Edited by
Wally Howerton
Contributing Editors
John F. Howerton
Bryan R. Howerton
Volume Six, Issue 1 Winter 2002
FROM THE EDITOR
Greeting Cousins:
Some good reading in this issue. Make sure you read Bryan's Spanish American War article - you'll enjoy it.
Give the new search engine, that is on our main Howerton Heritage Page, a try. It is great for going back and looking for someone in an old issue and you just can't remember which issue it was.
Claiborne County Howerton's had another reunion and submitted their pictures. We're gonna have to get to that this coming year.
Well, not much exciting going on. I don't even have any profound statements to make. Stay Warm!
Wally
Siblings Serve in the Spanish American War
Distinguished Grandaughter: Heather Jean Sauter Brown
Letters From the Old Writing Desk
Annual Claiborne County, Tennessee Howerton Family Reunion
SIBLINGS SERVE IN SPANISH-AMERICAN
WAR
By Bryan R Howerton
photo
courtesy of
Naval
Historical Center
Congress authorized the construction of two armor-clad vessels on 3 Aug 1886. These would be the first true battleships of the U S Navy, the USS Maine and the USS New York. The first was the Maine, launched on 18 Nov 1890.
Opposition to Spanish rule had been building in Cuba for several years in which mob actions were quelled by the Spanish military. On 12 Jan 1898 group of dissidents led by officers of the Spanish Army mobbed the Havana newspaper offices following publication of articles critical of the military. At this point, the American consul became alarmed and began sending messages to Washington emphasizing the unrest and anticipated danger to Americans and their interests in Cuba.
Two weeks later, on 25 Jan 1898, the USS Maine sailed into Havana Harbor, passing unchallenged under the guns of Morro Castle, which defended the harbor. The Captain of the Maine immediately made formal calls on Spanish officials and the visits were cordial. The Maine was peacefully berthed in Havana Harbor when in the hours of darkness on 15 Feb 1898, the ship was torn apart by a tremendous explosion and immediately sank.
The sinking resulted in the death of 250 of the crew of 358 officers and men aboard. The sinking of the Maine precipitated the Spanish-American War, the first shot of which was fired by the armored cruiser USS Nashville across the bow of the Spanish ship Buena Vista off Key West, FL on 22 Apr 1898. On 25 Apr 1898 Congress declared that a state of war had existed between Spain and the United States since 21 April. At this time Hayward Koonce Howerton resided in New Bern, NC where he was a mariner by occupation. He was born 14 Oct 1878 at Hot Springs, Madison County, NC; the son of Dr William Henry Howerton and Amanda J Koonce. The nation-wide furor over the sinking of the Maine and the rallying cry of "Remember the Maine" influenced Hayward to enlist in the U S Navy as an Apprentice Seaman on 14 Apr 1898. He was described as: 5'7-1/2" tall; 139 lbs; brown eyes; black hair; and dark complexion. The details of Hayward's service in the Spanish-American War have not been determined. An armistice was signed between Spain and the U S on 12 Aug 1898 - the actual treaty ending the war was signed on 10 Dec 1898. Hayward was discharged from the Navy on 31 Aug 1898.
He re-enlisted in the Navy on 1 Jun 1899 and served for several years as a Gunner's Mate on various ships, including: battleships, USS Alabama, USS Massachusetts, USS Virginia and USS Vermont; cruisers USS Columbia and USS Des Moines; armored cruiser USS Olympia; auxiliary light cruiser USS Dixie; receiving ship USS Wabash and USS Hancock (type unknown).
At the time the USS Maine was sunk, the U S Navy was ill-equipped and undermanned, ranking behind Chile in the size of the Navy. It was necessary to borrow vessels from the shipping industry and to use modified auxiliary ships to react to the sinking of the Maine. After that experience, the country was determined to build a respectable Navy and take it's place as a world-power. President Theodore Roosevelt supported a strong America and to emphasize American capability decided that to "speak softly, but carry a big stick" by performing a good-will tour of the newest U S battleships around the world would serve that objective. Accordingly, a fleet including the battleships USS Connecticut, Vermont, Kansas, Minnesota, Georgia, Nebraska, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Louisiana, Virginia, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois, Kentucky, and Kearsarge was assembled in Hampton Roads, VA. The battleships were painted white except for gilded scrollwork on their bows. This graphic demonstration of American sea-power became known as "The Great White Fleet".
The fleet sailed from Hampton Roads on 16 Dec 1907 with Hayward Koonce Howerton in the USS Vermont. During the circumnavigation of the globe, the fleet visited British West Indies, Brazil, rounded Cape Horn, and visited Chile, Peru, Mexico, Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, Philippine Islands, Japan, China, Ceylon, and Egypt after transiting the Suez Canal. In Egypt, word was received of an earthquake in Sicily, thus affording an opportunity for the United States to show its friendship to Italy by offering aid to the sufferers. The Connecticut and Illinois were dispatched to Messina at once. The crew of the Illinois recovered the bodies of the American consul and his wife, entombed in the ruins.
Leaving Messina on 9 January 1909, the Fleet stopped at Naples, Italy, thence to Gibraltar, arriving at Hampton Roads, Virginia, on 22 February 1909. There, President Roosevelt reviewed the Fleet as it passed into the roadstead. And Hayward became the first Howerton of whom we are aware to have circumnavigated the world. He continued in the Navy until discharged for disability on 13 Jul 1910, at which time he was a Gunner's Mate Second Class. He was granted a disability pension. He never married and died in the Veterans Hospital at Bay Pines, FL on 18 Feb 1946. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, DC.
Hayward had a sister, Margaret Calvine Howerton, born 9 Jul 1876 at Raleigh, Wake County, NC. It has been said that she wanted to become an Army nurse when her brother went into the Navy. Her effort was successful, when on 22 Sep 1898 she enlisted as a nurse in the 7th Army Corps, U S Army, in Washington, DC. At that time she was described as 5'5"tall, light complexion, brown eyes, brown hair, and 120 lbs.
As each state promptly met their quota of recruits they were sent to locations in the southern U S for assembly and training, during which they would become acclimated to conditions similar to those to be found in Cuba and the Philippines. Camp Cuba Libre was established at Jacksonville, FL as facilities around Tampa had become too crowded. Priority had been given to the 8th and 5th Corps to fit them for service in the Philippines and Cuba. Supplies and equipment were slow to arrive at Camp Cuba Libre, which was the assembly point for the Seventh Corps and grew to a population of 30,000 troops. The men ate with their fingers off of shingles, which served as plates, because the necessary utensils did not arrive. These were the conditions found by Nurse Calvine Howerton (she preferred to be known as "Calvine") when she joined the staff of the 3rd Division Hospital, 7th Army Corps at Camp Cuba Libre. Medical supplies were so inadequate that commanders asked the Red Cross for supplies. As an example of the slowness of the arrival of supplies; the first men to be issued uniforms had worn them out before everyone had been outfitted. Flooring for tents and similar supplies were not provided on the assumption that the troops needed to be toughened up - a condition which was changed by General Fitzhugh Lee by purchase of such material from merchants in Jacksonville, FL.
Calvine was discharged from the Army on 18 Nov 1898 at Jacksonville, FL. She continued her career as a nurse for several years at locations which have not been positively identified. She is known to have spent many years at Cellar House Farm near Pocomoke City, MD. It is uncertain whether she owned the farm or operated it. The present owner has stated that the farm was well known for the quality of it's produce and that people claimed "Miss Calvine produced the best turkeys to be found in the area."
One of Calvine's sisters, Sarah Elizabeth lost her husband, William Edwards Clark and a daughter, Mary Bayard Clark by accidental drowning in Jun 1900. Soon after that tragic accident, she joined Calvine at Cellar House Farm.
Calvine applied for a pension for her service as a Nurse in the Medical Department of the Army; however, the application was denied in 1934, with the annotation: "served less than 70 days." She was never married and died on 9 Dec 1945 at Cellar House Farm, Pocomoke City, MD.
FAMOUS NAMED HOWERTON'S
by Wally
Howerton
When I was a lad, my father (Walter S. Howerton, Jr.) would tell my brother and me about some Howerton's who had been named after famous people. Well, at the time, we thought dear old dad must have been a little touched, I mean after all, who would name their kid, George Washington Howerton or Thomas Jefferson Howerton? Little did I know that many years later I would have access to a database of over 17000 Howerton names. Below are just a few that I found:
Abraham Lincoln Howerton,
b 1865, Clark IL
Andrew Jackson Howerton, b. 3 Jan, 1863,
Knox, MO
Andrew Jackson Howerton, b 15 July, 1818,
Floyd, KY
Andrew Jackson Howerton, b. 10 March,
1825, Morgan, KY
Andrew Jackson Howerton, b 26 December,
1834, Halifax County, VA
Christopher Columbus Howerton, b 11 Jun
1859 Barry Co, Mo
George Washington Howerton, b 24 Jul 1841,
Livingston Co, Ky
George Washington Howerton, 1 May 1858,
Wyoming County, VA (now WV)
George Washington Howerton, b 16 Nov 1867,
McClennan Co, TX
George Washington Howerton, b 10 Sep 1902,
Person Co, NC
George Washington Howerton, b 24 Feb 1911
Charlotte Co, Va *
Thomas Jefferson Howerton, born 13 Aug
1807, Halifax Co, VA*
Thomas Jefferson Howerton, b 16 Jun 1848,
Henry County, AL
Thomas Jefferson Howerton, b 4 March 1886,
Osage, AR
Thomas Jefferson Howerton, b about 1861,
Claiborne County, TN
Thomas Jefferson Howerton, b 20 Sept,
1894, Henry County, AL
Thomas Jefferson Howerton, b Feb 1875,
Durham, NC
Thomas Jefferson Howerton, b 8 Dec 1858,Carroll
Co, AR
Thomas Jefferson Howerton, b 15 November
1833, Campbell, VA
Thomas Jefferson Howerton, b 1816,
Edgefield, SC
Thomas Jefferson Howerton, b 13 November,
1863, Brown, IL
* The names my father must have been speaking about - my relatives! Sorry Dad!
DISTINGUISHED GRANDDAUGHTER
By Bryan R Howerton
As most of you know, I have written several articles about events in the life of many of our Howerton ancestors. Little has been said about living Howertons and their descendants. That oversight was due to no particular reason, except that so much factual data had been found on earlier members of the extended family and with that data at hand, it was simply easier to write about the older people. Beginning with this issue of the newsletter, we will try to include data, when available, on living Howertons as well as those who have passed on. I would like to begin this effort by sharing with you two recent major events in the life of our granddaughter, Heather Jean Sauter Brown.
Heather Jean was born 24 Sep 1975 at Fort Campbell, KY; the daughter of Peggy Elaine Howerton and Louis F. Sauter. Her parents were divorced while Heather was still in elementary school and she was raised by her mother. At a young age we noted that Heather was determined to reach goals she established for herself. When in high school her counselor was helping her prepare for the studies necessary to reach her career objective. When asked by the counselor which field she intended to major in when reaching college, Heather replied: "What is the hardest course in college?" The counselor informed her that Engineering was likely the hardest. Heather chose that field. She was an outstanding athlete, primarily in the area of soccer and basketball. She was the only girl on her high school soccer team and met some resentment initially; however, her attitude and ability led to the full support of the entire team, which became a championship team with Heather always in the line-up and usually playing full time. Heather graduated with honors from Northeast High School in Clarksville, TN on 10 May 1993 earning a college scholarship.
She was accepted into the College of Engineering at Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, TN. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering on 12 May 1997. On 15 Dec 1998 she received her Master's degree in Civil Engineering. Over the next three years she continued her studies at Tennessee Tech to earn a PhD in Civil Engineering while concurrently teaching at the university and conducting research for both the state and engineering firms in the laboratories at the college. Beginning with the fall semester of 2001 she became a member of the teaching staff at Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN while continuing her research at Tennessee Technological University. Her major field of interest is in construction materials emphasizing in concrete, masonry, asphalt and soils.
Heather's success has not been limited to the academic world. She loves the outdoors and is an accomplished hunter and woodsman. She has been regularly successful hunting deer, turkeys, and birds with bow and arrow, black powder firearms, shotguns, and rifles. Early in 2001, she met someone with whom she could share her love for the outdoors. We visited the site where they often rappel down a high cliff. One look over the side convinced me that I probably would not have tried it, had I been fifty years younger.
On 15 Dec 2001 Heather was awarded a PhD in Civil Engineering at Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN. She became the first descendant of my grandfather to earn a doctorate in any field. On the following day, 16 Dec 2001, she was united in marriage to John Christopher Brown at Garden Inn near Monterey, TN. Chris was born 24 Dec 1975 at Hilham, TN; son of Keith and Jeanette Brown of Hilham, TN. Chris also graduated from Tennessee Technological University, receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in December 1998. He worked for Federal Mogul Corporation for three years and is now starting at Nissan in Smyrna, TN as a Project Engineer.
They departed on their honeymoon during which they spent two weeks in Europe; visiting Rome, Florence and Venice, then skiing for a few days in Austria and finally enjoyed a few days in Germany before returning home. They returned safely to Murfreesboro, TN where they plan to make their home.
Mr. & Mrs.
John Christopher Brown
16 December 2001
Linda (wife of Don Howerton and Heather's Aunt),
Jean
Howerton (grandmother of
Heather)
Bryan R
Howerton (grandfather of
Heather),
Bill Kifer (Heather's father)
Heather
& Chris Brown
Peggy Elaine (Howerton) Kifer
(Heather's mother)
Donald R
Howerton (Linda's husband
and Heather's uncle).
Adam Ryan Sauter (Heather's brother)
Brooke Michelle Sauter Widmer (Heather's sister)
Heather & Chris Brown
Amber Louise Sauter (Heather's sister)
Additional pictures of Chris & Heather may be viewed by clicking on the links listed below:
Letters From the Old Writing
Desk
compiled
from the Database (ed)
In an earlier issue of Howerton Heritage I wrote, "One of the small pleasures as editor affords me the opportunity to read documents from years gone by. I'd like to quote the old cliche, 'the good old days' as they certainly seem more romantic, more personal, and the written word very often just sounded melodious."
I find myself returning time and again to "The Old Writing Desk" to browse and let the words of my kin, and the flavor of those words, envelope me. . . . . . . .
2 February 1833
Cousin Philip,
Dear Sir, I am at Robert's confined almost to my bed and no position near to rely upon. I have therefore sent up John Howerton to deliver this note to you to request you to be so kind as to send down your carriage with a small bed in it to Torian's Ferry tomorrow morning by 11 or 12 o'clock where I will try to meet it to get to your house that I may have some medical aid. Aunt Howerton's carriage is broken down and her horses are at Clarksville and are not expected back till the last of the week or I could get her to send me up; without troubling you. I hope, however, you will be so kind as to do this favor for me. I shall go to the river in Robert's barouche and had he a horse sufficient to pull it as far as your house I would try and go the whole way in it. But even then I don't think I could stand the ride so far in that kind of a carriage. Be so kind, Cousin Philip, as to send as I have some particular business with you before I leave this world should it be the will of Providence to take me out of this world in a short time. John Howerton will leave my filly and return in the carriage to the river where he will meet Robert and myself. My love to all.
Yours, etc.
/s/ R C Howerton
To:Capt
Philip Howerton
present by J Howerton
compiled from the Database (ed)
Jacob Howerton,
in addition to his other interests, also operated the "Howerton
House" in Proctor, Owsley County (later Lee), Kentucky;
which was apparently a combination boarding house and tavern or
saloon. Jacob Howerton was a magistrate or Justice of the Peace
in Lee County, Kentucky in 1870. Lee County Court Order Book 1
shows that a county court meeting was held at the Howerton House
on the hill in the town of Proctor in April 1870.
B. F. Phillips was county judge - Simpson Kelly and J. C. Howerton
were sureties on his bond. According to the records the first
court meeting held in Beattyville was March 1871. Until that time
court was held in the Howerton House in Proctor.
(Ltrs, 1 & 19
Oct 1964, Mrs. Betty Wormser, a descendant of Jacob C. Howerton)
In 1870 the town (of Proctor) had approximately 100
residents, 1 chapel, 1 school, 5 general stores, 3 saloons, 3
mechanic shops, and a sawmill which had been there since 1848.
Proctor had been the county seat before Beatyville became
incorporated in the early 19th century. On 25 Apr 1870 a group of
county officials held a meeting at the "Old Howerton House",
the town jail operated by Al
Howerton. Most of the town meetings and
court sessions were held at the "Old Howerton House".
The first session of county court was held June 6th, 1870 at the
Howerton House.
(p38, Glimpses of
Three Forks Country, pub 1875)
Jacob C. Howerton was born in
1810 in Russell County, Virginia; the son of William Howerton and
Nancy Ratcliff. His parents moved to Floyd County, Kentucky about
1815 and the area where they settled was incorporated into Morgan
County upon it's formation. On 8 Mar 1829 he married Rebecca
Williams (b 1809 KY - d 31 Aug 1855 Ky), daughter of Mason and
Sarah Williams, in Morgan Co, Kentucky. They made their home in
Morgan County for several years where Jacob farmed and operated a
mill. Later they moved to a section of Owlsey County, Kentucky
that later became Lee County where he operated a tavern and
served as a magistrate. Following the death of his first wife,
Jacob married Zerilda Alice Briant (b 1840 Ky) on 24 Aug 1865 in
Woodford Co, Kentucky. In 1900 he lived in Elliott Co, Kentucky.
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