"Portrait and Biographical Record of Portland and Vicinity, Oregon." Authors: "a
compilation of this work....by a number of writers".  Chapman Publishing Co;
Chicago, 1903. p. 480.
 
CHARLES T. HOWARD

     For more than half a century Charles T. Howard has given the weight of a
strong character, of sound business judgment, adaptiveness and resourcefulness
to the upbuilding of Clackamas county, and is today representative of all that
is fine in the industrial, agricultural, moral, educational and social community
of Mulino and vicinity. He was born in Shelby county, near Shelbyville, ILL,
July 28, 1841, his family having been established in America by an English
ancestor who settled in Maryland long before the Revolutionary war. The
prominence which rewarded the efforts of this emigrant in the Colonies may be
estimated when it is known that Howard county, Md., was named in his honor. In
Howard county was born the paternal grandfather, William, a blacksmith,
storekeeper and farmer, who left his varied interests to shoulder a musket on
the great battlefields of the Revolution.
     Richard R. Howard, the father of Charles T., was born in Cecil county, Md..
November 18, 1797, and in his native state served an apprentice ship as miller
and millwright. He removed to Ohio in 1818 and to Illinois in 1821, in the
latter state settling ten miles from Shelbyville.  In this comparatively wild
region he built the first flouring mill in 1832, and conducted the same in
connection with farming until his emigration to Missouri in the fall of 1845.
The following spring, in March, he started across the plains with ox teams,
being accompanied by his wife and children. Where Mulino now stands he took up
a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres and in 1854 built the fine old
house now occupied by his son, Charles T. While improving this farm his energies
reached out in various directions, and he was especially interested in
surveying, to which he devoted considerable time.  In the early days he surveyed
many of the roads in Clackamas county, his largest effort in this direction
being the big road from Oregon City to Butte Creek.  The sawmill erected by
this early pioneer in 1848 experienced many years of activity, but has long
since subsided into silence, its water wheel and timbers and general picturesque
appearance having long been destroyed for the latter-day uses of man. However, a
flouring mill, erected in 1851, is still a landmark in the community, the
cessation of its usefulness being indefinitely postponed. Mr. Howard died
November 14, 1865, leaving innumerable reminders of his well-adjusted and really
worth while life. The little creek that sings its way through the old claim owes
its christening to his appreciation of its appearance, and was called by him
Mill creek.  Mr. Howard married Cynthia Turner who was born in Elizabeth county,
Ky., October 10, 1810, and whose father, Francis, a native of England,
established the family in Kentucky. Eventually Mr. Turner removed to
Illinois where his death occurred in 1816. Ten children were born to Richard R.
Howard and his wife, six sons and four daughters, of whom two daughters and one
son died in October, 1854.
     The fifth oldest in his father's family. Charles T. Howard moved with his
parents from Illinois and Missouri, and was five years of age when the memorable
trip across the plains was accomplished. He was educated partially in the public
but mostly in a private school, and received a practical and thorough home
training. His first departure from the parental home was in 1862 when he spent
three and a half months experimenting in eastern Oregon, after which he returned
to his home and has lived here since. After the death of his father he assumed
entire charge of the farm and mill, and under his management the latter has
undergone a complete transformation, having been re-built first in 1880 and
again in 1890. In the latter year new and up-to-date machinery replaced that of
long ago and although water power is still maintained the capacity of the mill
has been increased to sixty barrels per day. Of the four hundred and seventy-
seven acres of his own and sixty-three belonging to his wife in the home farm,
Mr. Howard has under cultivation about one hundred acres, and besides stock,
raises principally grain and hay.
     In Oregon City, Ore., Mr. Howard married Mary H. Sanders, who was born in
Marion county, Ore., May 1, 1853, and whose father, Asa, was born in
Connecticut, and was a farmer in his native state. Mr. Sanders came to Oregon in
1851 and took up a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres in Marion
county. This he soon after sold, and in 1857 located on three hundred and twenty
acres of land upon what is now a portion of Molalla, where his death occurred
February 4, 1895. He married Abby L. Woodward, who was born in Connecticut, and
who came west to Ohio with her parents where the marriage occurred. Mrs. Sanders
at present lives with her daughter, Mrs. Howard, and though seventy-five years
of age possesses the bright faculties which made her of so great assistance to
her husband during his struggles in the early days. Two sons have been born to
Mr. and Mrs. Howard, Claude S. and Bayne A., both of whom are living with their
parents.
     A Republican in political affiliation, Mr. Howard has been very active in
supporting his party in the west, and has filled many offices of trust and
responsibility. Since Cleveland's first term he has been postmaster of Mulino,
and he has also been road supervisor for several years, and justice of the peace
for one term. Diligently has he attended Republican county and state
conventions, and it is a matter of pride with his fellow townsmen that his
political record has been clean, and above any suspicion of personal
aggrandizement.  Both Mr. and Mrs. Howard are active members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, both have been superintendent of the Sunday school, and active
promoters of the charitable and social life of the church. Both are interested
in the spread of the temperance cause, and have ardently worked for the
prevalence of this commendable condition. Mrs. Howard is a woman of broad mind
and great refinement, and her influence upon the social and intellectual life
by which she is surrounded cannot be too warmly commended. Mrs. Howard has been
three times elected secretary of the State Grange, and at present is holding
that position. In his personality Mr. Howard is genial and optimistic, and has
the assurance and manner of the typical man of affairs, to whom all that
pertains to the welfare of his neighborhood is of vital importance.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in February 2008 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.