Chapter 2

Howe Family

Howe Township was the last township to be created in 1861, for Perry County.  It was originally part of Greenwood Township, then Buffalo, and lastly, Oliver Township. 

William Howe, Sr. was born 1735 in England. William Howe  was a private in Fifth Class, Fifth Co., First Battalion, York Co. Militia, 1779. (Revolutionary War) See Pa. Archives 3^rd Series VII, 78. See also other data in York. Co. Historical Society. His wife, Susanna Shoop Howe was born 1761 in Germany. They were married sometime before 1779. William was some twenty-five years older than his wife. ⁵⁴⁸

They had eleven children between 1779 and 1802 including William Howe, Jr. Susanna was only eight-teen when her first child was born. As adults four children lived in Perry County:

1.   Susanna Howe (7/25/1787-4/1855) m. Thomas Boyd

2. William Howe, Jr., (10/7/1789-2/1/1860) b. York Co., PA, m. 9/25/1817, married Catharine Yungst (11/26/1795-4/18/1852) b. Cumberland Co.

3. J. Margaret Howe (3/14/1799-7/10/1880) m. William Brown, of Perry, PA, large family including Robert Brown, who married Catherine Leiby.

4. K. Esther Howe (6/18/1802-2/12/1878) m. David Mitchell (11/14/1796-12/2/1849) of Perry Co., PA, large family

William Howe, Jr. was born 1789 in York County, PA. He came with his parents to the present Howe Twp and lived on a tract of land called "Paradise", which his father bought. William Howe Jr. lived in the home occupied by his father. ⁵⁴⁸  

"Paradise" was on the east banks of the Juniata River. Across the river was Ridersville. The only communication between was the Rider's Ferry. A turnpike was built in 1807 on the east side of the Juniata. This pike was called the National Pike. The pike and Rider's Ferry provided the communication between cities east and west of the Juniata River.

The following year the first public passenger and freight service was inaugurated by stagecoach and Conestoga wagons, requiring the Rider's Ferry. This was an important point for military dispatch bearers and post riders from Washington D.C. by way of Carlisle, Sulphur Springs across Middle Ridge into Rider's Ferry and thence across to the to the National Pike. During the French and Indian Wars, army supplies for General Braddock and Col. Armstrong were moved westward by crossing at Rider's Ferry. *

William Howe Sr. died in Howe Twp. Perry Co. 1814 and was buried in Freeland's Graveyard, Howe Twp.

At the age of twenty-six William Howe, Jr. married Catharine Yungst, who was born 1795 in Cumberland County. They were married April 25, 1817  ⁵⁴⁹  They had eleven children,  all born in Howe Township:

  Christiana Howe Thompson born 1818 Died 1883 in Watts Twp. and buried in Hill Cemetery near New Buffalo, PA.. ⁵⁵¹

Susanna Howe born 1818. Died 1901 and buried in Harrisburg Cemetery. Married George F. Humes. Children Amanda, Lid Humes McCormick, Laura Humes Heilman, and Mary. She was interested in civic affairs and reforms. When few women took interest in voting she, in 1894, went to the polls in Chicago to vote on a public school question. Interested in gemological work, and family data which the Howes of this branch now have was compiled by her. Was a telegraph operator in Harrisburg. Lived in Mifflintown, Harrisburg, New Castle, Franklin Pa and Chicago ⁵⁵⁰  

Henry Howe born 1822 Married Sophia Shaw. Had one son, Miles, and three daughters: Eve Howe Egbert, Lizzie Howe Conner and Minnie Howe Free ^{551, 553}  

Catherine born 1824 in Howe Twp. Perry Co. was the daughter of William and Catharine Yingst Howe. Married Thomas Fulton. Died in Newport 1898 and is buried in Newport Cemetery. Children: Orville and Elmer. ⁵⁵²  

William Rudy Howe, born at parent's home in Howe Twp. Nov 10 1826. Died at Blain 1859 and buried in Glanding-Howe lot in Newport Cemetery. ⁵⁵⁴

Elizabeth was born Nov 10 1829. Died in Oliver Twp 1890. Married John Hetrick in 1863. Member of Methodist Church. Buried in Newport Cemetery ⁵⁵⁵

Abram Howe born 1831. Died in Watts Twp.and buried In Hill Cemetery, Watts Twp. Married Susan Stephens. Was Justice of the Peace, BuffaloTwp. Was in Company I, 208^th Pa. Volunteers in Civil War and was in the engagements of Petersburg and Richmond. Children: William H. Howe, O. J. Howe, Jacob A, Thomas B. Lizzie Howe Steel and Laura Howe Wright. ⁵⁵⁶  

Lucinda Howe born 1833. Died as a result of burns, 1837 and buried in Presbyterian Cemetery, Millerstown, Pa. ⁵⁵⁷  

Priscilla M. Howe born 1836. Member Methodist Church. Taught school in Newport 1858. Married James F. Wilson. Died in Newport 1922. Buried in Newport Cemetery. Children: Harry and Eva. ⁵⁵⁸  

Jerome Howe born 1838. Died in Bradford, Pa 1911. Taught school. Member Methodist Church. Was in Civil War as member of 12^th Pennsylvania, volunteer cavalry. Married Rebecca Borden. Had three daughters and two sons. ⁵⁵⁹  

Harrison Howe born 1840. Died 1912 at Polk, PA, buried in Butler PA. Lived in Franklin, Oil City and Polk, all Penna. Married Mary Elizabeth

Mitchell of Butler, PA 1876. Was book keeper at State Institution for Feeble Minded of Western Pennsylvania at Polk. Children: Mary Howe Kennedy and Harry Lewis Howe.

The school built on William Howe Jr.'s land was known as "Howe's School". He had a saw mill. Early M.E. church services held in Howe's School. He was school director, Buffalo Twp. 1835; school director, Oliver Twp 1839; president school board, Oliver Twp. 1843. Howe Twp named for him. ⁵⁴⁸   Of course the eleven Howe children attended the school.

On Apr. 20 1843 William Rudy Howe's oldest sister, Christiana Howe, married Colonel Robert F. Thompson, a colonel in the Home Guards. Children were: Ellen Thompson Rounsley, Addie Thompson Ham, Annie and Allen. ⁵⁵¹ Soon after 1843, Susan, Henry and Catherine were married.

A covered bridge, the first bridge across the Juniata River, was built in 1850 by contractor Isaiah Kirkpatrick  A charter for the bridge was granted in 1846. It was a wooden structure and its building begun in1851 and completed in 1852; thus making the Rider Ferry obsolete. The Howes could now drive their coaches, carriages, or horseback across the river to Newport.

Catharine Yungst Howe died 1852 in Howe Twp; buried in Old Graveyard, Newport. Catharine contracted erysipelas while helping to "lay out" the deceased child of a neighbor, and this caused her death. There are no pictures of her. ⁵⁴⁹   William Howe Jr. was left with six children. William Rudy Howe was twenty-six and attended medical school. Elizabeth was twenty-two and took over the role women of the house. Abram was 21, Lucinda 19 and Priscilla 17. The youngest, Harrison, was twelve.

 
William Rudy Howe attended Jefferson Medical College as indicated by his matriculation cards and admission cards from 1854-1856.  ^168-169   William received notice of examinations at Jefferson Medical College. ¹¹⁰  

The final days had come! He immediately sent invitations to commencement party at Jefferson Medical College. ¹¹²  It was a gratifying day when William Rudy Howe received notice from Jefferson Medical College conferring his degree in 1856. ⁷⁶

William Rudy Howe studied medicine with Dr. Robert Brown. He would soon begin the practice of medicine in Newport as associate of Dr. Robert Brown. Robert Brown was his cousin [his father's sister, Ester, married a Brown].  ⁵⁵⁴  

Now Catherine Leiby Kohler married Robert Brown, and William was about to marry her sister, Margaret Leiby. Catherine and Robert were married in 1852. Wedding invitations were also being sent. An invitation was sent to Robert Thompson and wife, Christiana Howe Thompson, to attend the wedding of Dr. William R. Howe and Margaret Leiby, for Oct 23, 1856. ¹⁶⁴  

Relive their wedding from the museum memorabilia:

"The Groom" Dr. William Rudy Howe 1856  ²⁶¹

Wedding Certificate of Margaret Leiby to Dr. William Howe, Oct. 23, 1856 ³⁷

Rev. David H. Focht, who married Margaret Leiby and Dr. William Howe. Oct. 23, 1856. ³⁸

Letter from Rev. David H. Focht to Dr. Wm. R. Howe regarding the latter's marriage to Margaret Leiby (1856)  ³⁹

Rose from wedding cake Margaret Leiby-Wm. Howe wedding 1856  ¹⁵⁸

Wedding night cap of Margaret Leiby Howe 1856  ²³⁶ 

Reference Legend:

Numeric indicates the museum inventory I.D. number

* reference from A Sesquicentennial Commemorative Book for Newport, Pennsylvania 1840-1990 

+ found on the internet