The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1918-09-07
FRANK L. HOWE
FOR GOVERNOR
Sketch of Bennington Man Who As.
pires to the Highest Office in
Gift of State.
CBy Waiter E. Hubbard)

N''s " HtNNA - AAhNR1AAt
Frank Z. Howe comes from Wind
ham county stock. His ancestors
were among the early settlers in Doy-
er, Marlboro, Newfane, and Wards
boro The greatgrandfather of the
subject Of this sketch was Lieutenant
Gardner Howe. who served in the
Revolutionary army for five years.
Al the close OF the war ne took his
young bride and came from Shrews-
bury, Mass, to what is now Dover,
though then known as the South Dis
trict OF Wardsboro where he became
one OF the leading citizens OF the
town and raised a family Of eight
SON.:
Frank +. Howe was born in Heath,
Mass, Oct. ?, 1870 His father and
mother were both natives of Dover,
and spent their lives in Vermont ex-
cept for the four years when they
lived in Massachusetts during which
time their only son was born Mr.
Howes father. Edmund Perry Howe,
served In the Civil war, enlisting in
the first company organized in Brat
tleboro.
In 1872 the family moved to farm
in Brattleboro, near the Gui,ford and
Marlboro town lines, and here the
I boy grew to manhood. working on
the farm and attending the district
school
His father died when Frank was
fourteen years old and his further
educational advantages were limited
because Of being compelled to aid in
the support Of his mother and two
sisters BY working the rest of the
year he was able to attend the semi
nary at West Brattlebor0 several fall
terms, although. 10 do it, he had to
walk four miles each way every day
and do The farm chores at home night
and morning. At the age Of seven.
teen. he passed the required exam
inauon to get a teachers certificate
with The highest average of any can
didatc that year, and taught school in
ihc town of Gulford.
At the age OF nineteen, he left The
farm and became a printers appren
/ iice in the Office of The Brattehoro
RctOrmer, where he spent three years
learning the trade His wages during
that period were three dollars per
week the first year four dollars the
second, and five dollars the third At
the end Of his apprenticeship. he be
/ came a reporter ON The RefOrmer but
left Brattlcboro In 1898 TO join The
reportorial staff OF the Montpelier Ar
eu'
worked on the Argus, was for year
the editor of the Montpelier Daily
Record. worked two years in Florida
as a special correspondent of the New
York Herald aud other papers, and
for three years was editor OF The
Barre Daily Times During these
years he worked as a newspaper re.
porter at the statehouse while the
legislature was in session and be.
came an enthusiast in efforts for the
Industrial and educational advance Of
Vermont,
In 1902 with three hundred dollars
cash capital. he left Barre and went
10 bennington. where he bought The
Bennington Reformer on credit 4
few months later, he took oyer The
Bennington Banner on similar terms.
In December. 1903. he established The
bennington Evening Banner. and as
editor and publisher during the past
. fifteen years he has made IL one of
the well.known papers OF Vermont
In 1908. he was elected TO the Leg.
lslamre from Bennington. He was o
presidential elector the same year and
was the messenger sent TO carry the
Vermont vote to Washington, He
was reelected to the Legislature in
1919 and was chosen Speaker. In
. 1912. he was elected Lieutenant-Gov.
errO,.
40 the age OF twenty.one. Mr. Howe
ioined The Columbian Lodge, No 36.
! r. and a NJ. Of Brattleboro. and Is
! now member OF the Mount Anthony
Lodge OF Bennington He Is mem.
her OF The Benevolent Protective Or.
dor OF Elks. the Fraternal Order of
Eagles The Grange and Sons of
Veterans. and was a member OF the
, knights OF Pythias unul the BennIng.
ton Lodge was disbandel For ten
years. he has been trustee Of the
BENNINGTON Graded school district and
OF the Bennington Public library He
5 was the first president OF the Ben
nngton Board OF Trade and Is a
Continued on Second Page)