Jonathan Howell, from whom our family takes its name, lived and farmed with his wife and ten children in the little town of Spencer, in Tioga County, NY. According to the town historian, Jean Alve, Jonathan came to Spencer in 1815 at the age of 6. How my cousin, David Howell, who comes down from Jonathan via Charles Elsworth's line, and I, who comes down Jonathan's line via John Dean, would so love to find a firm clue as to who Jonathan came with or who his father was. So many records have been lost, but this David has confirmed, the Revolutionary War Land Grant # 1579 is what brought Jonathan and his family to upstate, New York. He is working deligently to acertain further information.
Jonathan Howell married Almira Case around 1837-1838 The first record that I have that places them in Spencer is the 1835 NY Census. At that time he was 32 years old, and, Almira was 24. Their first child born, as far as we know, was Esther Manerva who was born in 1839. After her birth, followed five sons and four more daughters. The last child for whom I have records, Mary Jane, was born in 1858 when Almira was 41 years old and Jonathan was 49.
Jonathan and Almira sent at least two of their sons to do battle in the Civil War. John Dean, my great-great grandfather was wounded as an infantry soldier with a gunshot wound to the thigh. His brother, Isaac, served in a heavy artilery regiment. Isaac contracted Typhoid Fever while on prison guard duty in the cold and rain at Dinwiddie, Virginia, just outside of Petersburg, VA. Luck was with these two brothers who returned to Spencer, although wounded and sick, very much alive! They both went on to have large families.
Almira died in Spencer on 29 October 1879 at the age of 63 years 8 months of Peritonitis. It is an inflammation of the peritoneum, the tissue that lines the inner wall of the abdomen and covers and supports most of your abdominal organs, and is usually caused by infection from bacteria or fungi. Left untreated, peritonitis can rapidly spread into the blood (sepsis) and to other organs, resulting in multiple organ failure and death. Her death brought an end to their 41 year marriage. Almost two years later, Jonathan died on 27 August 1881 at the age of 72 years 7 months. His cause of death is unknown, at this time.
Both Almira and Jonathan Howell were buried in Evergreen Cemetery on Nichols Street in Spencer, NY. Their graves are found in the first row to the left when entering the cemetery. In 2006 Ritchie and I searched out the stone of my oldest-known Howell ancestor. We searched for at least two days. At one point Ritchie reached down and held up a broken stone laying ensconced beneath packed dirt. The slant of the sun perfectly illustrated the name "Jonathan Howell"! We picked it up and cleaned off the stone which showed, further, the name Almira. As soon as I returned to Virginia, I contracted with Glenside Monument Co in Ithaca to have the stone repaired it and re-set in concrete. I felt $400 was little to spend to memorialize this family treasure. In May of 2015 I was again at the cemetery for the memorial service for Bion J Manning, Sr, and I became painfully aware that the stone was again in pieces, lying on the ground. According to the folks at Glenside it has been repaired and reset once again.
As per demographics, in the year 1840 there were 301 Howell families in the country; with the largest population of Howells living in the continental United States residing in New York State. From my research, our Howells primarily lived in the Tioga-Chemung-Tompkins County Region of up-state New York, having migrated from Orange County, NY. The US survery taken in 1880 shows that the top, national occupation for Howells was farming. Actually, 51% of Howells were listed as 'farmers' or farm laborers,' while the national average for these designations was only 41%. [ancestry.com]
The derivation and meaning of the name "Howell" is as follows: [ancestry.com]
Welsh: from the personal name Hywel meaning "eminent", was popular since the Middle Ages in particular in honor of the great 10th-century law-giving, Welsh king.
English: habitational name from Howell in Lincolnshire, so named from an Old English hugol "mound", "hillock" or "hune" ,"hoarhound".
The top places of origin for Howell families is Great Britain, with eight early families imigrating from Germany.
In the American Civil War, 3,248 Howells served, 1,956 for the confederacy. [ancestry.com].
How I wish, after all these many years of searching, that we could know the place of origin of OUR Howells.
Howell reunions were an important part of Howell life from the early 1900s. These Howells were a close knit group and they took care of each other and liked to spend time together. From the following clipping, posted on August 10, 1933, the Howell Reunions began in 1927, as this clipping refers to the 6th annual reunion.
"The sixth annual reunion of the Jonathan Howell Family will be held Sunday, August 13, at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Leon Tyler [Jonathan's great grandson], near Danby. Please bring silver, cups and sandwiches for your family, and one dish for the table. Ernest D Howell, Secretary." [ When I read this clipping tears came to my eyes. How I would love, once more to hug my dear Uncle Ernie and his brothers and sisters, and attend 1 more reunion]... The last Howell reunion held was 38 long, years ago in May 1982, at the home of Jonathan's great-grand-daughter, Norma Howell Bakeman Allen in Waverly, NY... (note made 2020)]. My youngest son, Jonathan Howell Blanford, was presented to the family that day, at the tender age of 8 months.
Ahhh, those reunions... For many years the "Jonathan Howell Family" held their reunions at the home of my mother, Gertrude Howell Decker, at 554 Spencer Road in Ithaca, NY, or at Stewart Park, at the southern tip of Cayuga Lake, also in Ithaca. A second Howell Reunion was held each year on Memorial Day, which Aunt Erma faithfully referred to as "Decoration Day." And, 'decorate' is exactly what we did, Our pilgrimage took us to family cemetery plots from Ithaca to Wavery, where carefully tended geraniums were placed on the graves of long remembered ancestors. I must admit, as a child, the occupants of these graves were completely unknown and uninteresting. It wasn't until I was 13 years old, after Grandpa, Harold D Howell had died, that I had any personal connection to the deceased we honored. It was that year that I finally made a heart connection with the names on the stones.
Our annual parade always ended with a day of wonderful food, much singing, organ playing, and cold beer at Aunt Norma & Uncle Romie Allen's in Lockwood, and later, Waverly. Running through cemeteries in Spencer, VanEtten and Lockwood were a highlight of my childhood. I recall the adults cautioning us, but we flew down the slopes, dodging grave stones with happy abandon. It wasn't until my own sons sought to do the same, that I realized the danger of this act. But family traditions die hard and children ruled the day, Memorial. Being part of the Jonathan Howell Family, and loving those precious family members was a big part of my life. Those 'Howlin' Howells' were a fun-loving and happy lot, believe me! We named our third son, Jonathan Howell Blanford, in honor of this family patriarch.
As I update this entry in 2008, I consider who is left of this family tree? At this time, for my branch, via John Dean Howell through Clarence John Howell, Barb Voorhees Horton may be the surviving matriarch, her mother being Erma Howell Voorhees, daughter of Clarence. Uncle Ray Howell, another son of Clarence left a family of boys that has led me speak to his son, Loel, and grandson, Lloyd, Jr. BJ Manning, son of Hazel Howell Manning, daughter of Clyde Howell mans his line! And I now have close contact with two of Jonathan's youngest son, Charles Elsworth Howell's line. Fast forward to 2018, Barb Vorheese Horton is gone, and there is only one of this generation still living. Beverly Voorhese Holmes may be frail and infirm, but she bears the title Matriarch... for a while... Bev went to be with the Lord in 2019, and as and far as I can tell, my cousin, Kenneth Eugene VanZile may well be the oldest of this generation, with me, Lynda Decker Blanford following a close decade behind.
JONATHAN HOWELL FAMILY Memorial Day Pilgrimage
LAKE VIEW: Ithaca
Ernest D Howell-Estella Martin [S of Clarence Howell]
Phyllis VanZile-WilliamTursick [GD of Harold Howell]
WOODLAWN: Newfield
Harold D Howell-Areva Grover [S of Clarence Howell]
Irene Howell Vanzile [D of Harold Howell]
James M VanZile [Son of Irene Howell VanZile]
Clarence "Teddy" VanZile [Son of Irene Howell VanZile]
Gertrude Howell-George Decker [D of Harold Howell]
(Lynda J Decker-Ritchie Don Blanford) [D of George & Gertrude Howell Decker]
Donna Lynne Decker Starks Hines [D of George & Gertrude Howell Decker]
EVERGREEN, SPENCER:
Eli Howell Partiarch [?]
Jonathan Howell-Almira Case
Mary J Howell-Amos M Vanmarter [D of Jonathan]
John D Howell-Delphine Deyo [S of Jonathan]
Marcy Howell [S of John D Howell]
Nellie Howell Warner [D of John D Howell]
Mathias Casper Howell [S of John D Howell]
Lena Howell-Frank Davenport [D of John D Howell]
Charles Howell-Minnie Coggin [S of Jonathan]
Clyde Howell-Maud Baker [S of Clarence Howell]
Hazel Howell-Bion Manning [D of Clyde Howell]
Pauline Howell [D of Clyde Howell]
James K Howell-Althea Tompkins [S of Jonathan]
Harvey Howell [S of James K Howell]
Josie Howell-Burt Clark [D of James K Howell]
Sarah A Howell-William Cashman [D of Jonathan]
Fred Cashman [S of Sarah Howell]
Ida Cashman-Frank Harvey [D of Sarah Howell]
Margaret Ann Summerton Bakeman Ackley [sister of Mary Luella Summerton Howell]
VAN ETTEN
Vera Gertrude Howell Morey [D of Clarence Howell]
LOCKWOOD
Thomas L Summerton-Mary Jane Harvey [Parents of Mary Luella Summerton Howell]
Clarence Howell-Mary Luella Summerton [S of John Dean Howell]
Norma Howell-Romaine Allen [D of Clarence Howell]
History of Spencer, NY
Contributed and prepared by: Sherlene Belden. Source: Historical Gazetteer of Tioga county, New York, 1785-1888, Compiled by W. B. Gay. Published by W. B. Gay & Co., Syracuse, N. Y. in 1888 [NYGENWEB]
"One of the first settlers of what is known as the Dean Settlement, was Nicholas Dean, who came from Westchester county, in June 1816, and built the first house on the place now owned by Mary Deyo [mother-in-law to John Dean Howell, son of Jonathan], in October, 1817. Among other early settlers who came to this location were Elisha Sackett, from Peeksill, in 1820, locating where Jasper Patty now lives, John Williams, who settled on the farm now owned by George Pearson, and Eli Howell, who settled on the farm now owned by W. H. Fleming. "
Early Life in Dean Settlement Written by Jonathan Howell May 12, 1880, Spencer, NY
The first settler was Nicholas Dean who came from Westchester Co in June 1816. The first house built in Dean Settlement was built October 1817 by N. Dean, and was situated in the present premises of Casper Deyo [father-in-law to John Dean Howell], and near the house in which he lives at present. The first land cleared was on the farm now owned by Casper Deyo.
The second settler was Elisha Sackett who came from Pukskill in 1820. He settled on the farm now owned by Jasper Petty.
The next three settlers were John Williams who settled on the farm now in possession of Barnett Raub about the same time Sackett settled here.
Next came Eli Howell who came from Ulster County in 1808 and moved to Dean Settlement about the year 1821. He located on the farm now in possession of W H Flenning.
The first child born in Dean Settlement was Hatfield Dean in 1821.
Jonathan Howell: my Great, Great, Great Grandfather [Lynda Decker Blanford]
Casper Deyo:my Great, Great, Great Grandfather
This handwritten document is on file at the Spencer County Clerk's Office, Spencer, Tioga Co, NY.
I would like to find out if we are also connected to the "Deans" of Dean Settlement. Jonathan named his son, John Dean Howell, and Uncle Ernie's middle name was Dean [son of Clarence Howell].
Jonathan Howell married Almira Case around 1837-1838 The first record that I have that places them in Spencer is the 1835 NY Census. At that time he was 32 years old, and, Almira was 24. Their first child born, as far as we know, was Esther Manerva who was born in 1839. After her birth, followed five sons and four more daughters. The last child for whom I have records, Mary Jane, was born in 1858 when Almira was 41 years old and Jonathan was 49.
Jonathan and Almira sent at least two of their sons to do battle in the Civil War. John Dean, my great-great grandfather was wounded as an infantry soldier with a gunshot wound to the thigh. His brother, Isaac, served in a heavy artilery regiment. Isaac contracted Typhoid Fever while on prison guard duty in the cold and rain at Dinwiddie, Virginia, just outside of Petersburg, VA. Luck was with these two brothers who returned to Spencer, although wounded and sick, very much alive! They both went on to have large families.
Almira died in Spencer on 29 October 1879 at the age of 63 years 8 months of Peritonitis. It is an inflammation of the peritoneum, the tissue that lines the inner wall of the abdomen and covers and supports most of your abdominal organs, and is usually caused by infection from bacteria or fungi. Left untreated, peritonitis can rapidly spread into the blood (sepsis) and to other organs, resulting in multiple organ failure and death. Her death brought an end to their 41 year marriage. Almost two years later, Jonathan died on 27 August 1881 at the age of 72 years 7 months. His cause of death is unknown, at this time.
Both Almira and Jonathan Howell were buried in Evergreen Cemetery on Nichols Street in Spencer, NY. Their graves are found in the first row to the left when entering the cemetery. In 2006 Ritchie and I searched out the stone of my oldest-known Howell ancestor. We searched for at least two days. At one point Ritchie reached down and held up a broken stone laying ensconced beneath packed dirt. The slant of the sun perfectly illustrated the name "Jonathan Howell"! We picked it up and cleaned off the stone which showed, further, the name Almira. As soon as I returned to Virginia, I contracted with Glenside Monument Co in Ithaca to have the stone repaired it and re-set in concrete. I felt $400 was little to spend to memorialize this family treasure. In May of 2015 I was again at the cemetery for the memorial service for Bion J Manning, Sr, and I became painfully aware that the stone was again in pieces, lying on the ground. According to the folks at Glenside it has been repaired and reset once again.
As per demographics, in the year 1840 there were 301 Howell families in the country; with the largest population of Howells living in the continental United States residing in New York State. From my research, our Howells primarily lived in the Tioga-Chemung-Tompkins County Region of up-state New York, having migrated from Orange County, NY. The US survery taken in 1880 shows that the top, national occupation for Howells was farming. Actually, 51% of Howells were listed as 'farmers' or farm laborers,' while the national average for these designations was only 41%. [ancestry.com]
The derivation and meaning of the name "Howell" is as follows: [ancestry.com]
Welsh: from the personal name Hywel meaning "eminent", was popular since the Middle Ages in particular in honor of the great 10th-century law-giving, Welsh king.
English: habitational name from Howell in Lincolnshire, so named from an Old English hugol "mound", "hillock" or "hune" ,"hoarhound".
The top places of origin for Howell families is Great Britain, with eight early families imigrating from Germany.
In the American Civil War, 3,248 Howells served, 1,956 for the confederacy. [ancestry.com].
How I wish, after all these many years of searching, that we could know the place of origin of OUR Howells.
Howell reunions were an important part of Howell life from the early 1900s. These Howells were a close knit group and they took care of each other and liked to spend time together. From the following clipping, posted on August 10, 1933, the Howell Reunions began in 1927, as this clipping refers to the 6th annual reunion.
"The sixth annual reunion of the Jonathan Howell Family will be held Sunday, August 13, at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Leon Tyler [Jonathan's great grandson], near Danby. Please bring silver, cups and sandwiches for your family, and one dish for the table. Ernest D Howell, Secretary." [ When I read this clipping tears came to my eyes. How I would love, once more to hug my dear Uncle Ernie and his brothers and sisters, and attend 1 more reunion]... The last Howell reunion held was 38 long, years ago in May 1982, at the home of Jonathan's great-grand-daughter, Norma Howell Bakeman Allen in Waverly, NY... (note made 2020)]. My youngest son, Jonathan Howell Blanford, was presented to the family that day, at the tender age of 8 months.
Ahhh, those reunions... For many years the "Jonathan Howell Family" held their reunions at the home of my mother, Gertrude Howell Decker, at 554 Spencer Road in Ithaca, NY, or at Stewart Park, at the southern tip of Cayuga Lake, also in Ithaca. A second Howell Reunion was held each year on Memorial Day, which Aunt Erma faithfully referred to as "Decoration Day." And, 'decorate' is exactly what we did, Our pilgrimage took us to family cemetery plots from Ithaca to Wavery, where carefully tended geraniums were placed on the graves of long remembered ancestors. I must admit, as a child, the occupants of these graves were completely unknown and uninteresting. It wasn't until I was 13 years old, after Grandpa, Harold D Howell had died, that I had any personal connection to the deceased we honored. It was that year that I finally made a heart connection with the names on the stones.
Our annual parade always ended with a day of wonderful food, much singing, organ playing, and cold beer at Aunt Norma & Uncle Romie Allen's in Lockwood, and later, Waverly. Running through cemeteries in Spencer, VanEtten and Lockwood were a highlight of my childhood. I recall the adults cautioning us, but we flew down the slopes, dodging grave stones with happy abandon. It wasn't until my own sons sought to do the same, that I realized the danger of this act. But family traditions die hard and children ruled the day, Memorial. Being part of the Jonathan Howell Family, and loving those precious family members was a big part of my life. Those 'Howlin' Howells' were a fun-loving and happy lot, believe me! We named our third son, Jonathan Howell Blanford, in honor of this family patriarch.
As I update this entry in 2008, I consider who is left of this family tree? At this time, for my branch, via John Dean Howell through Clarence John Howell, Barb Voorhees Horton may be the surviving matriarch, her mother being Erma Howell Voorhees, daughter of Clarence. Uncle Ray Howell, another son of Clarence left a family of boys that has led me speak to his son, Loel, and grandson, Lloyd, Jr. BJ Manning, son of Hazel Howell Manning, daughter of Clyde Howell mans his line! And I now have close contact with two of Jonathan's youngest son, Charles Elsworth Howell's line. Fast forward to 2018, Barb Vorheese Horton is gone, and there is only one of this generation still living. Beverly Voorhese Holmes may be frail and infirm, but she bears the title Matriarch... for a while... Bev went to be with the Lord in 2019, and as and far as I can tell, my cousin, Kenneth Eugene VanZile may well be the oldest of this generation, with me, Lynda Decker Blanford following a close decade behind.
JONATHAN HOWELL FAMILY Memorial Day Pilgrimage
LAKE VIEW: Ithaca
Ernest D Howell-Estella Martin [S of Clarence Howell]
Phyllis VanZile-WilliamTursick [GD of Harold Howell]
WOODLAWN: Newfield
Harold D Howell-Areva Grover [S of Clarence Howell]
Irene Howell Vanzile [D of Harold Howell]
James M VanZile [Son of Irene Howell VanZile]
Clarence "Teddy" VanZile [Son of Irene Howell VanZile]
Gertrude Howell-George Decker [D of Harold Howell]
(Lynda J Decker-Ritchie Don Blanford) [D of George & Gertrude Howell Decker]
Donna Lynne Decker Starks Hines [D of George & Gertrude Howell Decker]
EVERGREEN, SPENCER:
Eli Howell Partiarch [?]
Jonathan Howell-Almira Case
Mary J Howell-Amos M Vanmarter [D of Jonathan]
John D Howell-Delphine Deyo [S of Jonathan]
Marcy Howell [S of John D Howell]
Nellie Howell Warner [D of John D Howell]
Mathias Casper Howell [S of John D Howell]
Lena Howell-Frank Davenport [D of John D Howell]
Charles Howell-Minnie Coggin [S of Jonathan]
Clyde Howell-Maud Baker [S of Clarence Howell]
Hazel Howell-Bion Manning [D of Clyde Howell]
Pauline Howell [D of Clyde Howell]
James K Howell-Althea Tompkins [S of Jonathan]
Harvey Howell [S of James K Howell]
Josie Howell-Burt Clark [D of James K Howell]
Sarah A Howell-William Cashman [D of Jonathan]
Fred Cashman [S of Sarah Howell]
Ida Cashman-Frank Harvey [D of Sarah Howell]
Margaret Ann Summerton Bakeman Ackley [sister of Mary Luella Summerton Howell]
VAN ETTEN
Vera Gertrude Howell Morey [D of Clarence Howell]
LOCKWOOD
Thomas L Summerton-Mary Jane Harvey [Parents of Mary Luella Summerton Howell]
Clarence Howell-Mary Luella Summerton [S of John Dean Howell]
Norma Howell-Romaine Allen [D of Clarence Howell]
History of Spencer, NY
Contributed and prepared by: Sherlene Belden. Source: Historical Gazetteer of Tioga county, New York, 1785-1888, Compiled by W. B. Gay. Published by W. B. Gay & Co., Syracuse, N. Y. in 1888 [NYGENWEB]
"One of the first settlers of what is known as the Dean Settlement, was Nicholas Dean, who came from Westchester county, in June 1816, and built the first house on the place now owned by Mary Deyo [mother-in-law to John Dean Howell, son of Jonathan], in October, 1817. Among other early settlers who came to this location were Elisha Sackett, from Peeksill, in 1820, locating where Jasper Patty now lives, John Williams, who settled on the farm now owned by George Pearson, and Eli Howell, who settled on the farm now owned by W. H. Fleming. "
Early Life in Dean Settlement Written by Jonathan Howell May 12, 1880, Spencer, NY
The first settler was Nicholas Dean who came from Westchester Co in June 1816. The first house built in Dean Settlement was built October 1817 by N. Dean, and was situated in the present premises of Casper Deyo [father-in-law to John Dean Howell], and near the house in which he lives at present. The first land cleared was on the farm now owned by Casper Deyo.
The second settler was Elisha Sackett who came from Pukskill in 1820. He settled on the farm now owned by Jasper Petty.
The next three settlers were John Williams who settled on the farm now in possession of Barnett Raub about the same time Sackett settled here.
Next came Eli Howell who came from Ulster County in 1808 and moved to Dean Settlement about the year 1821. He located on the farm now in possession of W H Flenning.
The first child born in Dean Settlement was Hatfield Dean in 1821.
Jonathan Howell: my Great, Great, Great Grandfather [Lynda Decker Blanford]
Casper Deyo:my Great, Great, Great Grandfather
This handwritten document is on file at the Spencer County Clerk's Office, Spencer, Tioga Co, NY.
I would like to find out if we are also connected to the "Deans" of Dean Settlement. Jonathan named his son, John Dean Howell, and Uncle Ernie's middle name was Dean [son of Clarence Howell].
Jonathan Howell, from whom our family takes its name, lived and farmed with his wife and ten children in the little town of Spencer, in Tioga County, NY. According to the town historian, Jean Alve, Jonathan came to Spencer in 1815 at the age of 6. How my cousin, David Howell, who comes down from Jonathan via Charles Elsworth's line, and I, who comes down Jonathan's line via John Dean, would so love to find a firm clue as to who Jonathan came with or who his father was. So many records have been lost, but this David has confirmed, the Revolutionary War Land Grant # 1579 is what brought Jonathan and his family to upstate, New York. He is working deligently to acertain further information.
Jonathan Howell married Almira Case around 1837-1838 The first record that I have that places them in Spencer is the 1835 NY Census. At that time he was 32 years old, and, Almira was 24. Their first child born, as far as we know, was Esther Manerva who was born in 1839. After her birth, followed five sons and four more daughters. The last child for whom I have records, Mary Jane, was born in 1858 when Almira was 41 years old and Jonathan was 49.
Jonathan and Almira sent at least two of their sons to do battle in the Civil War. John Dean, my great-great grandfather was wounded as an infantry soldier with a gunshot wound to the thigh. His brother, Isaac, served in a heavy artilery regiment. Isaac contracted Typhoid Fever while on prison guard duty in the cold and rain at Dinwiddie, Virginia, just outside of Petersburg, VA. Luck was with these two brothers who returned to Spencer, although wounded and sick, very much alive! They both went on to have large families.
Almira died in Spencer on 29 October 1879 at the age of 63 years 8 months of Peritonitis. It is an inflammation of the peritoneum, the tissue that lines the inner wall of the abdomen and covers and supports most of your abdominal organs, and is usually caused by infection from bacteria or fungi. Left untreated, peritonitis can rapidly spread into the blood (sepsis) and to other organs, resulting in multiple organ failure and death. Her death brought an end to their 41 year marriage. Almost two years later, Jonathan died on 27 August 1881 at the age of 72 years 7 months. His cause of death is unknown, at this time.
Both Almira and Jonathan Howell were buried in Evergreen Cemetery on Nichols Street in Spencer, NY. Their graves are found in the first row to the left when entering the cemetery. In 2006 Ritchie and I searched out the stone of my oldest-known Howell ancestor. We searched for at least two days. At one point Ritchie reached down and held up a broken stone laying ensconced beneath packed dirt. The slant of the sun perfectly illustrated the name "Jonathan Howell"! We picked it up and cleaned off the stone which showed, further, the name Almira. As soon as I returned to Virginia, I contracted with Glenside Monument Co in Ithaca to have the stone repaired it and re-set in concrete. I felt $400 was little to spend to memorialize this family treasure. In May of 2015 I was again at the cemetery for the memorial service for Bion J Manning, Sr, and I became painfully aware that the stone was again in pieces, lying on the ground. According to the folks at Glenside it has been repaired and reset once again.
As per demographics, in the year 1840 there were 301 Howell families in the country; with the largest population of Howells living in the continental United States residing in New York State. From my research, our Howells primarily lived in the Tioga-Chemung-Tompkins County Region of up-state New York, having migrated from Orange County, NY. The US survery taken in 1880 shows that the top, national occupation for Howells was farming. Actually, 51% of Howells were listed as 'farmers' or farm laborers,' while the national average for these designations was only 41%. [ancestry.com]
The derivation and meaning of the name "Howell" is as follows: [ancestry.com]
Welsh: from the personal name Hywel meaning "eminent", was popular since the Middle Ages in particular in honor of the great 10th-century law-giving, Welsh king.
English: habitational name from Howell in Lincolnshire, so named from an Old English hugol "mound", "hillock" or "hune" ,"hoarhound".
The top places of origin for Howell families is Great Britain, with eight early families imigrating from Germany.
In the American Civil War, 3,248 Howells served, 1,956 for the confederacy. [ancestry.com].
How I wish, after all these many years of searching, that we could know the place of origin of OUR Howells.
Howell reunions were an important part of Howell life from the early 1900s. These Howells were a close knit group and they took care of each other and liked to spend time together. From the following clipping, posted on August 10, 1933, the Howell Reunions began in 1927, as this clipping refers to the 6th annual reunion.
"The sixth annual reunion of the Jonathan Howell Family will be held Sunday, August 13, at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Leon Tyler [Jonathan's great grandson], near Danby. Please bring silver, cups and sandwiches for your family, and one dish for the table. Ernest D Howell, Secretary." [ When I read this clipping tears came to my eyes. How I would love, once more to hug my dear Uncle Ernie and his brothers and sisters, and attend 1 more reunion]... The last Howell reunion held was 38 long, years ago in May 1982, at the home of Jonathan's great-grand-daughter, Norma Howell Bakeman Allen in Waverly, NY... (note made 2020)]. My youngest son, Jonathan Howell Blanford, was presented to the family that day, at the tender age of 8 months.
Ahhh, those reunions... For many years the "Jonathan Howell Family" held their reunions at the home of my mother, Gertrude Howell Decker, at 554 Spencer Road in Ithaca, NY, or at Stewart Park, at the southern tip of Cayuga Lake, also in Ithaca. A second Howell Reunion was held each year on Memorial Day, which Aunt Erma faithfully referred to as "Decoration Day." And, 'decorate' is exactly what we did, Our pilgrimage took us to family cemetery plots from Ithaca to Wavery, where carefully tended geraniums were placed on the graves of long remembered ancestors. I must admit, as a child, the occupants of these graves were completely unknown and uninteresting. It wasn't until I was 13 years old, after Grandpa, Harold D Howell had died, that I had any personal connection to the deceased we honored. It was that year that I finally made a heart connection with the names on the stones.
Our annual parade always ended with a day of wonderful food, much singing, organ playing, and cold beer at Aunt Norma & Uncle Romie Allen's in Lockwood, and later, Waverly. Running through cemeteries in Spencer, VanEtten and Lockwood were a highlight of my childhood. I recall the adults cautioning us, but we flew down the slopes, dodging grave stones with happy abandon. It wasn't until my own sons sought to do the same, that I realized the danger of this act. But family traditions die hard and children ruled the day, Memorial. Being part of the Jonathan Howell Family, and loving those precious family members was a big part of my life. Those 'Howlin' Howells' were a fun-loving and happy lot, believe me! We named our third son, Jonathan Howell Blanford, in honor of this family patriarch.
As I update this entry in 2008, I consider who is left of this family tree? At this time, for my branch, via John Dean Howell through Clarence John Howell, Barb Voorhees Horton may be the surviving matriarch, her mother being Erma Howell Voorhees, daughter of Clarence. Uncle Ray Howell, another son of Clarence left a family of boys that has led me speak to his son, Loel, and grandson, Lloyd, Jr. BJ Manning, son of Hazel Howell Manning, daughter of Clyde Howell mans his line! And I now have close contact with two of Jonathan's youngest son, Charles Elsworth Howell's line. Fast forward to 2018, Barb Vorheese Horton is gone, and there is only one of this generation still living. Beverly Voorhese Holmes may be frail and infirm, but she bears the title Matriarch... for a while... Bev went to be with the Lord in 2019, and as and far as I can tell, my cousin, Kenneth Eugene VanZile may well be the oldest of this generation, with me, Lynda Decker Blanford following a close decade behind.
JONATHAN HOWELL FAMILY Memorial Day Pilgrimage
LAKE VIEW: Ithaca
Ernest D Howell-Estella Martin [S of Clarence Howell]
Phyllis VanZile-WilliamTursick [GD of Harold Howell]
WOODLAWN: Newfield
Harold D Howell-Areva Grover [S of Clarence Howell]
Irene Howell Vanzile [D of Harold Howell]
James M VanZile [Son of Irene Howell VanZile]
Clarence "Teddy" VanZile [Son of Irene Howell VanZile]
Gertrude Howell-George Decker [D of Harold Howell]
(Lynda J Decker-Ritchie Don Blanford) [D of George & Gertrude Howell Decker]
Donna Lynne Decker Starks Hines [D of George & Gertrude Howell Decker]
EVERGREEN, SPENCER:
Eli Howell Partiarch [?]
Jonathan Howell-Almira Case
Mary J Howell-Amos M Vanmarter [D of Jonathan]
John D Howell-Delphine Deyo [S of Jonathan]
Marcy Howell [S of John D Howell]
Nellie Howell Warner [D of John D Howell]
Mathias Casper Howell [S of John D Howell]
Lena Howell-Frank Davenport [D of John D Howell]
Charles Howell-Minnie Coggin [S of Jonathan]
Clyde Howell-Maud Baker [S of Clarence Howell]
Hazel Howell-Bion Manning [D of Clyde Howell]
Pauline Howell [D of Clyde Howell]
James K Howell-Althea Tompkins [S of Jonathan]
Harvey Howell [S of James K Howell]
Josie Howell-Burt Clark [D of James K Howell]
Sarah A Howell-William Cashman [D of Jonathan]
Fred Cashman [S of Sarah Howell]
Ida Cashman-Frank Harvey [D of Sarah Howell]
Margaret Ann Summerton Bakeman Ackley [sister of Mary Luella Summerton Howell]
VAN ETTEN
Vera Gertrude Howell Morey [D of Clarence Howell]
LOCKWOOD
Thomas L Summerton-Mary Jane Harvey [Parents of Mary Luella Summerton Howell]
Clarence Howell-Mary Luella Summerton [S of John Dean Howell]
Norma Howell-Romaine Allen [D of Clarence Howell]
History of Spencer, NY
Contributed and prepared by: Sherlene Belden. Source: Historical Gazetteer of Tioga county, New York, 1785-1888, Compiled by W. B. Gay. Published by W. B. Gay & Co., Syracuse, N. Y. in 1888 [NYGENWEB]
"One of the first settlers of what is known as the Dean Settlement, was Nicholas Dean, who came from Westchester county, in June 1816, and built the first house on the place now owned by Mary Deyo [mother-in-law to John Dean Howell, son of Jonathan], in October, 1817. Among other early settlers who came to this location were Elisha Sackett, from Peeksill, in 1820, locating where Jasper Patty now lives, John Williams, who settled on the farm now owned by George Pearson, and Eli Howell, who settled on the farm now owned by W. H. Fleming. "
Early Life in Dean Settlement Written by Jonathan Howell May 12, 1880, Spencer, NY
The first settler was Nicholas Dean who came from Westchester Co in June 1816. The first house built in Dean Settlement was built October 1817 by N. Dean, and was situated in the present premises of Casper Deyo [father-in-law to John Dean Howell], and near the house in which he lives at present. The first land cleared was on the farm now owned by Casper Deyo.
The second settler was Elisha Sackett who came from Pukskill in 1820. He settled on the farm now owned by Jasper Petty.
The next three settlers were John Williams who settled on the farm now in possession of Barnett Raub about the same time Sackett settled here.
Next came Eli Howell who came from Ulster County in 1808 and moved to Dean Settlement about the year 1821. He located on the farm now in possession of W H Flenning.
The first child born in Dean Settlement was Hatfield Dean in 1821.
Jonathan Howell: my Great, Great, Great Grandfather [Lynda Decker Blanford]
Casper Deyo:my Great, Great, Great Grandfather
This handwritten document is on file at the Spencer County Clerk's Office, Spencer, Tioga Co, NY.
I would like to find out if we are also connected to the "Deans" of Dean Settlement. Jonathan named his son, John Dean Howell, and Uncle Ernie's middle name was Dean [son of Clarence Howell].
Jonathan Howell married Almira Case around 1837-1838 The first record that I have that places them in Spencer is the 1835 NY Census. At that time he was 32 years old, and, Almira was 24. Their first child born, as far as we know, was Esther Manerva who was born in 1839. After her birth, followed five sons and four more daughters. The last child for whom I have records, Mary Jane, was born in 1858 when Almira was 41 years old and Jonathan was 49.
Jonathan and Almira sent at least two of their sons to do battle in the Civil War. John Dean, my great-great grandfather was wounded as an infantry soldier with a gunshot wound to the thigh. His brother, Isaac, served in a heavy artilery regiment. Isaac contracted Typhoid Fever while on prison guard duty in the cold and rain at Dinwiddie, Virginia, just outside of Petersburg, VA. Luck was with these two brothers who returned to Spencer, although wounded and sick, very much alive! They both went on to have large families.
Almira died in Spencer on 29 October 1879 at the age of 63 years 8 months of Peritonitis. It is an inflammation of the peritoneum, the tissue that lines the inner wall of the abdomen and covers and supports most of your abdominal organs, and is usually caused by infection from bacteria or fungi. Left untreated, peritonitis can rapidly spread into the blood (sepsis) and to other organs, resulting in multiple organ failure and death. Her death brought an end to their 41 year marriage. Almost two years later, Jonathan died on 27 August 1881 at the age of 72 years 7 months. His cause of death is unknown, at this time.
Both Almira and Jonathan Howell were buried in Evergreen Cemetery on Nichols Street in Spencer, NY. Their graves are found in the first row to the left when entering the cemetery. In 2006 Ritchie and I searched out the stone of my oldest-known Howell ancestor. We searched for at least two days. At one point Ritchie reached down and held up a broken stone laying ensconced beneath packed dirt. The slant of the sun perfectly illustrated the name "Jonathan Howell"! We picked it up and cleaned off the stone which showed, further, the name Almira. As soon as I returned to Virginia, I contracted with Glenside Monument Co in Ithaca to have the stone repaired it and re-set in concrete. I felt $400 was little to spend to memorialize this family treasure. In May of 2015 I was again at the cemetery for the memorial service for Bion J Manning, Sr, and I became painfully aware that the stone was again in pieces, lying on the ground. According to the folks at Glenside it has been repaired and reset once again.
As per demographics, in the year 1840 there were 301 Howell families in the country; with the largest population of Howells living in the continental United States residing in New York State. From my research, our Howells primarily lived in the Tioga-Chemung-Tompkins County Region of up-state New York, having migrated from Orange County, NY. The US survery taken in 1880 shows that the top, national occupation for Howells was farming. Actually, 51% of Howells were listed as 'farmers' or farm laborers,' while the national average for these designations was only 41%. [ancestry.com]
The derivation and meaning of the name "Howell" is as follows: [ancestry.com]
Welsh: from the personal name Hywel meaning "eminent", was popular since the Middle Ages in particular in honor of the great 10th-century law-giving, Welsh king.
English: habitational name from Howell in Lincolnshire, so named from an Old English hugol "mound", "hillock" or "hune" ,"hoarhound".
The top places of origin for Howell families is Great Britain, with eight early families imigrating from Germany.
In the American Civil War, 3,248 Howells served, 1,956 for the confederacy. [ancestry.com].
How I wish, after all these many years of searching, that we could know the place of origin of OUR Howells.
Howell reunions were an important part of Howell life from the early 1900s. These Howells were a close knit group and they took care of each other and liked to spend time together. From the following clipping, posted on August 10, 1933, the Howell Reunions began in 1927, as this clipping refers to the 6th annual reunion.
"The sixth annual reunion of the Jonathan Howell Family will be held Sunday, August 13, at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Leon Tyler [Jonathan's great grandson], near Danby. Please bring silver, cups and sandwiches for your family, and one dish for the table. Ernest D Howell, Secretary." [ When I read this clipping tears came to my eyes. How I would love, once more to hug my dear Uncle Ernie and his brothers and sisters, and attend 1 more reunion]... The last Howell reunion held was 38 long, years ago in May 1982, at the home of Jonathan's great-grand-daughter, Norma Howell Bakeman Allen in Waverly, NY... (note made 2020)]. My youngest son, Jonathan Howell Blanford, was presented to the family that day, at the tender age of 8 months.
Ahhh, those reunions... For many years the "Jonathan Howell Family" held their reunions at the home of my mother, Gertrude Howell Decker, at 554 Spencer Road in Ithaca, NY, or at Stewart Park, at the southern tip of Cayuga Lake, also in Ithaca. A second Howell Reunion was held each year on Memorial Day, which Aunt Erma faithfully referred to as "Decoration Day." And, 'decorate' is exactly what we did, Our pilgrimage took us to family cemetery plots from Ithaca to Wavery, where carefully tended geraniums were placed on the graves of long remembered ancestors. I must admit, as a child, the occupants of these graves were completely unknown and uninteresting. It wasn't until I was 13 years old, after Grandpa, Harold D Howell had died, that I had any personal connection to the deceased we honored. It was that year that I finally made a heart connection with the names on the stones.
Our annual parade always ended with a day of wonderful food, much singing, organ playing, and cold beer at Aunt Norma & Uncle Romie Allen's in Lockwood, and later, Waverly. Running through cemeteries in Spencer, VanEtten and Lockwood were a highlight of my childhood. I recall the adults cautioning us, but we flew down the slopes, dodging grave stones with happy abandon. It wasn't until my own sons sought to do the same, that I realized the danger of this act. But family traditions die hard and children ruled the day, Memorial. Being part of the Jonathan Howell Family, and loving those precious family members was a big part of my life. Those 'Howlin' Howells' were a fun-loving and happy lot, believe me! We named our third son, Jonathan Howell Blanford, in honor of this family patriarch.
As I update this entry in 2008, I consider who is left of this family tree? At this time, for my branch, via John Dean Howell through Clarence John Howell, Barb Voorhees Horton may be the surviving matriarch, her mother being Erma Howell Voorhees, daughter of Clarence. Uncle Ray Howell, another son of Clarence left a family of boys that has led me speak to his son, Loel, and grandson, Lloyd, Jr. BJ Manning, son of Hazel Howell Manning, daughter of Clyde Howell mans his line! And I now have close contact with two of Jonathan's youngest son, Charles Elsworth Howell's line. Fast forward to 2018, Barb Vorheese Horton is gone, and there is only one of this generation still living. Beverly Voorhese Holmes may be frail and infirm, but she bears the title Matriarch... for a while... Bev went to be with the Lord in 2019, and as and far as I can tell, my cousin, Kenneth Eugene VanZile may well be the oldest of this generation, with me, Lynda Decker Blanford following a close decade behind.
JONATHAN HOWELL FAMILY Memorial Day Pilgrimage
LAKE VIEW: Ithaca
Ernest D Howell-Estella Martin [S of Clarence Howell]
Phyllis VanZile-WilliamTursick [GD of Harold Howell]
WOODLAWN: Newfield
Harold D Howell-Areva Grover [S of Clarence Howell]
Irene Howell Vanzile [D of Harold Howell]
James M VanZile [Son of Irene Howell VanZile]
Clarence "Teddy" VanZile [Son of Irene Howell VanZile]
Gertrude Howell-George Decker [D of Harold Howell]
(Lynda J Decker-Ritchie Don Blanford) [D of George & Gertrude Howell Decker]
Donna Lynne Decker Starks Hines [D of George & Gertrude Howell Decker]
EVERGREEN, SPENCER:
Eli Howell Partiarch [?]
Jonathan Howell-Almira Case
Mary J Howell-Amos M Vanmarter [D of Jonathan]
John D Howell-Delphine Deyo [S of Jonathan]
Marcy Howell [S of John D Howell]
Nellie Howell Warner [D of John D Howell]
Mathias Casper Howell [S of John D Howell]
Lena Howell-Frank Davenport [D of John D Howell]
Charles Howell-Minnie Coggin [S of Jonathan]
Clyde Howell-Maud Baker [S of Clarence Howell]
Hazel Howell-Bion Manning [D of Clyde Howell]
Pauline Howell [D of Clyde Howell]
James K Howell-Althea Tompkins [S of Jonathan]
Harvey Howell [S of James K Howell]
Josie Howell-Burt Clark [D of James K Howell]
Sarah A Howell-William Cashman [D of Jonathan]
Fred Cashman [S of Sarah Howell]
Ida Cashman-Frank Harvey [D of Sarah Howell]
Margaret Ann Summerton Bakeman Ackley [sister of Mary Luella Summerton Howell]
VAN ETTEN
Vera Gertrude Howell Morey [D of Clarence Howell]
LOCKWOOD
Thomas L Summerton-Mary Jane Harvey [Parents of Mary Luella Summerton Howell]
Clarence Howell-Mary Luella Summerton [S of John Dean Howell]
Norma Howell-Romaine Allen [D of Clarence Howell]
History of Spencer, NY
Contributed and prepared by: Sherlene Belden. Source: Historical Gazetteer of Tioga county, New York, 1785-1888, Compiled by W. B. Gay. Published by W. B. Gay & Co., Syracuse, N. Y. in 1888 [NYGENWEB]
"One of the first settlers of what is known as the Dean Settlement, was Nicholas Dean, who came from Westchester county, in June 1816, and built the first house on the place now owned by Mary Deyo [mother-in-law to John Dean Howell, son of Jonathan], in October, 1817. Among other early settlers who came to this location were Elisha Sackett, from Peeksill, in 1820, locating where Jasper Patty now lives, John Williams, who settled on the farm now owned by George Pearson, and Eli Howell, who settled on the farm now owned by W. H. Fleming. "
Early Life in Dean Settlement Written by Jonathan Howell May 12, 1880, Spencer, NY
The first settler was Nicholas Dean who came from Westchester Co in June 1816. The first house built in Dean Settlement was built October 1817 by N. Dean, and was situated in the present premises of Casper Deyo [father-in-law to John Dean Howell], and near the house in which he lives at present. The first land cleared was on the farm now owned by Casper Deyo.
The second settler was Elisha Sackett who came from Pukskill in 1820. He settled on the farm now owned by Jasper Petty.
The next three settlers were John Williams who settled on the farm now in possession of Barnett Raub about the same time Sackett settled here.
Next came Eli Howell who came from Ulster County in 1808 and moved to Dean Settlement about the year 1821. He located on the farm now in possession of W H Flenning.
The first child born in Dean Settlement was Hatfield Dean in 1821.
Jonathan Howell: my Great, Great, Great Grandfather [Lynda Decker Blanford]
Casper Deyo:my Great, Great, Great Grandfather
This handwritten document is on file at the Spencer County Clerk's Office, Spencer, Tioga Co, NY.
I would like to find out if we are also connected to the "Deans" of Dean Settlement. Jonathan named his son, John Dean Howell, and Uncle Ernie's middle name was Dean [son of Clarence Howell].
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