Nelson Howard (1850 - 1912)

Born 18 Jan 1850 in Hampshire County, Virginia, United States

Husband of Estella (Payne) Howard — married 19 Sep 1878 in Jefferson County, Ohio, United States

Died 23 Aug 1912 at age 62 in Steubenville, Jefferson County, Ohio, United States

Biography

Nelson Howard is a part of US Black heritage.

Nelson Howard was born in Virginia.

Nelson Howard was a West Virginian.

Nelson was born in 18 Jan 1850 in Hampshire County, Virginia,^[1] the son of Willis Howard and Caroline McCullough.

In 1850, Nelson, age 0, was living in Hampshire, Virginia. There were six older siblings in the household. Nelson's father was working as a laborer.^[2]

By 1860, Nelson was 11 years old and living in the Western District of Scott County, Virginia. His father was farming with a $165 value to his personal estate.^[3]

In 1870, census enumerator C. E. Miers found Nelson living in Welton, Mineral County, West Virginia, with his parents and siblings. Nelson's father, whose personal estate was assessed at $100, was still farming. Nelson was working as a farm laborer along with his brother Samuel. One sister, Nancy, was a domestic servant. ^[4]

Nelson obtained a license to marry,^[5] and he and Estella 'Stella' Payne were married at Steubenville on 19 Sep 1878 by the Rev. D. N. Mason.^[6]

Nelson's signature on his marriage license

In 1875, Nelson's father died. HIs mother continued to maintain the family farm. In 1880, Nelson and his wife, Estella, were living in Mineral County, West Virginia with his mother and several siblings. Nelson was helping on the family farm as were some of his brothers (one is listed as a farmer; the others are listed as farm laborers).^[7]

In 1900, Nelson Howard, now age 40, was living with his wife, four children and niece. He was a "janitor of schools" in Steubenville. His oldest son, Stanley, was helping to support the family as a day laborer. The other children were attending school.^[8]

In 1902 Nelson was working as a janitor and living with his wife, Estella, at 740 N. 5th Street in Steubenville. ^[9]

Nelson was 60 years old in 1910. His wife, Stella, had died before this census year. Nelson was living in Steubenville with two children and his sister Lucy and her son. He was no longer a janitor but was working at "odd jobs." His daughter, Gertrude was working outside the home to help support the family. Son Ethan was attending school. The whole family was considered able to read and write. Several of his neighbors were Italian immigrants, ^[10]

Nelson died of intestinal tuberculosis (from which he had suffered for four months) on 23 Aug 1912 at age 62 in his home on 416 Linden Street in Steubenville. His daughter, Anna, was the informant on his death certificate. Nelson buried in the Union Cemetery on 25 August 1912.^[1] It is unknown if his wife, Stella, was buried there as neither have gravestones.

Research Notes

Cleveland (Ohio) Gazette, October 25, 1884, Steubenville Notes

Death has visited the home of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Howard and taken from them their infant son Georgie.

Cleveland (Ohio) Gazette, April 23, 1887, A Week's Doings, Steubenville, O.

Nelson Howard is the proud possessor of a pair of bouncing baby girls.

Steubenville (Ohio) Herald Star, Thursday, October 1, 1896, Family Reunion

J. Samuel Howard, of Williamsport, Grant co., W. Va., has been in the city for two weeks visiting his mother, Mrs. Caroline Howard, at 121 South Seventh street. She is nearly 80 years of age. He leaves on Friday for his home. His sisters and brothers gave him a reception on last evening, at which time the following near relatives were present: John W. Howard, of Island Creek, Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Howard and family, Isaac W. Howard, Mrs. Ida V. Howard, Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Howard, Mr. and Mrs. Walter V. Howard, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Ford, Miss C. V. and Rowena Howard, Mrs. L. D. Howard, Masters Stanley and Wille (sic) Howard, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac N. McCullough, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. McCullough, Mr. Zella T. Kent, Miss Annie S. Terry, of Bellaire. The occasion turned out to be a kind of a family reunion, and called to mind the days when they were boys and girls together back among the West Virginia hills. At half-past ten an elaborate lunch was served in five different courses, and it is useless to say that all did ample justice to the occasion. The remainder of the evening was spent in singing and social conversation.

Cleveland Gazette, p.1 Saturday, January 23, 1904 Steubenville, O. - Mrs. Nelson Howard slipped on the ice and a horse and wagon struck her limb.

Steubenville (Ohio) Herald Star, December 26, 1908, Personals [punctuation is as printed in article]

The families of the McCulloughs and Howards met in the colored Odd Fellows hall, and had a family dinner. Families represented were Nelson Howard, Anna M., Gertrude D., and Ethen (sic). Walter D. Howard and wife Elinore, Jewett, Marie, Floyd and Wilma. W. T. Howard and wife Vigil, Bertha and Cecil. James Howard and wife, L. D. Howard, and the following grandchildren; Paul Dean, Harry and James Mr. and Mrs. Elmer White; Miss C. V. Howard; Mrs. Lucy Anderson and daughter, Miss E. A. Anderson. Mrs. Mary E. Howard. Mr. and Mrs. Thornton Brown and sons, Moses and Samuel Ford; A. E. Kent and Miss Carrie White. Isaac N. McCullough and wife, J. H. McCullough and wife, and two sons James and Theodore. Joseph S. McCullough and wife and Miss Clara B., Harry, Caroline and Mary. Willie McCullough and wife and baby Dortha Margaret. In addition to the relatives the following invited friends were present as special guests: Rev. H. A. Foreman, L. S. Murray, Mrs. M. M[indecipherable] and Miss Minnie Parker. At a [indecipherable] hour [remaining sentence indecipherable].

Steubenville (Ohio) Herald Star, Saturday, April 2, 1910

Knocked Down By an Auto and Seriously Injured

Nelson Howard Run Over at Corner of Fourth and Market Streets

Nelson Howard, a well-known colored resident of the north end of the city, was accidentally run down by an automobile at Fourth and Market streets on Friday evening and sustained serious injuries.

He had alighted from a north end car and was hurrying to take a La Belle View car when the automobile came round the turn at a pretty good speed and neither could avoid the other and Howard was struck and knocked down, the automobile wheels passing over his body. He was assisted to Robert Frendenberger's automobile and taken home, where he is in bed receiving medical attention. The automobile that struck him was owned by R. B. Cohen, and was a new one he had taken out that day for the first time.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X86H-8YF : 15 August 2019), Nelson Howard, 23 Aug 1912; citing Steubenville, Jefferson, Ohio, reference fn 44225; FHL microfilm 1,953,424.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8D3-136 : 23 December 2020), Nelson Hoard in household of Willis Hoard, Hampshire, Virginia, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M41L-NQM : 11 November 2020), Nelson Horde in entry for Willis Horde, 1860.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZ4R-M93 : 2 January 2021), Nelson Howard in entry for Willis Howard, 1870.
5. ↑ "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X8DC-NZJ : 26 August 2019), Nelson Howard and Estella Payne, 19 Sep 1878; citing Intended Marriage, Jefferson, Ohio, United States, Vol.2, pg.548, Franklin County Genealogical & Historical Society, Columbus; FHL microfilm.
6. ↑ "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XZZM-NZR : 26 August 2019), Nelson Howard and Estella Payne, 19 Sep 1878; citing Marriage, Jefferson, Ohio, United States, v8, p601, n15771, Franklin County Genealogical & Historical Society, Columbus; FHL microfilm.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6TM-HDR : 14 November 2020), Nelson Howard in household of Caroline Howard, Mineral, West Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district ED 32, sheet 109B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,255,408.
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMDW-MQW : accessed 4 February 2021), Nelson Howard, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 83, sheet 10B, family 200, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,290.
9. ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/22864288?h=5d18c7&utm_campaign=bandido-webparts&utm_source=post-share-modal&utm_medium=copy-url Steubenville, Ohio, City Directory, 1902, P. 143]; Ancestry.com. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
10. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MLXZ-MFX : accessed 4 February 2021), Nelson Howard, Steubenville, Jefferson, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 122, sheet 21A, family 359, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1201; FHL microfilm 1,375,214.

Acknowledgements

A huge "Thank you!" to Cathy Shugrue for her research into newspaper articles about Nelson.