John W. Howell

JOHN W. HOWELL is a very prosperous merchant of Montana, Labette county, Kansas, where he conducts a flourishing grocery business. He has been a resident of this county since 1880, and is well known throughout this section. Mr. Howell was born in Mason county, Illinois, in 1850, and is a son of B. F. Howell.

B. F. Howell was born in Pennsylvania in 1828, and was a farmer by occupation. He was united in marriage with Amanda Henninger, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1832, and they reared the following children: John W., the subject of this sketch; Mary; Susan; Lovie; and Clark.

John W. Howell resided in his native county and was engaged in farming until 1880, When he came to Montana township, Labette county, Kansas. He located one and a half miles north of Montana, in the northwest quarter of section 5, Montana township, and the southwest quarter of section 32, Neosho township. He resided there until 1890, when he located in the town of Montana, and started there the first cheese factory in Labette county. He also had factories in Oswego and Chetopa, which he operated for a period of five years. He opened a grocery store in Montana in 1886, and has since engaged in that line of business.

Mr. Howell was united in marriage with Mary E. Goddard, who was born in Ohio in 1855. In politics he is independent. He is a member of Montana Lodge, No. 4, Home Builders' Union; and of the Masonic order. Religiously, he and his family are members of the Christian church.