(P.88)  The Independent Order of Odd Fellows antedate all other secret orders in Howell, as their old lodge was instituted by N. B. Nye, D. D. G. M. of Ann Arbor, on September 5th, 1849. Its first officers installed were: N. G., Josiah Turner; V. G., L. K. Hewett; Secretary J. B. Dillingham; Treasurer, Lemuel Spooner. The lodge had quite a prosperous existence for a number of years, but finally ceased to exist.

     That same year, a dispensation was granted from the grand lodge, by the power of which the Howell Masonic lodge began working. It was not chartered until January 10, 1850. Its number is 38. The lodge home has been successively in the Einman block where the Hubbell block now stands, Lee block where Topping block now stands, old Greenaway block, Weimeister block, old Winans block and the present Masonic temple. The early Worshipful Masters were consecutively, Amos Adams, Gardner Wheeler, Henry H. Harmon, Frederick C. Whipple,Sardias F. Hubbell, Frank Wells, Sardias F. Hubble, Milo L. Gay, Joseph T. Titus, William C. Rumsey, Joseph T. Titus, Albert Riddle, Sardias F. Hubbell, Albert Hathaway, Sardias F. Hubbell, Walter D. Whalen, John W. Wright, and Rollin H. Person. (P.89) During Mr. Hathaway's term he moved away and William L. Knapp Senior Warden, filled out the term.

     The Howell foundry long managed by John M. and George L. Clark, was built in 1849, by Stephen Clark, for the manufacture of stoves and agricultural castings. In 1859, it was purchased by George U. Taylor and George L. Clark. Taylor sold his interest to Geo. L. Clark, who sold a half to John H. Galloway, in1864. F. S. Wvkoff and H. B. Blackman were taken into the firm in 1867, and William Williamson soon after bought Mr. Galloway's interest, the firm become known as Wykoff, Clark & Co., which it continued, until 1874, when it was changed to Wykoff, Clark & lmmen. In December, 1876, the whole plant, which had become at that time the most important manufacturing enterprise of the town, was purchased by Josiah M. Clark, who afterwards died and it was then owned by J. M. Clark & Co., who did a general iron and wood manufacturing business. Their trade in the Howell hand car became world wide, a large number having been shipped to other countries. Their manufacture of the Howell tubular axel wagon was also quite extensive. They gradually ran out however, and finally quit for want of finances. The buildings were torn down to clear the square for the Carnegie Library.

     The Howell grist mill at the foot of Thompson's lake was commenced by George W. and Fredrick J. Lee in 1849 and completed during the following year. (P.90) A few Years later George W. Lee became sole owner. He sold to William Williamson and it has since been  owned by Zebulon M. Drew, Thomas Birkett, William Y. Munson and Calvin Wilcox. Thomas Hoyland,  Thomas Hoyland & Son, and George Hoyland. The present proprietor is A. O. Hutchins. The mill has always done a good business and is now shipping a large amount of flour in addition to its custom trade.

     In 1850 Shubael B. Slifer commenced the erection of a Steam saw mill on the site of the present City Mills. He soon sold part of the business to D. D. Chandler and George W. Kneeland who afterwards became sole owners. The will was burned in 1851.  

     The mill sawed quite an amount of the plank for the two plank roads when they were built. After the fire Judge Kneeland became sole proprietor and rebuilt it. The engine put in after the fire, was built by B. C. and H. B. Curtis, and was the first one built in Howell. Aiken Holloway, John Hoyt, J. R. Axtell, J. I. VanDusen, Taylor & VanDusen and VanDusen & Whipple, were successive proprietors. Under the management of the last firm the mill was remodeled into a grist mill, and soon after that change became the of  property of Latson & Wright. It was afterwards purchased by E. C. Wright & Sons who made an assignment, in July, 1888. The mill was bought by John Birkhart, who rebuilt it and put in a full outfit of new machinery making it one of the best in this section. It has been owned by C. A. Parshall (P.91) for some years past find and is doing a large business. Mr. Parshall has continued the spirit of improvement since he became the owner, and has put in a large amount of new machinery.

     The Phoenix Foundry and Machine Shop, at the south-west corner of Division and Sibley streets, built by A. W. Smith & Co. after the burning of the old Galloway foundry in 1857. The foundry was burned February 22, 1860, at a loss of $7,200. B. C. and H. B. Curtis built new shops on the same site after the fire. The Curtises sold to Floyd S. Wykoff and the works were afterwards owned by John H. Galloway, Henry B. Curtis and Curtis & Son. The business stopped while the last named firm had it. The first Howell school building was purchased by A. Curtis and moved to the south-west corner of his plant where its still stands. The buildings are now occupied by W. N. Snedicor &_Son's poultry and egg business.

     In 1845, an M. E. class was formed at West Howell, with ten members. It was mainly supplied by pastors from Howell.  It continued with more or less prosperity, until 1865, when it became crippled by the moving away of several of its members, and soon ceased to exist. Another M. E. class was organized during the pastorate of Jessie Kilpatrick at Howell, but only ran a few years.

     About this time the four corners as they they were called, began to assume to be a town. Solemon Sly built (P.92) what has long been called the Four Mile House, on the grade, west of town, and opened it in 1851. He was afterwards succeeded by Mortimer Townsend who was followed by Thomas Gilchrist who was landlord for a number of years. The old building still stands but long since ceased to be a hotel. The cemeteries on sections seventeen and twenty-two belong to this period, the first having been established in 1850 and the other in 1858.

     As previously noted in this history, the district found itself in the winter of 1848-49, without a school house, and a long and tedious fight ensued before final location of the site now occupied by our fine central school building, which was done at a school meeting held on December 15, 1848. It was then resolved to instruct the board to build a school house 38x48 feet in size, two story, at a cost of $1,000. This proposition met so much opposition by citizens who called the proposed building a "castle," that another meeting was called and the size of the building cut down to 26x36 feet. The building was erected during the coming summer and fall, and was occupied in the winter, William Wills being the first teacher there. In less than a year it was found that the building was too small and rooms were rented for school purposes, outside. This continued until 1856, when by vote of the district, additions were made to the building, larger than its original size.

     Cowdry's second addition to the village embraced (P.93) the east half of the north-west quarter of section thirty-five. It contained forty-nine acres near the Byron road. The plat was filled by the administration of the P. A. Cowdry estate, October 26, 1853.

     In the very early days there was an agricultural society in this county, the Livingston County Agricultural Society, but none of the early pioneers whom we have interviewed, know anything about such an organization. A meeting was held at the court house, Thursday February 24, 1853, which proceeded to organize a Livingston Comity Agricultural Society with Ira Jennings, of Green Oak, as president, and a vice president from each township, the one from Howell being Odell J. Smith. Wm. A. Buckland wag treasurer and Elijah F. Burt, secretary. The first fair was held at such town is would raise the most money to defray expenses, and by those terms went to Brighton. The next meeting was held on the old public square in Howell, this township having pledged $200 toward expenses. For a few years it rotated back and forth from Brighton to Howell, but in 1860 the society purchased grounds east of the old toll gate, in Howell, and, the first fair held upon the society's own grounds was in September, 1860.

     When the Ann Arbor railroad was completed in 1888, it ran between the buildings and race track, thus spoiling the old fair grounds for fair purposes. The association was awarded quite heavy damages from the railroad company and Charles Fishbeck bought (P.94) the grounds. New grounds were purchased on the Byron road just outside the village limits and new buildings were erected there. The fair continued annually there for six or eight years and ran out. Some years later, McPherson Brothers took the grounds on a mortgage. William and M. J. McPherson sold their interests to Alexander, and he sold the grounds to W. W. Crittenden.


     In 1898, Howell businessmen organized and held a street fair, a leading feature of which was a ladies floral parade. Miss Nellie Brooks was elected queen. Two years later, Miss Julia Benedict was queen. A third was two years later. The latter was much of the carnival order, and has been followed by a carnival by Wixom Bros. 

     The Livingston Republic was started by H. and L. M. Smith, April 27th, 1855. Their success was somewhat of the up and down order for about four years at the end of which it was considerably on the down grade.  George W. Lee was then induced to take hold of it and with his brother Fred Lee and several others, fixed up a sort of stock company arrangement that gave the publication a good financial backing. George L. Sage became the editor at that time. George W. Lee gradually bought out the interest of the others and by 1862, had the paper well established. It was then sold to James Bowers, who edited it until he died in 1866. After Mr. Bowers' death, the paper was sold to A. D. Waddell and (P.95) J. D. Smith. Mr. Smith bought his partner's interest in 1868. He afterwards took Frank H. Marsh as a partner, and later successively George W. Axtell, Solomon T. Lyon and E. B. Vanderhoef. In 1877, Smith & Vanderhoef sold the paper to L. C. Miller.

     After some years he sold to E. D. and Orrin Stair, in 1889, Stair Brothers sold the Republican to George Barnes who has lately associated his son Albert with him in the publication. In all its list of editors and publishers, Republicans of this county have been fortunate in having at the head of their county organ, men of fearless character, true to their party principles, and good writers.

     It was while he was editing the Republican that E. D. Stair wrote "Trixie," which he soon after staged, and which at once became a popular hit, laying the foundation for the handsome fortune which he has acquired by a long run of success in the theatrical world.

     The evolution which has developed some of our present business houses forms interesting parts of Howell's history, Take Monroe Brothers for example. In 1845, George W. and Fred J. Lee started a general store in the old Whipple block, on the site of Monroe Brothers' present store. Two years later, George W. Lee built the first brick store in Howell, a two story building which stood on the ground where Johnson's drug store is now, arid their store was moved into it. In 1852, Fred J. Lee sold out to his (P.96)  brother and built a new store the next door west. The brothers united  for a third story over both stores, which was rented to the Masons for a lodge room.

     As soon as his new store was completed, Fred J. Lee formed a partnership with Lemuel Spooner and they opened a new store there. After a few years, they sold their business to E. B. Taylor, who, later sold an interest to Fobes Crossman. William B. Jewett also acquired an interest there for a time. George W. Lee finally bought this firm out, when Mr. Taylor went to California. He cut an archway between the two stores and ran them together for some time. When Mr. Lee became quartermaster in the army, he left his business in charge of Alexander McPherson, who had been a clerk there for some time Mr. McPherson bought an interest in the store
about that time.

     Henry H. Mills formed an acquaintance with Miss Isabelle McPherson, in college. They were married in 1854, and lived near Kalamazoo for about three years. They came to Howell in 1857 and Mr. Mills began clerking for William McPherson. Soon after Alexander McPherson bought an interest in the business Mr. Mills bought the rest of Mr. Lee's interests. Their stock was moved into the west store. Leander C. Smith rented the corner store and used the west side for the post office, the east side, being rented to other parties.

     About a year later, Mr. Mills bought his partner's (P.97) interests and conducted the business alone for some years when he associated his son with him. The firm of H. H. Mills & Son was a leading one here for many years. William Mills went to Topeka, Kansas in the late '70s, and laid the foundation for what has developed into the largest general store in that city. His father followed him a few years later.

     In 1882, Mr. Mills sold the business to two enterprising young men, who were clerking for him at that time, Dwight D. Monroe and Will J. Carl. A new firm was organized under the name of Monroe Carl & Co., Mr. Mills remaining in the business as a limited partner to the amount of his interest, which was purchased by the young men after the big fire of 1888, which destroyed the two old store buildings. For a few months after the fire the firm did business in the Opera House block. They made a lease for the new Greenaway block as soon as completed, and have been on that site since.

     About the time of the second big fire in 1892, Geo. L. Monroe bought Mr. Carl's interest in the firm, and that gentleman went into business at Muskegon Heights.

     In 1901, the general stock was closed out, and the firm have since dealt solely in shoes and wall paper.

     Politics were very warm in Howell in the '50s. When Prof. F. W. Munson was employed to superintend the schools here in 1856, there was quite a question whether the board would employ anyone but a (P.98) democrat. Prof. Munson had not yet graduated when he came here, and went back to Ypsilanti for that purpose in June. The subject of his oration was "Locks and Keys." After discussing various locks and keys in other countries, Mr. Munson said. "But we need not go to foreign countries. In our own south land there are nearly four million human beings, who send forth the cry, 'Unlock, unlock."' A Detroit Free Press reporter complimented Mr. Munson on his oration, but criticized that sentence. The papers reached Howell, before Mr. Munson returned, and were the cause of quite a warm welcome when he stepped from the stage here. He was charged with making a black abolition speech, and some people wanted him turned out of school for doing so.

     A good story is told by several men who were little boys in the latter part of Prof. Munson's school work here. Frank Whipple had been guilty of something which promised him a whipping, and was shut up in Mr. Munson's office. Several little boys from one of the lower rooms, were out to play. Henry Wilbur ran near enough for the prisoner to call to him and ask him to get him out, before Mr. Munson got back. A hasty consultation was held. One little boy knew where there was a ladder, four or five blocks away, and they went after it. So careful were they that that carried the ladder way around another block, so as not to pass the windows of their own room, or to let their teacher see its shadow, as they raised it. (P.99) Frank Whipple got out  all right and the ladder was put back. So well did the boys work it, that no teacher could learn how the escape was made and they never knew until long years after, when the little boys were men and old school days were talked over.

     One day in 1854,  a young colored man alighted from the stage at the Old Union Hotel. His barber's chair was on top of the stage and he said he was going through to Lansing, to start a barber shop. Sentiment a good ways from the colored race, and in the presence of an escaped slave was two different things. George Wilbur coaxed the young man to unload his chair and go to work in his bar room. He did so, and by genial ways, courtesy and strict honesty, made a host of friends here. This first colored man, Abraham Losoford, paved the way for that cordial sentiment toward his race, which has always made them welcome in Howell. He lived here to a good old age. 

     Another colored man was here for a few months before Mr. Losoford came but remained for so short a time that to Mr. Losoford belong belongs the title of Howell's first colored man.

     As previously, noted in this history the Livingston Courier suspended publication in 1857. The office was in a demoralized condition, much of the type pied, and generally run down. During the summer the material was purchased by Joseph T. Titus, then a (P.100) young man recently moved here from Jackson where he had been running the Jackson Patriot. On the fifth of August, 1857, he issued the first number of the Livingston Democrat, then a six-columned folio, but afterward enlarged. His first office was in the second story of the building now occupied by the Livingston Tidings, which had also been the office of the Livingston Courier. Mr. Titus was a man of ability as a writer and his paper soon became one of the leading advocates of his party in this section. He associated his son John P. Titus, with him in the publication, some years afterward, and they continued as owners until February 7, 1890, when they failed in business. Leading Democrats of the county at once formed a stock company and purchased the office. John Ryan who was just retiring from the county clerk's office, was placed in charge and Mr. Titus was given employment on the paper. A few years later he went to Toledo to live with his daughter Mrs. James Wing with whom he went to California a few years ago. 

     Shortly after assuming the management of the Democrat Mr. Ryan purchased the stock held by other members of the company and has been the sole owner for several years past. Under his management the Democrat has maintained its high standard as a county newspaper and an ardent advocate of the party.

     A meeting was held in the Congregational church, on the twelfth of December, 1857, to organize an Episcopal church. Among those present were  (P.101) Rev. Henry Banwell, Abel F. Butterfield, Joseph T. Titus, H. C. Briggs, George Greenaway, George R. Hoyt, William A. Clark and M. Labouter. The church took the name of "All Saints Church of the town of Howell." Rev. Henry Banwell was its first rector. He was followed by Rev. George O. Blackman who resigned April 17, 1865. Rev. Albert C. Lewis became rector in in 1866 and continued as long as the church existed, which was until 1868, when the organization was changed. Part of the time this church was in existence its services were held in the Congregational church and part of the time in the court house.

     The changing of the organization referred to was the formation of St. John's Episcopal church which was effected on Tuesday, April 14, 1868. The articles were signed by Milo L. Gay, Joseph T. Titus, Mark J. Staley, L. D. Smith, Silas Beardsley and Albert C. Lewis, pastor, and were filed in the county clerk's office the following day. This church practically ceased to exist after a short time, largely because some of its most active members moved away.

     In 1878, the church having been strengthened by two or three active men, principally by Walter B. Brown who had moved to Howell and engaged in the drug and book business, the Board of Missions of the Eastern Diocese of Michigan, sent Rev. R. H. Dennis here as pastor, and St. John's church was revived. Services were held in the court house until their church was erected. The plan was for quite an imposing (P.102) structure to front on Sibley street, with a chapel which should unite in an L and front on Walnut street. The chapel was erected first and no more has ever been done about the building. The removal of Mr. Brown again crippled the church and it has never been as prosperous as could be desired. It is now connected with Brighton and Hamburg as one parish, of which Rev. Harvey Kerstetter of Brighton, is rector.

     The first building burned in Howell township, was the house of Michael Brenner, situated on Section 25. This fire occurred in 1840.

     The first fire which inflicted severe loss upon the village, occurred in the evening of Monday, Sept. 28, 1857, and swept the Eagle Hotel, the first building erected on the original plat of the village in 1835, and nearly the entire line of buildings on the South side of Grand River Street, between Walnut and East streets. The account of this fire, given by the Democrat in its next issue, was as as follows:

     "A destructive fire broke out in this village at about seven o'clock Monday evening. It commenced in the 'livery barn'  near Huntley's Eagle Hotel, which was soon wrapped in flames. The wind was blowing strongly from the northwest. Mr. Huntley's barn caught next, then his hotel, then Balcom's Saloon, then Treadwell's saloon and then the 'Old Stage House.' All of these buildings were consumed by the flames, in about one hour and a half, in spite of the efforts of the citizens. The progress of the fire (P.103) could not hove been arrested here had they not pulled down the four small buildings that stood on the east part of the same block. Owing to the high
winds, there was great danger of a large portion of the village being swept away. The burning cinders set fire to buildings nearly half a mile distant, which were happily extinguished. Nearly all the business men on the south side of Grand River Street, as far as Vanderhoef's Hotel, removed their property down into the street, which afforded a fine opportunity for thieving, and this the thieves employed.

     No one can account for the origin of the fire. The heaviest loss occurs to Mr. Huntley, who lost his all. His loss is estimated at $5 000. Balcom's saloon was worth about $300, Judge Kneeland's building about $800, and the four small buildings pulled down were worth about $1000. The barn where the fire originated  was owned by Mr. Green, of Detroit; loss about $200. There was no insurance on any of the buildings. Most of the personal property was saved much of it in a damaged state from the rashness of the men."

     The winter of 1853-54 was a very hard one here. At one time the snow went above the record of just ten years before that date, which, too, was an extremely hard winter. It was a trifle over twenty-seven inches deep upon the level, probably the deepest ever known here. All the hay which had been cut, was used up long before spring, and the settlers (P.104) were obliged to maintain their stock by browsing, that is, by chopping trees, and allowing the stock to be fed upon their tops. The writer remembers hearing his father often tell of chopping a tree every day, all through the latter part of the winter, and of how hungry the poor stock became in spite of the best he could do for them. When they heard a tree begin to fall they would rush for it and several farmers had stock killed in that way. The last day he cut browse my father's best cow ran under the falling tree and was killed. One day along in the spring, he was some distance from home when be found a good sized lock of hay which someone had lost from a load. He gathered it up carefully and carried it over three miles to give his stock a taste of hay.

     Nor did people fare much better than their stock. The general need for provisions became so strong before the harvest of 1854 that a citizens' committee was organized with Henry Smith, father of the present Howell postmaster, as chairman. This committee made a vigorous canvas of the whole township, as then organized, including Cohoctah. Samuel Bush' wheat, on what is now the Peavy farm, was decided to be the ripest, and he was told to harvest it or the committee would. Mr, Bush readily consented, and his wheat was soon in the Bogue mill, from where flour was dealt out on a ration basis to the hungry people.

     Whenever the liquor element gets to running (P.105) things all its own way, a reaction sets in and something is sure to follow. Such a condition was experienced in Howell in 1855. In March of that year, about thirty leading ladies of the town. became so excited over the unrestricted sale of liquor, that they took the matter into their own hands. Marching to the saloon of Samuel Balcom, they proceeded to smash bottles and casks, until no liquor remained. Long drawn out litigation followed, and Mr. Balcom finally secured a verdict for $540 against several of the leading women. Only a part of it was ever collected. The moral effect was to stiffen the backbone of those in authority, and resulted in a much better enforcement of law.

     One of Benjamine Spring's retorts about this time is still told by our oldest residents. A man died who had long been one of his special friends. As the funeral procession was passing his bar room, Mr. Spring and others stood watching it, when one of them noticed that he was crying. Upon rallying him about it, Spring replied: "I tell you boys, this is a pretty solemn occasion. It's the first time in a long while when he has gone by without stopping to take a drink."

     The first fight in this township, which resulted seriously, occurred in October, 1856, when Henry Hollis is alleged to have struck George Obert with a neck-yoke. Obert lived but a few days and Hollis was arrested, charged with murder. The jury (P.106) disagreed and Hollis was released on bonds. He was never brought to trial again.

     On July 20, 1857, John Lagrange, while intoxicated, picked a fuss with Sanford S. Moore, and was killed during the quarrel. Moore, plead self-defense and the coroner's jury so found.

     Howell was represented at Lansing, quite early in its history. In 1850 George W. Kneeland was representative from this district. Charles A. Wilber was elected to that position in 1855.

     Of the physicians who settled here in this decade, Dr. Henry J. Rumsey began practice in 1853. He had been in mercantile business here for a short time previous. He died here in 1858.

     Dr. Robert C. Hutton commenced practice here in 1857. In his latter years he moved to Detroit.

     Dr. Henry N. Spencer who came to Fowlerville in 1853, gradually extended his practice to Howell, and moved here in 1869, he having been elected judge of probate in 1868. After his term of office he continued to practice in Howell.

     Henry H. Harmon studied law in the office of Hewett Brothers while teaching in the Howell schools, and was admitted to practice in 1849. He held the offices of circuit court commissioner, prosecuting attorney and probate judge. He became one of Howell's leading lawyers and continued so until his death. Of high moral ideas, he did much toward the establishment of that sentiment which so long prevailed here, (P.107) the trial of eases upon their merits rather than by tricks and subterfuges.

     Mylo L. Gay was a student with F. C. Whipple and was admitted in 1858. He maintained an office in the rooms now occupied by The Livingston Tidings for a number of years, but transacted a general loaning and real estate business more than a law business. He engaged in banking at Fowlerville, for a number of years.

     In the early '50s, Marcus B. Wilcox moved here from Pinckney. He served as prosecuting attorney for two terms.

     Sardias F. Hubbell was the first law student in this county, in the office of Wellington A. Glover, in 1840 and 1841. He practiced in Oakland county about fourteen years, and returned here in 1854. He served as circuit court commissioner and three terms as prosecuting attorney. He had a large legal practice here until his death.

     Andrew D. Waddell, who lived here with his parents, in a very early day, returned with his family to New York, after the death of his father in 1855. After a year in the office of John B. Dillingham, he was admitted to practice, He served two terms as circuit court commissioner and, two terms as prosecuting attorney. A leader in his profession and as a citizen of this community, his death was mourned as a public calamity.

     Another early lawyer was Jerome Turner, son of (P.108) Judge Turner, who was admitted to practice in 1857. He only practiced here a few years when he moved to Corunna.