James P HOWARD

Jan 20, 1847 - Dec 19, 1908
Mason

James P. Howard, whose association with the agricultural and stock interests of Garland County has contributed largely to his extensive acquaintance, is a resident of Union Township. He was born in Saline County, in 1847, and is a son of Albert and Elizabeth (Boland) Howard, who were born, reared and married in Tennessee. In 1844 the parents moved to Saline County, Ar., and settled in Jefferson Township, where the mother died when James was but six years old. The father was afterward married to Miss Mary Brooks, and passed the remainder of his days on the farm, dying in 1883. The parents were members of the Baptist Church, and earnest, Christian people. The father was a prosperous farmer, and an influential citizen, his death causing a void in the community that was not easily filled. His father was Allison Howard, of Tennessee, and he was also a brother to the late Judge Howard, of Saline County. James P. Howard was the fifth child of two sons and four daughters born to the first marriage. In order to obtain an education, during his boyhood he was compelled to walk four miles to a log-cabin school-house every day, but this was a small matter in comparison with his desire to obtain knowledge. During the Civil War he served two years in the Confederate army, being a member of Company H, First Arkansas Cavalry, and operated in the Trans-Mississippi district, Arkansas and Missouri, and fighting at Prairie Grove, Jenkins' Ferry, Camden, Helena, Price's raids through Missouri and a number of others. While sick in the hospital at Fort Smith, he was captured and held for two months and then exchanged. Later on he rejoined his command at Camden, and shortly before the close of the war he was captured at Benton and imprisoned at Little Rock until the war was over. He then returned home, and in 1867 was married to Eveline, daughter of Edward and Mary Akin, who were among the early settlers of Saline County. Mrs. Howard died in 1884, leaving two sons and three daughters. The Doctor's second marriage occurred in Garland County in 1886, to Martha E., daughter of J. J. and Hannah Neighbors, who settled in Garland County at an early period. Mr. Neighbors took an active part during the Civil War, and was a soldier in the Confederate army. This marriage made Dr. Howard the father of one son. Previous to his marriage he went to Texas, but only remained in that State one year, when he returned to Garland County and settled on his present farm, six miles northeast of Hot Springs, where he owns about 180 acres of very fine land, and has placed some fifty acres under cultivation, all the result of his own energy and enterprise. In politics he is a stanch Democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for Seymour, in 1868. He is a prominent member of Whittington Lodge No. 365, A.F.& A.M., and has belonged to that body for fourteen years, holding at different times the offices of Junior and Senior Warden, and at one time Master of Marble Lodge. He also belongs to the Knights of Honor at Hot Springs. In religious belief Dr. Howard and wife are members of the Baptist Church. (Goodspeed Biographical and Historical Memoirs - Garland County)

Contributed on 7/22/14 by hawkinsdonna
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Record #: 1024678

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