Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies

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CONVERS HOWE.
 
        One of the oldest mercantile establishments in the city of Pomona is 
that owned by the above-named gentleman. His large and well-appointed drygoods 
and furnishing-goods store is on Second street, near the corner of Gordon 
street. His first business venture in Pomona was in 1882, when he entered into 
the merchandise business with Edward Evey, under the firm name of C. Howe & Co. 
This partnership was continued for less than a year, when Mr. Howe, by the 
purchase of his partner's interest, became the sole proprietor of the business, 
which he has since so successfully conducted. As one of Pomona's leading and 
representative business men, a sketch of Mr. Howe's life is of interest in the 
history of the county. He is a native of Muskingum County, Ohio, and dates his 
birth from 1838. His father, John M. Howe, a native of Vermont, was a man of 
high intellectual attainments and education; was the principal of the McIntire 
Academy at Zanesville, Ohio, for a long time. His mother, Mary E. West, was a 
native of New York, a descendant of one of the oldest families of the Empire 
State. Mr. Howe was reared and schooled in his native place until 1852. He then 
started with his mother for California to join his father, who had preceded them 
to this State in 1849. His mother was destined never to complete the voyage. She 
died at sea between Acapulco and San Francisco, January 1, 1853, a victim of 
cholera, that terrible scourge of the Isthmus route in the early '50's. Mr. Howe 
joined his father at Sacramento and commenced life as a clerk in a store. In 
1855 he commenced teaching in public schools, and was for several years engaged 
as a teacher in Sacramento. At this time, although yet a minor, he took a great 
interest in politics and was a strong supporter of the principles advocated by 
the newly formed Republican party. In 1856 he was the sergeant-at-arms of the 
first Republican State Convention ever held in California, and in 1861 he 
organized the Republican party in Lake County, and was sent as their delegate to 
the State Convention held at Sacramento. In that same year he was appointed a 
clerk in the postoffice at Sacramento, which position he held until the spring 
of 1864. He then went East and entered the United States military service as a 
private in the Fifteenth Regiment of Connecticut Infantry. His regiment was 
stationed at Newbern, North Carolina. In October of that year Mr. Howe was 
stricken with yellow fever, and was confined to the hospital for weeks. Upon his 
recovery he rejoined his command, and in March, while his regiment and other 
commands were on their way to open communication with General Sherman's army at 
Raleigh, he was captured by the Confederate forces and sent as a prisoner of war 
to Libby Prison at Richmond. Just before the Confederates evacuated that city 
Mr. Howe was paroled, and after Lee's surrender was exchanged and ordered to the 
front. While en route to rejoin his command he was taken sick and placed in the 
hospital at Fortress Monroe. He was honorably discharged from the service at the 
close of the war, in June, 1865, and in the fall of that year returned to 
California, and entered the employ of the Central Pacific Railroad Company, as 
their agent at Freeport. From there he went to Sacramento, where he engaged in 
trucking for the Central Pacific Railroad Company, and finally as a book-keeper 
for the firm of Hooker & Co. In 1867 Mr. Howe resumed his occupation as a 
teacher, and was engaged in Sacramento County until 1868, when he went to 
Alameda County, where he was appointed the principal of the San Leandro Grammar 
School, and afterward of the Alameda Grammar School, until 1872. Then he came to 
Los Angeles County and located at Westminster, where he purchased eighty acres 
of land and engaged in farming. He also taught school in that vicinity. In 1877 
he established himself in mercantile pursuits at Garden Grove, and conducted a 
general merchandise store at that place until 1882, when he moved to Pomona and 
established his present business. As a progressive and enterprising citizen Mr. 
Howe has been identified with the building up of Pomona, and is a supporter of 
such enterprises as develop the wonderful resources of the San Jose Valley. He 
is an active member of the Pomona Board of Trade, and president of the Pomona 
Board of Education, taking a deep interest in the school system of the city. A 
hearty supporter of churches, he is a trustee of the First Presbyterian Church. 
He is a member and the former Post Commander of Vicksburg Post, No. 61, G. A. R, 
of Pomona. In political matters he is a life-long Republican, and has ever taken 
an active part as a worker in the ranks of that party. With the exception of 
1884 he has been a delegate to every Republican county convention held in Los 
Angeles County since 1872. In 1869 Mr. Howe was united in marriage with Miss 
Union Augusta Clawiter, a native of Alameda County. Her father, Edward Clawiter, 
was a native of Berlin, Germany, who came to California in 1846. Her mother, 
Mary Gadding, was a native of Hamburg. They have four children: Robert C., 
Edward C., Walter C. and Louis P.
 
An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California �  Chicago, The Lewis 
Publishing Company, 1889   Page 514
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler