Tulare County Biographies

LEWIS WASHINGTON HOWETH

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
The late and respected citizen of Porterville, Tulare county, familiarly known 
as "Luke" Howeth, was born in DeKalb county, Ala., June 4, 1837, a son of Thomas 
and Nancy Howeth, natives of the same state. Following are the names and birth 
dates of their other children: William, 1818; Tandy B., 1819; Fletcher, 1820 ; 
Harvey, 1821; Nelson, 1823; John W., 1824; Eliza, 1825; Martha, 1827; Sarah, 
1828; Thomas, 1829; Jefferson, 1831; Cornelius, 1833; Catherine, 1836; Byron, 
1838, and Franklin, 1841. Nelson, Jefferson, Cornelius and L. W. lived in 
California.
In his native state Lewis Washington Howeth was reared and educated and under 
his father's instruction and that of some of his elder brothers, acquired a 
practical knowledge of farming. In 1855, when he was about nineteen years old, 
he made an overland journey to California and mined in Inyo county until 1860, 
when he took up farming in San Joaquin county. From there he went to Tuolumne 
county, thence to Stanislaus county, and for a time he was engaged in lumbering 
in Mendocino county. After his marriage, which occurred September 25, 1867, Mr. 
Howeth removed to Tulare county, making his home here until his death, June 9, 
1904. During his residence here he became one of the most extensive sheep-men of 
the county and he became equally well known as a tiller of the soil.
In maidenhood Mrs. Howeth was Miss Sophia Gardner, born in Jefferson county, 
Ill., April 5, 1843, the daughter of Jacob and Sophia Gardner, natives of 
Germany, who came to the United States in 1840 and settled in Illinois. From 
there they came to California in 1852 by way of the Isthmus of Panama. They 
located in Tulare county and it was here, in 1858, that their daughter became 
the wife of John Hewey. He died in 1864, leaving a widow and two children, Emma 
R. and John W. Hewey. Mrs. Hewey's marriage to Mr. Howeth occurred in Stockton. 
Of this marriage the following children were born : Mary Lee, who died in 
infancy ; Franklin J., who was born in 1869 ; Thomas A., born in 1871; Lucy in 
1873, the wife of H. W. Manter and the mother of two children; Elizabeth, born 
in 1876 and the wife of H. J. Thomas; Edgar W., born in 1879; May, born in 1881, 
the wife of Roy Smith and the mother of two children; and Hazel, born in 1883, 
the wife of Fred LaBrague and the mother of one child.
In his political affiliations Mr. Howeth was a Democrat. Fraternally he was 
identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Ancient Order of 
United Workmen. His place in the business community is filled in part by his 
son, Thomas A. Howeth, a native of Stanislaus county. The latter, who was 
formerly a farmer and merchant, is now handling real estate quite extensively at 
Porterville.
 
History of Tulare and Kings Counties, California with Biographical Sketches - 
Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company, 1913, pp. 738-739