The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1914-10-02
JAMES R. HOWE DIES
At NORTH SALEM, NY.
Was at One Time Heavy Re-
atty Holder in Crescent
City.

Through the courtsy of Mr.. Coe D
Smith, the Palatka News has received
a copy of the Brooklyn IN. " Eagle
OF September %, containing an &C.
count of the death of Hon. James R.
Howe, former Member of Congress
and Register of Brooklyn, whose
death occurred on Monday, Sept. 21,
at North Salem, N. Y. The funeral
service was held at his late residence,
232 Jefferson avenue, Brooklyn, OIL
Thursday evening at $3.50 o'clock.
The interment followed on Friday.
His death occurred at 2:3O D. m.
He had been in failing health for
some months, having several times
been taken ill in the streets. He
seemed to rally from these attacks,
however, and went away with his
family, hoping to regain his strength.
Mr.. Howe was born January 9th,
1899, in the Borough of Manhattan
He lost his father when he was 10
years old. Three years later he oe-
came clerk in a dry goods store u
work he continued in until 1870,
when he moved to Brooklyn and en-
gagged in the dry goods trade in his
own behalf. Here he continued ac-
lively in business up to short time
ago, when the active affairs were
turned over to his only son, James
f. Howe, Jr.
In 1894 and again in 1896, Mr..
Howe was elected to Congress from
the strongly democratic Sixth dis
trict as republican, and at the close
of his second term declined a renom-
nation. He was the only republi-
can to ever carry this district. His
first nomination to congress was pre-
coded by his generous efforts at re-
lieving the distress caused by the
financial panic and strikes of 1898.
During the entire winter he furnished
teams as well as men to collect as
well as distribute goods to the SUI
fering poor. He hired warehouse,
which he used as depot for the dis
tribution of food supplies and clothes.
In this way he fed over $4,000 peo-
Pile and also aided them in getting
employment.
Later Mr.. Howe was elected Reg
lister of Kings county, on platform
of opposition to the fees system. lie
promised the people that if elected he
would return to the city all in excess
of what he considered a fair compen-
sation. The statute of Washington
which stands at the Williamsburg
bridge plaza, is testimony to his fl
deity to his promise. This magnl-
ficent statue of Washington was built
at an expense of $4,000 and was
presented to the people of Brooklyn.
Speeches were made by Mr.. Howe,
Schiesen, Borough Presl-
dent Bird S. Coler, Hon. Martin W.
Littleton and other eminent citizens,
followed by a parade and luncheon
at the Hanover Club.
Mr.. Howe was a life long member
the Presbyterian church and for over
20 years a ruling elder. He belong
ed to the Union League, the Irwin
chile and the Congress and Hanover
clubs, was trustee of musical soclc-
ties and the Eastern District Hospi-
tai, a director in several banks, in an
industrial home and member of the
Philadelphia American Academy of
Political and Social Science. He
aided in the erection OF the Eastern
District Y. M. C. A. building at Mar
CIV ave. and South Third street, and
gave his support to a number of civic
betterment plans.
Some 20 years ago Mr.. Howe be-
came interested in Crescent City. He
acquired all that tract of land known
as the Griffing estate and Crescent
Hill, now one of the prettiest parts
of the town. He spent many hundreds
of dollars in Strengthening out the
tangle of titles and finally secured
a perfect abstract. He spent his win
tiers here, or at least part of them
and gave generously to every worthy
cause, especially to the churches. Ev-
cry two years for long period he
paid to have the Presbyterian church
painted. He gave the sites on which
the Methodist church and parsonage
stand. as well as the bell for that
church. He finally sold all his hold
ings here to Mr.. M. H. Read, who
later sold to Mr.. Cone. To tell Of
all Mr.. Howe's donations in this
place would require a volume. He
gave to all worthy causes without
stint. 1t has been several years since
his last visit to the town.