The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-04-11
Geo. F. Howe Was a
Valued Citizen Of
West Boylston.
OFFICER FOR YEARS.
He Had Been a Successful
Manufacturer and Was
Z Well Known.

West Boylston, April 1O.-George z.
HbWe, d much esteemed citizen of this
town. died about noon today after a
short illness, at the advanced age Of
73ayears. Mr.. Howe had not been well
for. Some time, but it was not until
March 81 that the old gentlemaa took
his bed. From that time he never raj
lied, and it was evident from remarks
made on his death bed that he knew
his days of life on earth were nearly
ended.
He often remarked that his cherished
plans would probably never be carried
out. The plans referred to were in ref
erence to a new home he was fitting
up at West Boylston common, where
he proposed to spend the rest of his
days,
This action was of course due to the
proposed Wachusett reservoir, which
would take in all his property III COM
mon with the rest, and he had no de-
sire to go farther away from the place
he had lived nearly half d century than
was necessary.
Mr.. Howe was we'll known through
out all the Boylstons and adjoining
towns, and everywhere he had the I'M
bounded respect and admiration Of the
people. Always precise and exact in
his business affairs, his advice on this
and that subject was often sought, and
willingly did he give of his knowledge
and experience.
For more than 80 years Mr.. Howe
was the town treasurer, and during all
that period his accounts never FAILED
to be perfectly correct-not even the
z difference Of a cent was ever known
to have been found.
At the time of his death, his wife, a
Worcester woman whom he had mar
ried but five years ago, and his only
daughter Mrs. James =. Ackley Of Fail
River, were with him. The funeral will
be Thursday, but further details have
not yet been arranged.
George Francis Howe was born in the
historic town of Roxbury, April p, 1925,
son of Thomas and Esther Carter
Howe. Mr.. Howe's early life up to
the age of q years, was devoted to
farm work on the ancestral acres.
When about "a years of age, he pur-
chased a farm in Princeton, and set
tied upon it. Just previous to his re
moval to that town, he married Louise
Rice in 1916, who was native OF Hol-
den.
In 1852 he came to West Boylston to
engage in the boot and shoe business.
He was employed by D. G. & R. T.
Rawson for three years. At the end
of that time a new company was form
ed, known as Hastings, Howe d Co.
This firm, subsequently known as that
of George F. Howe & Co., built up a
large and successful trade. AT the end
flo years Mr.. Howe became the sole
proprietor of the business, and for eight
years carried ON the affairs of con-
stantly increasing business without a
partner, H. E. Morton of Oakdale
was then taken into the concern.
Subsequently the business was car
ried on under the name Of Howe, At
wood &, Morton. Later this was
changed to Howe, Morton & Lowell,
manufacturers of mems, boys and
children's boots and shoes. This con-
Germ, founded As years ago, was one OF
the oldest business courses IN TINS
place.
"a In December. 1898, the firm stopped
the manufacturing of goods. Inc me-
1fopoltan board bought the plant, pre-
pairing the way for the construction OF
The reservoir. Since that time MI.
Howe has been slowly settling up the
business of the company.
Mr.. Howe's first wife died at the age
of % years. She was the mother OF
two children. one of whom is living,
namely, Ellen L., VINO married JdlIlS9
F. Ackley, an employee of the OLD Col
ony railroad, now a part of the New
York New Haven and Hartford sys-
tenn.
Mr.. Howe married for his second wife
Julia A. ChiIds of West Boylston, who
died at the age of 81. His third wife
was Miss Emma L. Dunbar, who was
formerly music teacher in Worcester
and is well known in that city.
Mr.. Howe was always a staunch re
publican and had held many pubic
trusts in the town of his adoption.
Since 1862 he has been town treasurer,
, having been reelected successfully
with three exceptions for 81 years. At