St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1908-07-29
RECENT DEATHS.
Howard,

week by T. M. Howard of the death of
his only brother, Charles Webb
Howard, who is so pleasantly re-
membered by many of the readers of
this paper. Mr.. Howard died at San
Rafael, Cal, July II
Mr. Howard was born in Cabot.
January %, 1881, and receiving good
education early inclined to a business
career. So before he was of age he was
clerking in stores, first at Peacham and
then at Burlington. About 1850 he
went to Keene. N. H., where he estab-
lished himselfin business. In 1852 he
went to Galveston, Texas, and in Janu-
airy of the next year he sailed from New
| Orleans for San Francisco, via Nicara-
qua. 1t was on this trip that he had
the most thrilling episode of his life.
The ship caught fire off the Gulf of Cali
fornia and 200 sailors and passengers
were drowned Mr.. Howard started
for the shore on a door clinging to the
| handle, but as he neared the coast the
waves beat him back and his body
when washed ashore was laid with the
dead. Later someone noticed a slight
movement Of his hand and he was re-
susitated and reached San Francisco
April l, 1853. In telling this startling
experience to the writer Mr.. Howard
sagely observed, at is harder to live
than it is to die"
After engaging in trade for a dozen
years he took the management of
10000 acre ranch in Marin county. The
administration of this property involved
many interests, public and private, from
leasing lands to the building OF a rail
road. He was possessed OF an enor-
nous capacity for business and organic
ed various banking and commercial
enterprises.
In 1874 he was associated with the
purchase and management OF the Spring
Valley waterwotks, which supplied the
city of San Francisco with water and
was one OF the largest corporations of
us hlAp III lllN NOilQs liz W do ElESluGllt
of this company from it's organization
until May, 1906, when he retired on ac-
count of i'll health He died at the home
of his son, Frederick Paxson, and leaves
besides two other sons and a daughter.
For generation Mr.. Howard had |
been one of San Francisco's leading CAPT |
talists, tremendously enthusiastic over
the development OF the Pacific coast and |
one OF its prime factors in that marvel |
GUS growth.
A dear friend Of the CALIFORNIAN in
Berkeley, Cal, who long enjoyed Mr.
Towards friendship, has written a let.
ter to I. NJ. Howard from which we are
permitted to take the following ex-
tracts:
Thirty nine years ago he gave me
welcome to California and ever since
have felt warm attachment for him
and have had frequent occasion to APP
preciate Ills personal friendship While
he was i'll in Berkeley saw him often
and | must say | never saw a Drawer,
more patient hero than he Never free
from pain as he said and his weary, tired
showed how true it was,
he never murmured, inor complained;
always was interested in all that was
going on, and met his weary experiences
like a hero. After his exceptionally ac-
tive and energetic life, holding for years
such vast responsibilities, and mingllng
with the formost of the active leaders in
business, in politics, and in social life, it
was a tremendous ordeal that he was
called to pass through in the period OF
his helplessness.
He will be remembered as one Of San
Francisco's most prominent pioneers
and leading citizens His acquaintance
with great men, with men great in liter
ature, in politics, in the church and bust
ness was remarkable. He was the peer
Of the ablest with whom he mingled and
MS heart was always tender to his