Editors
John F. Howerton
Bryan R. Howerton
Volume Two, Issue Four Fall 1997
Contents:
E. Pearl Howerton DeGlas: Master Sergeant, U. S. Army, Retired
Marion Joseph Howerton: Major, U.S. Army, Retired
The Six Generations of William Monroe Howerton and Martha Jane Campbell
The Arrival of Thomas Howerton
E. PEARL HOWERTON DeGLAS
M/SGT. U.S. ARMY
RETIRED
E. Pearl Howerton DeGlas
Pearl comes from a long line of Kentucky pioneers. Her great-grandfather, Jacob C. (Jake) Howerton was born before 1810 in Russell County, Virginia, and moved with his parents to Floyd County, Kentucky, about 1815. On 10 April 1825 Jake’s name appeared on the Morgan County tax rolls. He purchased several blocks of land and by 1837 had acquired at least 700 acres in the county. According to the U.S. Census in 1860 he was living in a part of Owsley County that later became Lee County. He was listed as an Innkeeper. In 1870 he was listed as a Retail Grocer and was a Magistrate. By 1880 he was owner of the “Old Howerton House” which listed sixty guest on the day the census was taken. His occupation was listed as a Tavern Keeper. At the time of his death he was living in Elliott County.
One of Jake’s sons was John W. Howerton who married Isabella Elizabeth Menifee. John and Isabella were the parents of Pearl’s father, Charles Henry (Charlie) Howerton. In 1907 Charlie married Minnie Bell Taylor in Alabama where he continued to live. The couple had four children, Clifton Guy (Happy), Thomas Earl and Ethel Pearl (twins) and Jennie Lou. The following is Pearl’s story.
When I was only six years old our family lived in the town of Fayette, Alabama, in the northwest section of the state. While World War I was in progress, my grandfather Taylor took my two brothers, my sister and me to the railroad station to see our beloved Postman, John Airs, leave on a troop train for overseas. From that day, I loved anything that had any connection with a uniform.
I had a normal childhood, but would join anything that allowed me to wear a uniform. During my school years, it was cheerleader, softball, etc. In 1940, I joined the Women’s Ambulance and Defense Corps of America. I was promoted to Chaplain with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.
When World War II started in 1941, I was living in Louisville, Kentucky. I wrote the Adjutant General in Washington, D.C., asking if there would be an opportunity for women to serve. He answered my letter, and assured me he would notify me if it should occur. Then a card came informing me of plans to form the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) and that information would be made public when it occurred.
When the information
reached the recruiting office, without informing anyone, I went
down and signed up. It was 2 August 1942. What
concerned me most was the fear I would not be chosen. But,
on 8 August I received my notice of selection and on 11 August I
left for Cincinnati, Ohio, to be processed at Fort Thomas,
Kentucky.
I became a soldier as I stood tall and took the oath,
acknowledging my date with destiny and debt to democracy. I
was a soldier and committed to serve my country.
Pearl, Happy, and Thomas Earl Howerton
My brothers joined the U.S. Navy. The one next to me in the picture is “Happy,” who served in the Navy Construction Battalion (Sea Bees) and on the right is my twin, Thomas Earl who was also a Sea Bee. They were both discharged in 1945 as a Petty Officer, First Class.
After I was processed at Fort Thomas, I returned home to prepare to leave for Fort De Moines, Iowa. It was the first WAAC Training Center. There we started our Basic Training and lived in barracks which were converted from horse stables (The post was an old cavalry post where the officers still rode horses). Our officers and cadre were males since no females had yet finished their basic training.
When we were issued our uniforms, a life long dream had come true for me. The summer uniforms were okay until cold weather came that winter and we became very uncomfortable. Supplies had not been delivered on time, so we had no overcoats. The Army had to issue the women men’s overcoats and about the only thing you could see was our heads. Needless to say, our overcoats were quite unique.
Basic Training was the usual KP, marching, cleaning, and classes. It seems like we were always hungry. We did not know if the food was good or not, we just ate it.
After Basic Training, I was sent to Motor Transport School. There we were taught to drive Army vehicles, including the big trucks. We were also given instructions on the tank and other combat vehicles, but did not operate them. Our work uniforms were coveralls and men’s jackets.
I was taken out of school and sent with a contingent to Daytona Beach, Florida to activate the 2nd WAAC Training Center. On 30 October 1942, we left De Moines on the first troop train of women. Everything was in blackout conditions as the war was in full progress.
We arrived in Daytona on 1 November and were informed that submarines were being bombed off the Florida coast. Apparently, some bodies had washed ashore; the beaches were covered with oil, and we were told not to go on the beaches.
We lived in some of the beach side hotels. Daytona was practically a ghost town at the time. One of our task was to make blackout curtains for all of the ocean side windows. They did not hire things done in those day -- we did it. Most of the luxuries of the hotels were off limits to soldiers. We could not use the elevators -- everything had to be strictly military.
I was assigned to the Quartermaster Corps
in charge of all clothing and equipment for the trainees.
The work was hard and the days were long, but we were serving our
country.
After thirteen months, I was promoted from Private to Master
Sergeant. The fast promotions was because the first Table
of Distribution, known as the T.D., had to be filled. You
had to be qualified and in a promotable position. I was
chief of the operation, which qualified me.
On 1 July 1943, President Roosevelt signed a bill establishing the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) as a component of the U. S. Army. All members that did not want to become a member of the Army could take a discharge. Seventy-five percent of the women signed up for the WACs. We all received the WAC service medal of green and gold.
I stayed in Daytona from November, 1942 until February, 1944. We had processed and sent approximately 100,000 women to all parts of the world. One of the first groups was sent to North Africa. When Daytona closed, I was sent to Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. I was to help set up an Overseas Training Battalion. It was a demanding job as the troops had to be sent out in the middle of the night. Sleep was a luxury. The winter weather was harsh. Our heat was from a coal stove located in the middle of the barracks. The railroad workers were on strike so food and coal were both in short supply. We slept in our clothes, overcoats, wool gloves and caps to stay warm. We skipped showers! The mess halls had to cut back on rations. There were times when we were hungry -- yes, right her in our own country.
In early 1945 we had completed our mission
and were preparing to close the base when we received orders to
reopen it to train the Air WACs. That was when the
Air Force was still the Army Air Corps. When that training
was completed I was sent back to De Moines, then to Fort
Sheridan, Illinois. When World War II ended, I was on
liberty and at the USO Club in Chicago. Needless to say, a
celebration started that lasted for hours.
From Fort Sheridan, I was sent to Camp McCoy, Wisconsin
in September, 1945, not knowing if the WACs would remain as
part of the armed forces and if the recruiting of women
would continue. The Army started reducing its forces as
soon as the war was over. Those of us who enlisted in 1942
were discharged first. I returned to Louisville, Kentucky.
I soon became restless and was not a very good civilian. The recruiting office informed me that there was no way I could reenlist. So, I wrote General Whitesell, Adjutant General in Washington. I told him my story. About ten days later, I received a personal letter from the General, assigning me to Fort Benning, Georgia. They gave me back my Master Sergeant rank and made me regular army and with permanent rank. Again I was assigned to the Quartermaster Corps. My stay at Fort Benning was pleasant. The quartermaster work was hard, but not demanding. I remained at Fort Benning until the Army integrated the WACs into the regular Army. The recruiting of women resumed, so I was once again assigned to help set up a Training Center at Fort Lee and again assigned to the Quartermaster. I was in charge of setting up all the warehouses for clothing and supplies. It was routine, but demanding.
I stayed at Fort Lee from July, 1948 until September 1951 when I received orders to join the occupation Forces in Germany. I sailed from New York on the General Muer with about 1600 male soldiers and fourteen WAC’s. We were at sea for twelve days and landed at Bremerhaven, Germany, went on to Hanau, and finally arrived at Heidelberg. The bombed out cities and vast destruction were everywhere. Bodies were still buried in the rubble. I had come face-to-face with what war was all about.
Heidelberg was declared an open city so it had been spared destruction. We lived in old German barracks which were massive structures and very comfortable. Master Sergeants had private rooms. As usual, I was assigned to the Quartermaster Corps, but this time it was with a male detachment.
The work was quite different than I had been used to. I had the chance to use the knowledge I have learned in Motor Transport School and could drive whatever vehicle it took to do the job. I drove big trucks, small trucks, sedans or Jeeps, and hauled supplies.
There were times when we were called out in the middle of the night with full field pack. We never had the slightest idea where we were going -- so we had to be sure our pack was always ready. One night we joined a convoy of 40,000 troops from all over Germany. To complete the drive through Germany and France to the Coast, we drive eight days and nights. I drove the Adjutant’s car. It was November and very cold. We had C-Rations, heated in oil drums for Thanksgiving dinner in Orleans, France. The operation was a practice run to evacuate civilians in case the Russians attacked Germany.
While in Germany, I had the opportunity to visit countries through the Special Service Club Tours. I visited Belgium, France, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein. On a personal note, I met a Belgian who had emigrated to the United States with his family in 1948 and had joined the Army to get his citizenship. He was sent back to Germany. Later, he became my husband.
I was in Germany until September, 1954. I flew back to the States on a military aircraft. We had to island-hop, as we could not fly a straight route. We landed in one place and remained eleven hours for plane repairs. We went on to Newfoundland for a six hour lay over, then on to New York.
From there I was assigned to Fort Dix, New Jersey. At this assignment, I became a First Sergeant. I was asked to take the job until they could get a replacement. I remained in the position for three years. The stories of a First Sergeant are too numerous to tell. Any former service person knows what a First Sergeant’s job is really like.
I stayed in Fort Dix until 1957. I
must add that the soldier I met in Germany was sent to Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, not far from Fort Dix. We were
married in May, 1957 and he and I were sent to Alabama. He
was sent to Redstone Arsenal, to Warrant Officer’s school
and I went to Fort McClellan which was the Headquarters for the
Women’s Army Corps. Again I was in the Quartermaster,
as I turned down another First Sergeant’s job.
It was not an easy job, but it had its rewards. I was
permitted to live off post, so we lived in Gadsden, Alabama.
When my husband got his Warrant Officer’s bars, he was sent
to Korea. I remained in Fort McClellan until my retirement
on 31 March, 1963. That was the end of a much loved career
and service to my country.
I was awarded several medals during my years in the Army: The WAAC Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal six times, Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, WWII Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, German Occupation Medal, National Defense Medal and a Certificate of Outstanding Achievement.
Paul W. Howerton, D.L., 81, of Bethesda, Maryland died Saturday September 6, 1997. Dr. Howerton was born in Valparaiso, Indiana on July 25, 1916, the son of William Columbus Howerton and Kathryn Inez Coutchure and the grandson of James Thomas Howerton and Mary Jane Chizum. His line goes through Obediah Howerton back to Thomas Howerton who arrived in Virginia in 1663. Paul was first married to Ernestine C. Loehrke who preceded him in death (1967). He was married to Helen V. DeFrancesca in 1969.
Paul served as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corps in the China-Burma-India Theater in World War II, where he established a series of oxygen generation plants for pilots flying the Hump [over the Himalayan Mountains]. Dr. Howerton received a Bachelor of Philosophy from Northwestern University in 1949, and a Doctor of Letters (causa honoris) from Laurence University in 1975. He was a Deputy Assistant Director of the Office of Central Reference of The Central Intelligence Agency from 1951-1962, and was awarded the Intelligence Medal of Merit. He established and served as the Dean of the Center of Technology of Management of American University in Washington, D.C. from 1962-1974, and was recognized as an Outstanding Educator of America in 1972.
Survivors include his wife Helen; sons Charles P. of Longmont, Colorado (Professor of Mathematics/Computers) and Terrence J. of Sheridan, Wyoming; brother Robert J. of Dublin, California; 4 grandchildren, and 7 great -grandchildren.
Walter Scott Howerton IV comes from a
line of Walter Scott Howertons. His father lives in the
Outer Banks of the North Carolina coast and is a retired Marine
Master Sergeant (he will be profiled in a later newsletter).
Scott’s ancestors go back through Winfield Scott Howerton,
Winfield Howerton to the Thomas Howerton who arrived in Virginia
in 1663.
Scott was recruited to play football by Fairmont State College
(Virginia). He saw little chance of playing, so he turned
to baseball. In August, Fairmont needed a field goal kicker
and so the football coach called and Scott agreed to play.
On Saturday, September 13, with only 1:27 remaining, Scott kicked a 37-yard field goal to upset Indiana (Pennsylvania) University 16-14. This was FSC’s first win over IU in six games.
THREE BROTHERS
By Bryan R. Howerton
Many Howerton families had brothers who served in the Civil War. The family of Edward Howerton and wife, Mary, was unique in that their three sons: William B., Silas, and Jeremiah M., voluntarily served both the Confederacy and the Union during the Civil War.
Edward had left his home in Claiborne County, Tennessee before 1830 and joined his brother, James, in St. Francois County, Missouri. Indications are that he and Mary were married in St. Francois County, although no marriage record was found in the county records. They subsequently changed locations in Missouri at least three times and, before 1850, had moved to Clark County, Arkansas; where they resided when the Civil War began.
Among the children of Edward and Mary Howerton, born in Missouri, were William Bertram born 4 October 1832 in Camden County; Silas born in 1835 variously reported in St. Francois, Pulaski, Camden, or Laclede County; and Jeremiah M. born in March 1837 in Camden County.
It appears that all three brothers entered the Confederate army soon after the start of the Civil War. The first units in which they served have not been positively identified; however, it is known that Jeremiah served in an Arkansas cavalry unit and William and Jeremiah were in an Arkansas unit, perhaps the 12th Arkansas Infantry Regiment. It is a matter of record that on 18 May 1862 both William and Silas enrolled as Privates in Captain John Flint’s Company, Colonel Hiram L. Grinsted’s Infantry Regiment in Clark County, Arkansas and the company was officially enlisted for a three year period as Company H, 33rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment on 4 July 1862 at Camden, Ouachita County, Arkansas. (Company H was primarily composed of veterans of Arkansas regiments, principally those of the 12th Arkansas Infantry who had evaded capture or escaped after the fall of Fort Donelson.)
The 33rd Arkansas Infantry served in Arkansas and Louisiana and participated in the Battle of Prairie Grove in northwest Arkansas in December 1862. In a letter to his sisters; Tom D. Thomson, who was later to command the regiment, stated: “we were under cross-fire from two of the enemy’s batteries all the evening, but they had their sights too high for us. About two o’clock we were charged by the Pin Indians, who set up one of the most horrible yells I ever heard. We repulsed them and then charged and drove them back with a loss of two killed, eleven wounded and twelve missing.”
William, Silas, and Jeremiah all deserted from the Confederate army - Silas on 12 August 1863 and the others at undetermined dates. Jeremiah joined the 3rd Missouri Cavalry in September 1863 and William and Silas joined the same unit on 17 October 1863. Jeremiah then transferred to Company H and the three brothers served honorably together as Privates for the balance of the war, all eventually transferring to the 11th Missouri Cavalry. The interrogation sheets on file in the National Archives contain a statement by Jeremiah: “I was involved in only minor skirmishes against the U S Army while a member of the Confederate Army.”
Their cavalry regiment ranged over just about the entire state of Arkansas; but mainly east of a line drawn from Pocahontas in the north to Texarkana in the south, primarily performing scout and escort duties. They were involved in numerous skirmishes and engagements with both guerillas and organized military forces; the most significant of which were Prairie d’Ann, Poison Spring, Mark’s Mill, and Jenkins Ferry. The 11th Missouri Cavalry lost during service 2 Officers and 28 Enlisted Men killed and mortally wounded and 5 Officers and 181 Enlisted Men by disease.
Following the war, all three brothers returned home and spent the balance of their lives in Arkansas. All subsequently filed for invalid pensions in compensation for injuries or sickness resulting from their service in the Union Army. William claimed to have developed rheumatism as a result of poor living conditions while based at Jacksonport, Arkansas during the severe winter of 1863-64 -- he became partially paralyzed in 1868 and finally was completely disabled. Silas attributed his subsequent paralysis to having been thrown into a gulch when his horse stopped during a charge against McRae’s Regiment in White County, Arkansas and another incident when his horse, along with others, fell on him during a retreat during darkness across the Ouachita River. Jeremiah claimed to have been blinded in his right eye when struck by a piece of cap when directed to fire into the ground because his revolver was wet. All were granted invalid pensions.
William married Mary Ann Prince (b April 1845 Jackson County, Alabama - d 22 January 1916 in Kirby, Pike County, Arkansas) in Clark County, Arkansas on 1 November 1860. They lived in Clark, Hot Spring, and Pike Counties and their known children were: Elizabeth Jane, Mary Ann, Susan C., William, James Rutherford, Caledonia Palestine, Naomi Belle, and Walter Alonzo. He died 22 July 1901 and was buried in Howerton Family Cemetery near Kirby, Arkansas.
Silas married Elizabeth Susan Magby (b 1837 Alabama - d 7 April 1885 in Percy, Garland County, Arkansas) in Clark County, Arkansas on 20 Aug 1857. They lived in Montgomery, Hot Spring and Garland Counties and their known children were: Elias, William C., John E., Samuel G., and Susan C. His second marriage on 11 July 1888 in Hot Spring County was with Elizabeth J. Ketchum, widow of John K. Carpenter. Silas died 8 April 1900 at Valley, Hot Spring County and was buried in the Phillipi Cemetery.
Jeremiah married Margaret E. McCaska (b 1847 Mississippi -- d 5 April 1932 Hot Spring County, Arkansas) on 7 September 1865. They lived in Garland, Hot Spring, Montgomery, Pike, Polk, Scott, and Yell Counties and their known children were: James E., Martha J., William C., John F., Robert, Sarah E., Rachel, and Judith (NOTE: Rachel and Judith may be the same person.) Jeremiah and Margaret were divorced in Scott County, Arkansas on 26 November 1906. He subsequently married Sarah (or Mary) Dozier (or Dosier) and they separated in 1911. He died 3 July 1912 and was buried in the Phillipi Cemetery, Hot Spring County.
One additional item of possible interest to descendants is contained in letters found in War Department files pertaining to the three brothers. These letters were written by neighbors protesting their receipt of invalid pensions. They claimed that the paralysis was an hereditary disease or spinal disorder with which William, Silas, and their sister, Polly, were afflicted. One letter states that William was unable to walk and had to crawl, had to sit on the floor, required assistance to eat or be dressed or mount a mule which he could ride for a short distance, and that he had attended a reunion by riding 30 miles in a horse-drawn wagon; and that he loaned money on which he collected interest. As a result of the complaints, their individual claims were reexamined, found justified, and the amount of their pensions were increased.
HOWERTON
MYTHS - III
By Bryan R Howerton
In a continuing effort to help those
searching Howerton history, we will occasionally
include an article about myths. The pursuit of myths has the
potential to waste a lot of valuable research time and can lead
one into dead ends and on wild goose chases, The articles
about myths are not intended to be offensive or to
humiliate or shame anyone.
The article included in this issue led the author to
expend a lot of valuable time which but failed to uncover
any substantiating facts. This particular item
illustrates how a legend grows over a period of time and finally
becomes accepted as fact. Several years ago the following item
was found in a local history book in a library in Johnson County,
Illinois.
“The Howertons of this county are descendants from
Benjamin F. Howerton, a native of Virginia, whose father it is
said was a Colonel in the Revolutionary War. John W. was a
son of Benjamin and was born in Tennessee, 1821. He married
Sarah Casey, daughter of Randolph [Casey] and settled near what
is now New Burnside, 1842. They had Randolph who married
Eliza McCuan. John married Missouri Boozer. Rebecca
married Allison Clark. Elizabeth married John Taylor.
Ruth married George Boozer and Sarah married James Allen.
Paul of New Burnside and Mrs. Minnie Holaway are children of John.
John and Randolph were teachers of this county. John is a
resident of New Burnside and does the legal business of that
village.”
Sometime later the following
material was printed from a letter that had been submitted to
an Illinois newspaper:
“One Matthew Howerton, a son of an English Lord, came to America at an early date, during the American Revolution. He was a lad of seventeen years of age when he landed in America. His father, Lord Howerton, was very fond of the lad. He liked his bold, daring spirit. But ‘Mat’, as he was fondly called, had an older brother who inherited his father's estate as well as his title. The young nobleman was proud and ‘high headed’ and ‘lorded’ it over his young brother, Mat. The lad's spirit was too free to live under such treatment. So, the result was that one day, when a British ‘freighter’ was leaving for America, loaded with provisions for the British troops, the young lad stole down to the landing and secretly boarded the freighter and hid in its cargo, where he remained three days and nights without food or drink. He was almost famished when he boldly came out and told his story, but didn't tell his intentions.
The captain and crew naturally supposed that the lad would go straight to the camp of the British troops. But not so, he went to Washington and when Washington met the boy he was amused. Closely observing the young fellow, asked him, ‘My boy, what do you want?’ The lad looked straight into Washington's face and said, ‘General, I am an English lad and have come here to live. I never expect to see England again nor do I expect to write to my people ever.’ ‘What have you done, my boy?’ ‘Nothing, only left there for keeps.’ ‘Was you in trouble?’ ‘No Sir, I am the younger son of Lord Howerton. My father is dead and my brother was very mean to me and wanted to dictate everything that I did. I refused and stole aboard a ship and have come here to live and want to fight for America's liberty. Will you be kind enough to let me stay with you, General. I'll be true and do whatever you wish me to.’ ‘Well, lad’, said the General, ‘You can stay with me for the moment and we will see what can be done.’ Washington kept a close watch over the boy and learned to love him. One day he called the lad to him and said, ‘Son, would you like to enlist in the army and be one of the boys?’
‘O, General, if you please! And be a soldier! I will obey all army orders like a true soldier!’ ‘All right. What did they call you at home, son?’ ‘My name is Mathew but they call me ‘Mat’. ‘Very well then, Mat, sign your name here and I will let you be a handy boy for me, at present. Do you think you would like that?’ ‘O, very much, General! I will do my best to please you.’ ‘Can you read and write?’ ‘Yes, sir. I have had a teacher since I was five years old.’ ‘Very well then, we will see. That will do now.’ Washington learned to [illegible] and advanced him to Colonel, in command of a regiment [illegible] the camp. In those days they used ‘flint lock’ guns and had a shot pouch and powder horn. So, one day Colonel Mat met a native who was trying to sell a ‘fancy powder horn’. Colonel Mat bought the horn, carried it home with him, kept it at his home, until his death. That horn has been in the Howerton family ever since, except for a while when it was owned by a man named Larkin Smith. So this powder horn has come down the ‘stretch of time’ from Colonel ‘Mat’ Howerton's purchase. Benjamin Howerton was a grandson of Colonel ‘Mat’. He left Virginia and came to Tennessee when he was a very young man. He brought the horn with him. So this is the history of the horn.’
The above makes a good
story. However, nothing could be found in support of the
tale. Benjamin F. Howerton’s father was William
Howerton. Athrough check of Revolutionary War records have failed
to uncover the name of any Matthew Howerton serving in that war.
In fact, among the thousands of Howertons in our data base, the
first Howerton named Matthew was not born until many years after
the Revolutionary War. It may also be added that no record
was found of a teenager commanding an American regiment during
the Revolutionary War.
Over the years we have received numerous
queries from people asking about
a Howerton coat-of-arms or one with our name who was a
member of royalty or nobility. Numerous able and dedicated
people have spent many years in a vain search for Howertons who
were members of English nobility. This search included
visits to England and personal review of records as well as many
extensive searches through printed material in America, including
the widely respected Burke’s Peerage, and
Cokayne’s Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland,
and the United Kingdom. None of these possible sources
indicate a Howerton was ever a member of English nobility or had
been granted a coat-of-arms. In our opinion, the inability
to trace our lineage to a Howerton who was a member of royalty or
nobility in no way detracts from the pride and esteem in which
our forebears are held.
(Note! In the first half of the 1800's history was
written in the “romantic” style. The fanciful
biography of George Washington by Parson Weems is a primary
example.)
MARION
JOSEPH HOWERTON
MAJOR, U.S. ARMY RETIRED
Joe & Jewell Howerton
Marion Joseph Howerton, son of William Ray and Jewell Gertrude Blurton Howerton, enlisted in the U.S. Army on 9 July 1942. He was named Marion Joseph after a young soldier who saved William Ray's life after he was wounded behind enemy lines in World War I. Marion, known as Joe, attempted to enlist in the Army in February 1942, but was rejected due to reduced vision in his left eye. He requested a waiver and it was granted in early July 1942.
Upon enlistment he was sent to Camp Edwards, MA, and was assigned to the Weapons Detachment, Headquarters Engineer Amphibian Command. After Basic Training, he was assigned as Company Clerk of the unit and promoted to Corporal. The units mission was to give antiaircraft and antitank weapons training to the other Engineer units.
In September 1942, he with a detachment of troops from his unit were sent to Provincetown, MA, to work with the National Defense Research Committee and General Motors Corporation to test the first two amphibian trucks (DUKWS). After completion of this project, the detachment returned to Camp Edwards.
In April 1943, Joe was given the assignment as Supply Sergeant and promoted to Staff Sergeant. On April 6, 1943, he married Fern Adele Day, a young lady he met in South Dakota when a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps.
In September 1943, he and a small group from the Weapons Detachment was sent to Martha's Vineyard, MA to work with the Corps of Engineers to test the possibility of laying a pipeline on the bottom of the ocean. This mission was to determine the possibility of laying a pipeline across the English Channel. He was in hopes of going to England to lay the pipeline, but the mission was given to the British Engineers. Upon completion of the project Joe was transferred to Camp Gordon Johnston, Florida Upon arrival at the new station, he was promoted to First Sergeant of a Basic Training Company of draftees from several shipyards on the East Coast. Upon completion of their training, the unit was designated as the 1111th Port Marine Maintenance Company with the mission of repair and maintenance of Army water craft under combat conditions. The unit was assigned to the South Pacific and engaged in the Leyte and Luzon campaigns in the Philippines. On August 15, 1945 when the Japanese surrendered, the unit was in the process of getting new equipment in preparation for landing on the beaches in Japan. Joe was transferred back to the United States in December 1945. He re-enlisted for further service.
Upon completion of a 90 day leave, he was
assigned to Fort Eustis, Virginia, as a Regimental Sergeant Major
with the 709th Transportation Railway Grand Division. During his
tour at Fort Eustis he received a Reserve Commission as a
Lieutenant in the Transportation Corps. He served in this
assignment until the summer of 1948 when he was assigned as NCOIC
of the Recruiting and Induction Center in Omaha, Nebraska.
In November 1950, he was called to active duty as a Lieutenant
and transferred to the San Francisco Port of Embarkation with the
duty of Adjutant of Oakland Army Base, California. He served in
this assignment until June 1952, when he received orders to Korea.
When he reported to the Replacement Depot in Japan, his orders
were changed and he was sent to Okinawa. He served as Adjutant of
the RYCOM Port Command and later as a Port Operations Officer.
His wife and two sons joined him in Okinawa in June 1953. In June
1954, he was assigned to the Army Transportation Center, Fort
Eustis, Virginia as Assistant Adjutant General. He remained in
this assignment until September 1955, when he sent to the
Transportation Company Officers Course. Upon completion of the
course in June 1956, he was transferred to Base Section, U.S.
Army Communications Zone, Poitiers, France, as a Transportation
Movements Officer. His family accompanied him on this tour.
He served as Movements Officer until November 1956, when he was assigned as Unit Commander of the 98th Transportation Port Company. This unit was engaged in offshore discharge exercises spending six weeks in the field at a time. His unit operated the Railheads and Airheads in the shipment of troop supplies to all U.S. Forces in France and Germany. The supplies were off loaded from cargo ships anchored off shore and transported to a beach by Army Landing Craft and DURWS. It was then loaded on trucks for movement to the railheads or airheads. Joe remained in this assignment until April 1958, when he was reassigned as Port Transportation Officer for the three Army Water Ports in France. He served in this assignment with the 11th Transportation Port Command, La Rochelle, France, until July 1959, when he rotated back to the States.
His next assignment was as Adjutant of a Transportation Truck Battalion in Fort Benning, GA, supporting the Infantry School and Infantry Center.
In September 1960, he was transferred to the Army Transportation School to attend the Transportation Officers Advanced Course. Upon graduation in December 1960, he was assigned as Port Transportation Officer of the Pacific Port Command, Oakland Army Base, California. He remained in this assignment until he retired as a Major on 31 July 1962.
Upon retirement, he was immediately employed by the U.S. Air Force as a Civilian Transportation Specialist with the assignment as their West Coast Air Force Liaison Officer with the Army and Navy, supervising the ocean movement of Air Force cargo.
Although retired from the military, Joe volunteers one day each week at the Military Retiree Activities Office at a local Air Force Base, counseling other Military Retirees and their families. He is also a member of an Army Casualty Assistance Council working with the families of deceased Army Military Retirees.Three generations of the William Ray Howerton family answered their country's call in time of conflict. The father and grandfather, William Ray, enlisted in the Army in 1917 and served in combat in France. As he was the only one in his Infantry unit that could ride a motorcycle, he was assigned the duty of carrying orders from the rear to the front line troops. On one trip he was caught behind enemy lines and wounded. His life was saved by a young Infantryman with the first name of Marion. The young Infantryman was promised that the first son born after the war to William and his wife would be called Marion. William was in the hospital when World War I ended. He convinced the authorities that he was healed, thinking he would be returned home. To him dismay, he was returned to duty for another six months, guarding the Rhine River. William Ray did survive and had four sons and two daughters. He died in 1958.
The first son to enlist in the U.S. Army in World War II was Marion Joseph in July 1942. Known as Joe, he received training in Massachusetts and Florida and transferred to the South Pacific Theater. As a First Sergeant he participated in the Leyte and Luzon campaigns. Returning home in December 1945, he re-enlisted and was sent to a base in Virginia and assigned as a Regimental Sergeant Major. During this assignment he received a Reserve Commission as a Lieutenant in the Transportation Corps. He retired as a Major in July 1962 with 20 years of service. Upon retirement, he was immediately employed by the U.S. Air Force as a Transportation Specialist. After service in the civilian position for 23 years, he retired in 1986.
Two other sons of William Ray Howerton, William Junior and Glen Eugene, were drafted in the fall of 1942. William Junior served as a Medical Specialist in the 30th Infantry Division and Glen with an Engineer Regiment. Both brothers were transferred to England and were involved in the Normandy Beach Landing in France. With thousands of U.S. Troops crossing the beach, they saw each other, but only to wave. They both returned home safely and were discharged. William Junior worked with the U.S. Postal Service and died of Cancer in 1972. Glen attended college, then served as a High School Teacher and College Professor. He retired as a College Professor in 1986.
Joel David, son of Marion Joseph, and grandson
of William Ray, enlisted in
the Air Force in 1968. He served at several U.S. Air Bases
before being transferred to Okinawa in 1969. His primary duty was
as Crew Chief of a C130 Cargo Aircraft flying in and out of
Vietnam with supplies for the troops. He was discharged
from the Air Force in September 1972.
Joel David Howerton
Glen, William, Jr., and Joe Howerton
William Ray & Jewel Howerton
1970
Christmas 1942
1917
THE
SIX GENERATIONS
of
WILLIAM MONROE HOWERTON
and
MARTHA JANE CAMPBELL
On 7 September 1884, William
Monroe Howerton and Martha Jane Campbell were
married in Purdy, Barry County, Missouri. Two days later,
they joined a small wagon train of seven wagons to make the
journey to south central Texas. Because Martha was
under 18 years of age she had to have the consent of her mother,
Martha V. Campbell.
December 31, 1962, Zona Ethel, the oldest daughter of
William and Martha, wrote the following letter describing her
parents and the moved to Texas.
“My father was born in Barry County, Missouri, just a
very short distance from Cassville. He was born February 1,
1861. My mother was Martha Jane Campbell. She was
born in Lawrence County, Missouri, near Pearce City on November
30, 1867. They married in her home September 7, 1884.
They started to Texas on September 9, 1884 in company with her
widowed mother and four other children. There were other
relatives [no Howertons] and a few friends. There
were seven vehicles. Others joined them along the way.
They arrived in Burnet County, Texas, after five weeks and five
days of travel. They did not like the country. My
father and mother’s family moved on to Austin the next
spring, then back northeast to Williamson County. (According
to grandson, Richard Howerton, they lived in Frame Switch for
four years before they moved to Hutto in Travis County.)
There were five children born to them. We three older
children were born in Williamson County. The other two were
born in the adjoining county of Travis. . .My father always
farmed. He and mother lived with us most of their last
years. Due to my illness Mother died at my sister’s.”
Helen Louise Howerton Hall, the oldest daughter of
Ellsworth Ronald Howerton, the oldest son of William and Martha
wrote the following letter on March 4, 1996, adding a few details.
She said that four of the children were born in Travis County
near Hutto, Texas, and in the fall of 1903 the family moved to
the Indian Territory, Oklahoma, where they remained for nine
months. The family returned to Denton County, Texas, first
to Mustang and then to Pilot Point. They then moved to
Sanger where they spent thirty years. From Sanger, they
moved to Roanoke where they lived until 1947 when they moved back
to Travis County (Round Rock) and lived with Zona Howerton Ward.
William died in 1950 and Martha’s health made it necessary
to move her to the home her daughter Opal. Martha
died in 1952.
Helen wrote that Will bought a Model T 1912 touring car in
1913 for $660.00, license #963, in Travis County. Ajax
tires were guaranteed for 5,000 miles and a replace for them at 3,000
miles and a second set at 2,000 miles. In 1914 Will bought
105 acres for $100.00 in Mustang, near Pilot Point. Will
and Martha took a trip and the map they used had a book of
instructions with red barns and rock houses for land marks.
When they drove in sand they had to let the air out of the tires
and then pump them up again after they got out. They only
lived in Mustang for two years and then moved to the town of
Pilot Point.
The five children of William and Martha were: Ellsworth Roy, b. 21 June 1888, d. 19 November
1952
Zona Ethel, b. 10 February 1891, d. 26
December 1978
Arthur Conway, b. 29 January 1895, d. 24
November 1969
Roland Reginald, b. 10 September 1902
Eva Opal Itaska, b. 24 August 1908
Roy married Catherine Roxie Roberson from Tennessee on October
25, 1908, in Texas. During the later part of their lives
they lived in Dalhart, Dallam County, Texas, out in the Texas
panhandle. They are both buried in the Memorial
Park Cemetery in Dalhart. Their children are: Ellsworth Ronald, b. 4 September 1909, d. 28
November 1977.
Reginald Grafton, b. 10 June 1914
Raymond Francis, b. 10 June 1920, d. 13
April 1972. Their son, Ronald was a painter whose
work “range from the paintings of the open range country to
the mountains, the deserts, the oil fields, and the railroads.
He had a special talent for expressing the open vastness of the
western plains and fields. Fascinated as a child by the era
of steam; the steam locomotives, the steam threshing engines, and
finds that these are still his favorite subjects.” (Note!
The quality of copies of some of his paintings were not adequate
for the newsletter.)
Zona Ethel married Thomas Curtis Ward on March 25, 1914, and
they had three children: June Adelle,
b. 4 June 1915
Melvin Curtis, b. 4 October 1917
Thomas Norvell Ward, b. 22 February 1924
Arthur Conway married Jewell Mae Davis. He died 24
November 1969 in Ft. Worth, Texas, where he served as a police
detective from many years. Jewell died 2 February 1979. (Note!
An article on A.C.’s police career will appear in a later
issue of the newsletter.) Arthur and Jewell had three
children: Chester Warren, b. 8 April
1919, d. June 1995.
Helen Margaret, b. 14 March 1921, d. 2
January 1960.
Evelyn Mae, b. 25 April 1922.
Roland Reginald married Hyacenth Carruth Gilmore on 2
September 1926. She died on May 31, 1939. They had
two children: Barbara Joyce, b. 22
August 1930.
John Monroe, b. 17 February 1934
He married Ruby Louise Bouldin 20 September 1941 and they have
one daughter.
Linda Kaye, b. 22 October 1943.
Roland and Ruby live in Ft. Worth, Texas, where Roland served
on the police force for many years. For a time, he was the
Ft. Worth Chief of Police.
He was one of the subjects in the article “Three Old
Howerton’s” in the Summer 1996 issue of Howerton
Heritage.
Eva Opal Itaska, b. 24 August 1908, was the youngest child of
William and Martha. She married Jay Buckelew.
They had a son, Calvin Monroe, b. 16
August 1924. In December 1964, when age 56,
she wrote a letter recounting what she knew about her
parent’s early life, but could add nothing to what has been
written above.
One of the interesting stories that grew out of the
research on the descendants of William and Martha was one
relating to their artist grandson, Ellsworth Ronald the son of
Ellsworth Roy. Roland married Helen Claire Mitchell on May
30, 1932, in Clayton, New Mexico. Before her marriage to
Roland, Claire had one daughter, Barbara Jean Martin whom
she had given up for adoption. A few years ago, Barbara
Jean traced, located and met her biological mother.
Apparently, none of the children of Roland and Helen were aware
they had a half-sister. Clarie’s daughter, Barbara
Jean, married Jack Wells and they had a daughter, Stephanie Lynn,
born in 1953. Stephanie married Alvin Loy Howerton in 1986
(Alvin comes from a different branch of the Howerton’s.
Of course, all Howerton’s connect with Thomas or John who
came to America in 1663). That meant that both Stephanie
and her grandmother, Claire, were married to Howertons. A
few years ago, Stephanie attended a gathering of the Ronald
Howerton descendants. Although she was a Howerton by
marriage, she was not a Howerton biologically. However, she
was related to Roland’s descendants biologically
through their mother, Clarie, her grandmother (Note! Think about
that for a while and your brain will do real unusual things).
The descendants of William and Martha go on and on. One
of the striking things about this family is the number of members
who are engaged in some kind of public service. Two of
their sons were Ft. Worth police officers, Richard, a great
grandson is retired from U.S. military service, Clayton Brian
another great grandson is a Baptist minister in South Carolina
and the list goes on.
Old William Monroe was descended from Rufus Howerton and Emily
Catherine Fly. In turn, Rufus was the son of Jackson who
came to Missouri in the late 1830's from Rhea County, Tennessee,
and was the son of Grief Howerton. Old Grief came
from Virginia and could trace his line back to 1663.
(Note! If you have not sent us information about your Howerton line, please take the time and write us. We are all joined at Thomas and John Howerton who arrived in the American colonies in 1663. Every effort will be made to connect you to the more than 14,000 names linked together in our data base. If we can connect you, we will let you know. There is no charge for such efforts and we will not and do not expect a contribution. It is a labor of love for our Howerton kin.)
THE ARRIVAL OF
THOMAS HOWERTON
By Bryan R Howerton
Howerton family researchers have long been frustrated in the search for a record of the arrival of the first Thomas Howerton who settled in Virginia Colony about 1663. This writer searched for more than thirty years without success; finally concluding that the record had simply been lost.
In the article entitled, “First Howertons in America,” which appeared in the Spring 1996 issue of this newsletter, it was noted that the record had been found of the transporting of Thomas’ brother, John Howerton, who settled in Maryland. However, although there were indications that Thomas Howerton of Virginia was also indentured as payment for his passage to Virginia Colony; a supporting record had not been positively identified.
Readers will be happy to learn that a record was found in August 1997, documenting the issue of a royal patent to John and George Mott of Old Rappahannock County, Virginia for 15,564 acres of land in payment for the transport of a large number of people, including Thomas Howerton, to Virginia Colony. The issue of such royal patents followed the act or service in which the patent was earned. This particular patent was dated in 1670, a few years after Thomas had arrived in Virginia. The report that both John and Thomas arrived in America in 1663 or earlier continues to be recognized as the best estimate. It is a matter of record that “headrights” were often accumulated over a period of years by an individual seeking a particularly large piece of land. Numerous instances have been found where head rights were traded and exchanged between owners, before finally being exchanged for a royal patent granting title to land. Because of this practice it is not always possible to determine the exact date a “headright” arrived in America or to be absolutely sure of his sponsor. Indications are that Thomas arrived well before the patent was issued.
The discovery of this record was made through the efforts
of Pamela Howerton Stone of Florida. Pamela is a daughter
of Paul Amos Howerton, a career Air Force officer who was serving
as a B-52 Bomb Squadron commander at the time of his death on 4
June 1968 at Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan. Pam has
been researching her Howerton and related lines for many years
during which we have maintained contact for 17 years. She
is unusually capable in the area of family research in which she
maintains the highest standards of accuracy. She is well
aware of our policy of freely providing information limited to a
Howerton descendant’s direct lineage. In the process
of examining data given her from our database, she noted it
contained numerous references to other old Virginia families;
whose descendants would not likely know of its existence.
She proposed that she establish a page on Internet for the
purpose of disseminating that information to those descended from
those families associated with the Howertons so long ago.
She assured John and me that the page would not add to our
workload as she would personally administer it and she also
agreed to honor our policy of not using the
information for commercial purposes.
Almost immediately after Pam got her page
into operation, she received queries from some descendants of
William Covington whose name appeared on the same list of
indentured people as Thomas Howerton. Further exchange led
to the discovery of the following land patent in Nugent’s
“Cavaliers and Pioneers”:
“17 Oct 1670 - John and George Mott receive a royal patent for 15,564 acres of land on the North side and in freshes of Rappahannock River. Land adjoins William Wilton, Mr. William Ball, Richard Heabcard and others over branches of Potomeck River, etc. Transport of 313 persons ??? Tho. Heywarton ??? William Covington??? 24 rights transferd from a patt. in foll. 209 in this book, that patt. being part of this land; 24 rites more transferd from another patt. in this book in fol. 73 being alsoe a part of this land. /s/ Phil. Ludwell, Clerk”
For the information of those readers interested in further research, it is reported that this entry was not indexed in the first two editions of “Cavaliers and Pioneers”; which explains how so many of us missed it. Also, the spelling of “Heywarton” conflicts with today’s spelling, but the frequent use of that and similar spelling of our name in Colonial Virginia records is well established and recognized.
Incidentally, the fact that William Covington and Thomas
Howerton appear on the same patent give support to the claim,
more particularly by Covington descendants, that the
friendship and association of those two gentlemen originated
in England and continued in America. As you know, they
entered into a partnership in tidewater Virginia and the
association, including marriages, between descendants of
the two men is a matter of record and continued for a long time.
This writer is well aware of the unsuccessful effort by several old Howerton family researchers attempts to determine the time and circumstances of the arrival in Virginia Colony of our progenitor. All of us should take our hats off to Pam, who made this discovery. She has demonstrated that she is a very capable lady and is dedicated to expanding our knowledge of our ancestors. Her unique and successful approach shows that we should never give up in our search. In her genealogical research, she is known to demand proof when new information is disclosed assuring that her work maintains the highest standard of accuracy. Well Done, Pam!
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