The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-09-18
JosKPHUs s. HOWELL DEAD.
An Old and Highly Respected Citizen Q



TACOMA. Sept. 17.-Especial.l-J.S s. How
ell died this morning. The funeral will
take place Wednesday at p. m. from his
late residence, No. SD Twelfth street.
lJosephus Scudder Howell was born in
Salem, Monroe county, Ohio. January 10,
ls22 When quite young he removed with
his parents to Tyler county, Va When
he was the age of Z. Mr.. Howeli's
parents again moved, settling in v ermiillon
county, Ind, on the Wabash river. After
receiving the best education to be had in
those times, Mr.. Howell left his fathers
farm IN Indiana and went to southern
Illinois, where he remained for i've years.
when he located in Chicago, that city be-
ing classed at that time as swamp
village" On March 21, 1886, Mr.. Howell
moved to Wisconsin, locating on pre-
emption claim. After procuring title TO
this property he removed to the city of
Milwaukee. where he resided for fifteen
years, engaged in mercantile business.
From Milwaukee he removed to Wau-
kesha, where he remained for two years,
afterward entering the lumber business at
Prairie du CHEN, which he conducted with
success for some time. then opened hard
ware store, conducting at the same time
carriage factory and real estate business.
During the gold excitement in Colorado
he crossed the Great American desert
fifteen times, owning and operating train
of wagons engaged in freighting, also act
ing as correspondent for some OF the lead
ing papers OF the East. He operated in
Colorado mines very extensively, going to
great expense in securing machinery to
work his mines. In mining ventures he
lost handsome fortune accumulated by
years of industry and toll. He then re-
turned to Wisconsin and engaged in the
produce business in little town named
Parkersburg. fifteen miles north of Prairie
du CHEN, where he retrieved his lost
fortunes in a large measure. He afterward
moved to Northwestern Iowa, where he
engaged in town, farm and stock specula-
tions. Buying up large tract of land in
Lyons county. he formed a syndicate laid
out and established the town of Rock
Rapids. Ia, the greater portion of which
he owned when he came to the territory of
Washington in 1877 bringing his family
with him. He came direct TO Tacoma,
where he found his old friend w. FL. Fife.
with whom he had pioneered in Iowa
years before. Locating his family temper
arily, he Travelled over Washington and
Oregon for several months. and, after be-
coming thoroughly satisfied as to the
future of Washington and Tacoma, he
returned, purchased some lots OF the
Tacoma Land Company and built a home
for his family. Returning to Iowa, he
disposed of his interests there, returned to
Tacoma and opened a real estate Office, in
which business he rem aimed. being a men,
Der of the firm of j. s. Howell & Son,
brokers. During his years of residence
here he had the utmost respect of all who
knew him, and did much for the city. lie
was an earnest Christian worker. having
organized the First Presbyterian church
of Tacoma. of which he was a member.
He leaves a wife, Abigail ]. Howell, and
two children. l. NJ. Howell, captain of
Company c, of Tacoma. and daughter,
Winnie 4. Howell.