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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.


     WILLIAM W. HOWELL deserves to be mentioned in any volume that speaks of the leading citizens of Lincoln county, since he has demonstrated here his ability to handle the resources of the country in a successful manner and has during these years, shown himself to be a progressive and capable man.  He is now spending the golden years of his life retired from active business in the town of Wilbur where he has a beautiful residence.
     William W. Howell was born in Kentucky, on January 31, 1838, being the son of Thomas and Sarah (Morris) Howell, natives of Virginia.  The father was a worthy agriculturist and an influential citizen.  His father, John H., the grandfather of our subject, fought in the War of 1812.  The mother's father was killed in the same war.  The district schools of Kentucky contributed to the educational training of our subject and in 1854 he moved with his parents to Illinois where they took up farming.  It was in 1862 that they bought ox team conveyances and made the weary journey across the plains to eastern Oregon.  Our subject spent sometime in washing the golden sands of Placerville, Idaho, and in portions of Oregon, then in 1853 made the trip to Illinois on horseback.  After farming in that state for some time, he went to Missouri, but in 1872 returned again to Illinois and there made his home until 1884, when he came to Lincoln county.  He took a homestead about five miles northwest from Wilbur and later bought two hundred acres of land and has improved the entire estate in a becoming manner and it is now one of the choice farms of the Big Bend country.  Mr. Howell has an excellent orchard and all the conveniences of machinery and buildings on his estate.  He now resides in Wilbur and oversees his estates from that place.  He owns a fine residence in Wilbur and is one of the esteemed citizens of the town.
     In 1864, Mr. Howell married Miss Sarah Bumgardner.  In 1888, he was called to mourn the death of his wife who left three children: Orlando, and Vilasco, wealthy farmers near Wilbur, and Mrs. Mary Parker.
 

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