroad company, removing
his residence to Grand Rapids about that
time, and for two years he served as
president of that company. He was a
delegate to the Republican National
conventions of 1872 and 1876. He laid
aside his railroad connections about two
years ago to accept the governorship of
Dakota territory, a position he held up
to the time of his death. -,iif
Gov. Howard was married in 1841 to
Miss Ellen Jane Birchard, daughter. OF
Mathew W. Birchard late owner of the
Howard House property, who is still q
resident of this city. Mr.. Howard was a
member of the presbyterian church, a
man of agreeable manners, and was a
brilliant orator. He has hardly ever been
known as other than a confirmed in
valid. yti7a oea.ff .. .t.-.is =. .-r,a. Z
The funeral took place from the First
Presbyterian church of Detroit Tuesday
afternoon and the services were very
impressive and attended by vast con
course of OfmOurning relatives and friends
The floral tributes were numerous an(
beautiful. Rev. DIR. Baker paid al
eloquent tribute to the memory of thu
deceased. rfs fs- = Il tgt-4u