howtonj
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing
Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",
published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
JOEL HOWTON,
who resides on his farm six miles north and two east of Kahlotus, Washington,
was born on December 10, 1854, and is the son of James H. and Elizabeth
L. (Ross) Howton. The father was a native of Hopkins county, Kentucky,
and the mother was born in Tennessee, where she lived until twelve years
of age. They were married in Kentucky in 1851, and there resided
until 1865, when they moved to Carroll county, Arkansas, which was their
home until 1875. In that year, the family crossed the plains with
horses and mule teams, landing first at Lebanon, Linn county, Oregon, where
they dwelt two years. Then they journeyed to Umatilla county and
two years later went to Nez Perces county, Idaho. The father died
in Geneseo, Idaho, in 1900, and the mother still lives in that town.
They were the parents of ten children, seven boys and three girls.
The girls are all deceased and are particularly mentioned as follows, Nancy,
died at the age of fourteen; Alice, died when three months old; Sarah,
married S. C. Wearyrick when eighteen, the wedding occurring at Albany,
Oregon. She died in Asotin county, Washington, when twenty-one years
of age. Referring to the boys, we note that William H. died when
an infant; James A. also in infancy. The brothers living are Joel,
John, G. R., C. D., and J. W. Mr. Howton received his education largely
after he had arrived at manhood's estate, gaining a thorough training at
the Corvallis college in Oregon. After that, he taught school for
a while, then did farming in Umatilla county. In 1880 Mr. Howton
married Miss Amelia A. Dehaven, the wedding occurring at Walla Walla, Washington,
on March 6. On January 1882, they moved to Nez Perces county, Idaho,
and three years later, returned to Walla Walla, and there followed farming
until 1895. On February 8, of that year, Mrs. Howton was called hence
by death. Then Mr. Howton moved to Walla Walla for the purpose of
educating his children and there remained until 1900, when he located on
his present place, taking a homestead in section 26, township 15, range
34. After that, he bought section 25 in the same township and range
and he has seven hundred acres fenced and in cultivation. The place
is well supplied with buildings, water and all improvements needed.
Mrs. Howton was the daughter of Thomas H. and Erepta A. (Savage) Dehaven.
Her maternal grandfather was Towner Savage of Salem, Oregon. Her
father's father was Jacob Dehaven, of Covington, Indiana. To Mr.
and Mrs. Howton, five children have been born, Joel H., Samuel H., George
M., James O., and Louis J. Our subject and his wife are members of
the Baptist church while in fraternal affiliations, he is known as a Mason
and Odd Fellow and member of the A. O. U. W. Politically, Mr. Howton
is a Democrat.
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