Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 05.djvu/414

 HOWELL

HOWELL

at Southampton academy, entered Yale college in the sopliomore class in 1851 and was graduated in 1834. He taught in various academies, and continued his studies, and in ISGl he entered Princeton Theological seminary, where he was graduated in 1864. He was pastor in western New York, 1S64-G6. He was offered the profes- sorship of Latin and Greek, and subsequently the presidency of a college in Iowa, both of which ments as pastor. At the suggestion of Dr. S. B. Woolworth, he was engaged as associate librarian in the New York State library in 1872. On ac- count of the illness of Dr. Henry A. Homes, librarian, his duties were extended to those of chief librarian, and on the death of Dr. Homes, Nov. 3. 1887, he became acting state librarian, and in 1889 he was appointed state archivist. He was secretary of the Albany Institute, and a charter member of the " Order of Founders and Patriots of America," being historian-general at the time of his death. He was married, March 18, 186S, to Mary Catharine, daughter of Norman and Frances Hale (Metcalf ) Seymour, of Mount ^Morris, N.Y., a worker in literaiy and social fields, who survived her husband. He is the author of: The E<trly Hi.'itory of Soiithainjiton, L.I., tcith Gene- alogies (1866: new ed., 1887); The -First Set- tlement of Xeic York by the Dutch, published by the Founders and Patriots. He contributed to the Transact io7is of the Albany institute: Lin- guistic Discussions, The Open Polar Sea, and Heraldry of America, and left in manuscript Funny Doings for Children of all Ages from Tliree to Seventy. His poem. Hail to the Flag, was set to music. He died in Albany, N.Y., April 5, 1899.
 * X)sitions he declined on account of his engage-

HOWELL, James B., senator, was born near Morristown, N.J., July 4, 1816; son of Elias Howell, who removed with his family to Newark, Oliio, in 1819, became state senator from Licking county and a representative in the 24th congress, 1835-37. James B. was graduated at Miami university, A.B., 1839, A.M., 1840; was admitted to the bar in 1840 and began practice in Newark, Ohio. He re- moved to Kosaque, Iowa, in 1842, where he prac- tised law and edited the Des Moines Valley Whig, 1843-49. He removed his paper to Keokuk in 1849, clianging its name to the Daily Gate City, and gi\'ing up his law practice devoted himself to journalism and politics. He was a delegate to the Republican national convention of 1856, and canvassed Iowa for Fremont, and in 1860 for Lincoln. In 1869 he was elected to a seat in the U.S. senate to fdl the unexpired term of James W. Grimes, who resigned liis seat. Dec. 6, 1868, and he served to the end of the term, March 3, 1871. He was appointed by President Grant in 1871 one of three commissioners to examine and report on claims for stores and supplies taken or

furnished for the use of the Federal army in the seceded states. The commission finished its work, March 10, 1880. He received the honorary degree of LL.D. from Iowa college in 1871. He died in Keokuk, Iowa. June 17, 1880.

HOWELL, Jeremiah Brown, senator, was born in Providence, R.I., Aug. 28. 1771; son of Judge David and Mary (Brown) Howell; grand- son of Aaron and Sarah Howell and of Jeremiah and Waitstill (Rhodes) Brown; and a descendant of Edward Howell, gentleman, of Marsh Gibbon, Buckingliamsliire, England. His father was a delegate to the Continental congress and pro- fessor in Brown university. He was graduated at Brown, A.B., 1789, A.M., 1791; and also received the degree of A.B., from Dartmouth in 1791. He was a lawyer in Providence, R.I., 1791-1822, and represented his state in the U.S. senate as suc- cessor to Elislia Mathewson. 1811-17. He mar- ried, Oct. 17, 1793, his second cousin, Martha, only child of John and Wait (Field) Brown, and died in Providence, R.I., Feb. G. 1822.

HOWELL, John Adams, naval officer, was born in Bath, Steuben county, N.Y., March 16, 1840; son of W^illiam and Frances A. (Adams) Howell; grandson of Capt. Edward Howell (mariner), of Sag Harbor, N.Y., and of Dr. Obi- diah Adams, of Brook- field, Mass., and a de- scendant of Edward Howell, who came from Marsh Gibbon, England, and settled in Boston, Mass., in 1639, removing in 1641 to Southampton, Long Island, N.Y. He was graduated from the U.S. Naval academy in 1858, v^^t;

standing second in his class. He was ^

attached to the sloop <^^r~^i<^T'S^hr-^^(_^^^ Macedonian, of the ^

Mediterranean squadron, 1858-59; to the Po- cahontas, 1860; to the store-ship Supply, 1861- 62; to the Montgomery, West Gulf sciuadron, 1862; to the steam-sloop O-isipee, of the North Atlantic squadron, 1862-63; was with the West Gulf blockading .squadron, 1863-65. and took part in the battle of Mobile Bay, Aug. 5, 1864, as ex- ecutive officer of the Ossipee. He was on special duty as executive officer on the steamer De Soto, 1866; with the North Atlantic squadron, 1866-67; at the Naval academy. 1868-71; on coast survey duty, commanding the steamers Bache and Blake, 1871-74; at the Naval academy. 1875-79: com- manded tiie Adams on the Pacific station, 1879- 81; was assistant at the bureau of ordnance.