California Biographies Mendocino and Lake Counties, California Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of Mendocino and Lake Counties, California With Biographical Sketches History by Aurelius O. Carpenter And Percy H. Millberry Illustrated, Complete In One Volume Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1914 NEWTON P. HOWE.� Yet another of the pioneers of California, and one whose life has been practically all passed within the confines of his adopted state, is Newton P. Howe, prominent citizen of Point Arena, and well known throughout Mendocino county as a citizen of sterling worth and of splendid character and ability. Mr. Howe is a native of Missouri, having been born in De Kalb county, August 24, 1873. His father was also Newton P. Howe, and a native of New York state. He went to Missouri in an early day and there taught in the public schools until the opening of the Civil war, when he enlisted in the cause of the Union and served with distinction. Later he again taught in Mis- souri, and in 1876 came to California, locating in Shasta county. Here he followed his profession as a teacher until in 1884, when he removed to Potter valley and continued teaching in conjunction with farming until about 1909, when he retired to Berkeley, dying there in 1912. His wife, and the mother of the present honored citizen of Point Arena, was Laura Bates, a native of Illinois, and is now residing in Berkeley. Of the nine children comprising the parental family Newton P. was the fourth in order of birth. Coming to California when he was but three years of age, Mr. Howe's earliest recollections are of this state. He received his early education in the public schools of Shasta county and of Potter valley, and afterward attended the Lakeport Academy, graduating in 1891. He was then apprenticed to learn the blacksmith's trade, in Kelseyville, Lake county, serving for three years. He then went to Centerville, Potter valley, where he engaged in blacksmith- ing for two years. In 1896 he located in Point Arena, entering the employ of Halliday & Archibald, in the hardware and blacksmith business, where he remained for a year. At the end of that time he purchased the interest of Archibald, and the business became known as Halliday & Howe. It was conducted under this name until 1908, when the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Howe retaining the blacksmithing business and Mr. Halliday taking over the hardware interest. The present business conducted by Mr. Howe is the oldest blacksmith shop in town, and is on the same site where the original business was started by Hugh Graves, many years ago. In 1905 the new shop was built, a structure 42x84 feet, and equipped with modern machinery for blacksmithing and repair work of all kinds. The shop also makes a specialty of the manufacture of a high grade of tools for woodmen, and of the repair of automobiles. The business interests of Mr. Howe have not taken his entire attention, however, and some years ago he purchased one hundred sixty acres of logged- off land, two miles from town. This he has cleared and improved, eleven acres being set to apple trees. He is also interested in the Bank of Point Arena, and is one of the original stockholders of this institution. He is also a stockholder in the Point Arena Creamery Company. The marriage of Mr. Howe took place in Point Arena, December 28, 1899, uniting him with Miss Lydia Symonds, a native of New York state, born December 2, 1871. She is the mother of one child, a daughter, Willna Lorine, born in Point Arena, January 11, 1901. Aside from his commercial interests Mr. Howe is closely associated with the public affairs of Point Arena, and is one of the prominent citizens of the thriving little city. He is especially interested in educational matters, and is a member of the board of trustees for the high school and was for some years a member of the local school board. He is prominent in fraternal circles, being a member of the Ancient Order of Foresters and of the American Yeo- men. Politically he is a Republican and a stanch party man. He is keenly interested in local politics, but has never aspired to office, being rather con- cerned in placing the man of his choice, or his party candidate in office. A special work in which Mr. Howe is now deeply interested is in arrang- ing a Mendocino county exhibit at the Panama-Pacific International Expo- sition, at San Francisco, in 1915. He is a member of the county exhibit com- mittee, and is devoting much time and ability to this important work. In religious belief Mr. Howe is a Methodist, being a member of the Point Arena church, of which he is trustee and steward.