Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The
Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties,
State of Washington", published by Western Historical Publishing
Co., 1904.
MILTON B. HOWE is a member of
the firm of Rogers and Howe, pioneers and leading merchants of Waterville.
The firm does a large business and in addition to merchandise have been
leaders in various other enterprises in this county.
Milton B. Howe was born in Faribault, Minnesota,
on October 27, 1860. His father, George G. Howe, was a native of
New York and the paternal grandfather of our subject was born in South
Farmingham, Massachusetts, and the wife of that gentleman was born in New
York state. The father was a surveyor and for many years followed
his profession in Minnesota, doing a large portion of the government surveying
in the southern part of that state. He was several years in the land
department of the Great Northern railroad. Leaving there in 1890,
he came to Waterville and joined his son. The mother of our subject
was Emily A. (Nutting) Howe, a native of South Amherst, Massachusetts,
and descended from the original noted family that was prominent in colonial
times. She was killed in an accident on the Great Northern railroad,
while enroute to her husband at Waterville, in 1890.
Our subject received his education in Faribault,
Minnesota, completing there the high school course. After his graduation
he entered the employ of J. B. Wheeler a wholesale and retail merchant,
and for seven years continued in that capacity, five of the years being
spent in the management of the office. In March, 1888, he came to
Waterville and soon opened his present business with his brother-in-law,
A. L. Rogers, who is named elsewhere in this work. Since that time,
the firm has been doing a large business and now own a great deal of property
in this part of the city.
In June, 1897, at Spokane, Mr. Howe married
Miss Bessie L., daughter of Charles H. and Mary (Lockwood) Armstrong, natives
of New York and now residing in Spokane. The mother's father was
an Episcopal minister in China for two years and is now deceased.
Mrs. Howe has two brothers, Edwin and Henry, and one sister, Josephine.
To Mr. and Mrs. Howe, two children have been born: Margaret, aged five;
and Laurence, aged six months. Mr. Howe is a member of the A. F.
& A. M., being a past master.
Politically, he is a Republican and has been
delegate to the conventions and he is now serving as director of the high
school and chairman of the school board of Waterville. He was several
years city councilman. Mrs. Howe is a member of the Episcopal church.
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