William Halsie Howell was the son of Farmer M. Howell and Belle M. Stratton. He was married to Nancy Louisa Akers 8 June 1929 in Floyd Co., Kentucky. He died in a coal mine accident while setting up timber braces in Logan Co., West Virginia.
Logan, West Virginia, "The Logan Banner", Tues. Sept. 16, 1952. "Two Ethel Timbermen Die in Mine Slate Fall....
Two Timberman for Ethel Chilton Mines, Inc., at Ethel were killed almost instantly yesterday afternoon when they were struck by slate at the No. 2 mine at Ethel.
The victims were the Rev. William Halsie Howell, 45, of Ottawa in Boone County, and Robert Edward Penn, 45, of Freeze Fork near Ethel.
According to coal company officials the two were setting timbers when the slate began falling. Both men were dead when brought from the mine, the spokesman added.
The deaths of Howell and Penn brought the county's mine fatalities since Saturday to a total of four. The other two were killed at Elk Creek Coal Co. at Emmett and Boone County Coal Corp. at Sharples.
The Rev. Mr. Howell had been an ordained Baptist minister since 1933 and was pastor of the Freewill Baptist Church at Bias Branch when he was killed.
He is survived by his widow; Nancy; three sons, John, serving with the Air Force at Langley Air Force Base, VA., William and howard, both at home; one daughter, Jean Louise Howell also at home; two brothers, Ballard of Ohio and Charles of Pikeville, KY; three sisters, Mrs. Marjorie Howell of Florida, Mrs. Herbert Duncan of Nashville, Tenn., and Mrs. P. Adkins of Louisville, KY., and his father, F. M. Howell of Ottawa.
The body is at Hunter and Hunter Mortuary in Madison, pending completion of funeral arrangements...."

William Halsie Howell was the son of Farmer M. Howell and Belle M. Stratton. He was married to Nancy Louisa Akers 8 June 1929 in Floyd Co., Kentucky. He died in a coal mine accident while setting up timber braces in Logan Co., West Virginia.
Logan, West Virginia, "The Logan Banner", Tues. Sept. 16, 1952. "Two Ethel Timbermen Die in Mine Slate Fall....
Two Timberman for Ethel Chilton Mines, Inc., at Ethel were killed almost instantly yesterday afternoon when they were struck by slate at the No. 2 mine at Ethel.
The victims were the Rev. William Halsie Howell, 45, of Ottawa in Boone County, and Robert Edward Penn, 45, of Freeze Fork near Ethel.
According to coal company officials the two were setting timbers when the slate began falling. Both men were dead when brought from the mine, the spokesman added.
The deaths of Howell and Penn brought the county's mine fatalities since Saturday to a total of four. The other two were killed at Elk Creek Coal Co. at Emmett and Boone County Coal Corp. at Sharples.
The Rev. Mr. Howell had been an ordained Baptist minister since 1933 and was pastor of the Freewill Baptist Church at Bias Branch when he was killed.
He is survived by his widow; Nancy; three sons, John, serving with the Air Force at Langley Air Force Base, VA., William and howard, both at home; one daughter, Jean Louise Howell also at home; two brothers, Ballard of Ohio and Charles of Pikeville, KY; three sisters, Mrs. Marjorie Howell of Florida, Mrs. Herbert Duncan of Nashville, Tenn., and Mrs. P. Adkins of Louisville, KY., and his father, F. M. Howell of Ottawa.
The body is at Hunter and Hunter Mortuary in Madison, pending completion of funeral arrangements...."