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HOWELL. -- John Howell was born in PA., but moved to N.C. where he had 3 sons: John, Thomas and Francis. John moved to TN., where he died, leaving a widow and 4 children. Thomas lived in S. C. until after the Rev. war. He married a MISS BEARFIELD. Francis married SUSAN STONE, daughter of BENJAMIN STONE, of S. C., and emigrated to what is now the state of MO. in 1797. He first settled 30 miles west of St. Louis, in (now) St. Louis County, where he lived 3 years, and then removed to (now) St. Charles county, and settled on what has since been known as Howell's Prairie. Soon after his settlement there he built a mill, which was called a "band mill", because it was run by a long band. This was doubtless a first mill erected north of the Missouri river, except perhaps a small one at St. Charles. Some time afterward, Mr. Howell built another mill on his farm, which was run by a large cog-wheel, and was called a cog-mill. His place was a noted resort during early times. Musters and drills were frequently held there, and Indian agents in conducting Indians to and from St. Louis, often stopped there for supplies. Mr. Howell died in 1834, in his 73rd year, and his wife died 8 years afterward. They had 10 children: John, Thomas, Sarah, Newton, Francis, Jr., Benjamin, Susan L., Lewis, James F., and Nancy. John was married 3 times, and died in his 87th year, leaving 9 children. He was a ranger in CAPT. JAMES CALLAWAY's company. Thomas married SUSANNAH CALLAWAY, sister of Capt. Callaway, in whose company he also served as a ranger. They had 14 children. Mr. Howell died in his 85th year, but his widow survives, in her 87th year. Newton married the WIDOW RACHEL LONG. They had 10 children, and he died in his 74th year. Francis, Jr., married the WIDOW POLLY RAMSEY, who was the daughter of JAMES AND MARTHA MEEK. He died in his 82nd year, and his widow is still living, in her 87th year. They had no children. Mr. Howell served as a ranger 2 years, part of the time in Capt. Callaway's company, and was colonel of militia for 5 years. Benjamin married MAHALA CASTLIO, and they had 12 children. He died in his 63rd year. He was captain of a company of rangers for two years. Susan married LARKIN S. CALLAWAY, son of FLANDERS CALLAWAY, and died at the age of 33 years. She had 7 children. James F. married ISABELLA MORRIS, and died in his 33rd year. Nancy was married twice, first to CAPT. JAMES CALLAWAY, and after his death, she married JOHN H. CASTLIO. Lewis received a classical education, and followed the profession of a teacher for many years. some of the best educated men and women of the state received instruction from him. His life has been an eventful one, dating back to the very earliest period of the existence of our commonwealth, and as it cannot fail to be of interest to the reader, we here present the following autobiographical sketch, which he kindly prepared for this work, at the solicitation of the compilers:

"When I was 8 or 9 years old, I went to school to an Irishman, about a year and a half, who taught school near where I lived. In about a year and a half after this, I went to school a few months to a gentleman by the name of PROSPECT K. ROBBINS, from Massachusetts, and when I was nearly 12 years old, I went to the same gentleman again for a few months, and made considerable progress during this term in arithmetic. The was of 1812 then came on and I was nearly stopped from pursuing my studies. I studied as I had an opportunity. After the war I was placed by my father in a school in the city of St. Louis, taught be a MR. TOMPKINS, who afterward became one of the Supreme Judges of his state. I did not continue in this school long, but was brought to St. Charles and placed in the care of MR. U. J. DEVORE, with whom I remained several months. English grammar was my principal study while at St. Louis and St. Charles. I was now about 16, and when about 17, as my old teacher, U. J. Devore, had been elected sheriff, he selected me for his deputy. I was accordingly sworn in and entered the service, young as I was. There were but two counties at this time, north of the Missouri river... St. Charles and Howard, the former of which embraced now the counties of St. Charles, Warren, Montgomery, Lincoln and Pike. There were no settlements any further west at this time, until you came to the Booneslick country, embraced in Howard. I had to ride over the five counties before named, collecting taxes, serving writs, etc. I continued in this business a few months, when I relinquished the office of deputy and entered the store of J. & G. COLLIER, in St. Charles, as one of their clerks. I remained with them a few months, and as my father and MR. JOHN COLLIER , the elder of the brothers, could not agree on the terms of remaining with them, I went back to my father's farm, where I labored a short time, when my father, having some business in Kentucky, took me with him to that state. On our return to MO., we overtook a small family on the road, moving to our state, by the name of REYNOLDS, originally from the city of Dulin, in Ireland. He and my father got into conversation, and he appeared so well pleased with the description my father gave him of this section that he determined, before we separated, to come to the neighborhood where we were living. With this gentleman, whom I believe was a profound linguist, I commenced the study of the Latin language. I can say without egotism, that I am very certain I was the first person that commenced the study of Latin between the two great rivers, Missouri and Mississippi. I found it very difficult to get the necessary books, and had to send to Philadelphia for the authors which my teacher recommended. With him, I read Ovid, Caesar, Virgil, Horace and a few others. Shortly after this (as Mr. Reynolds had left the state), I went and spent a few months with my old teacher, General P. K. Robbins, where and with whom I studied a few mathematical branches, and this closed my literary studies at school. I finally gave out studying medicine, which I had long contemplated, and came home to my father's. I was now about 21 years of age, and several of the neighbors and some of my relations being very anxious that I should teach school for them, I at last, yet somewhat reluctantly, consented, and accordingly taught school a few months, and was not very well pleased with the avocation. About this time, there was considerable talk about the province of Texas, and about the inducements that were held out for persons to emigrate to that country. In consequence of this stir about STEPHEN F. AUSTIN's colony, a company of us agreed to pay it a visit and examine the country and ascertain the prospects of getting land: but all finally gave out going except my brother, Frank, and myself. We, therefore, alone, left Missouri January 22, 1822, for the Spanish province of Texas, which, however, was never reached. Having gone 50 or 60 miles south of Red River, my brother, who was 7 or 8 years older than myself, and of more experience, thought it was imprudent to proceed further, on account of the difficulties in the way. We therefore retraced our steps and I arrived at home between the first and middle of March. I labored on my father's farm until fall, and in Oct., when a few months over 22, I left home for the state of Louisiana. I took a steamboat at St. Louis and landed at Iverville early in November. This place was about 90 miles above New Orleans, where I remained until spring, having been employed by a physician (a prominent man of the parish) to teach his and a neighbor's children and to regulate his books, etc., he having an extensive practice. I was treated rather badly by him, and in the spring I went down to the city of New Orleans and took passage on a steamboat and returned to MO., and commenced farming, my father having given me a piece of land which I commenced improving. A year or two previous to this I went a session to a military school, taught by an old Rev. officer. I took, at this time, a considerable interest in military tactics, and a year or two after this I was appointed and commissioned Adjutant of the St. Charles militia, my brother, Frank being Colonel of the regiment. This office I held for several years, when I resigned, it being the only military office I ever held; and the only civil office I ever had was that of Deputy Sheriff, as already stated. After this time, I turned my attention to teaching and farming, and in June, 1833, I married SERENA LAMME, the daughter of WILLIAM T. AND FRANCES LAMME, and great-granddaughter of COL. DANIEL BOONE, the pioneer of KY. I was then in my 34th year. We have had 6 children, three of whom have already gone to the grave, the youngest of those living, being now about 22 years old. I still continued teaching, and kept a boarding school, and had my farm also carried on, until the close of the civil war, when I topped farming, as the servants I owned had been liberated. I therefore rented out my farm, moved to the little village of Mechanicsville, where I built and commenced a boarding school, being assisted by an eminent young lady, a graduate of one of the female seminaries of MO. This school was carried on for 5 sessions, the last 2 or 3 mostly by the young lady before named, as my health had somewhat failed. I have relinquished all public business whatever. I cultivate my little garden with my own hands; am now in my 76th year; enjoy tolerably good health for one of my age; can ride 35 or 40 miles in a day, and I believe I could walk 20. I am a member of the Presbyterian Church, to which I have belonged upwards of 50 years. I attribute my health and advanced age to my temperate habits, having never yielded to dissipation of any kind."

Source

The History of Pioneer Families of Missouri, Bryan, William and Robert Rose, 1876. A reproduction with an added index was published in 1935. Be careful to use this information as a hint to further research; it is essentially equivalent to interviews, and was not checked for accuracy. Please add any comments you have on this document to the discussion page (see the tab at top). Also see comments by Dorris Keeven on the discussion page for the main index.