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James Howie
Extracted from Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties, Iowa, 1894 Reprinted by Higginson Book Co., Salem, Massachusetts, p. 191

JAMES HOWIE, President of the Dubuque Pressed Brick Company, was born near Aberdeen, Scotland, August 3, 1842, and is a son of Robert and Barbara (Sandison) Howie, both of whom were also natives of Aberdeenshire. The father died there in 1876, at the age of seventy-six years, and the mother spent her last days in Auchterless. The subject of this sketch was reared in his native land and received but limited school privileges, but acquired a good education by studying at night, and in this way mastered the English, Hebrew, Latin and Greek languages. At the age of fifteen Mr. Howie's school days ended, and the following year he was apprenticed to a carpenter. James Mackey, for a term of four and a-half years, had to pay an apprentice fee of $11500. When he had mastered the business, he went to Edinburgh and entered the employ of Beattie & Sons, at Fountain Bridge, the leading contractors of that city.

In 1861 he went to London, where he worked until 1869. On the 15th of August, that year, he sailed for America, landing in New York on the 2nd of September. Seven days later he reached Dubuque, and soon afterward entered the employ of James McLaren, a prominent contractor of this city, with whom he remained two years. From that time until the spring of 1877 he was with the Dubuque Lumber Company, and then began business for himself in a small frame building.

Commencing with limited means, Mr. Howie has steadily increased his facilities, and has been very successful. He has erected many of the leading structures of the city, including the three-story brick block owned by the late Richard Waller, a three-story brick building for Andrew & Tredway. He erected a three-story brick for William Andrew, also a three-story stone block, a three-story block containing three residences between Eighth and Ninth Streets for A. Tredway, the Third Presbyterian Church, the Summit Congregational Church. The Methodist Episcopal Church of Center Grove Hill, the Congregational Church in Webster City, the H. L. Stout residence, the Odd Fellows Temple, the plow works and the Ryder- Wallace Company's building.

In connection with his work as a contractor and builder, Mr. Howie has been identified with many of the leading enterprises of the city, and has materially aided in the growth and prosperity of this place. He was one of the organizers of the Dubuque Pressed Brick Company, and was made its President. This company was formed in 1892, and is now successfully engaged in brick manufacture, turning out thirty thousand brick per day and furnishing employment to some thirty men. Mr. Howie was also one of the organizers of the Dubuque Specialty Machine Company. For the past two years he has been Chairman of the Manufacturing Committee of the Board of Trade.

In the old St. Thomas Church of London, in September, 1861, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Howie and Miss Roseina Hull, a native of that city, and a daughter of David Hull. She died in Dubuque in 1875, leaving three children, viz.: James Robert, who is connected with his father in business, and is now superintending the erection of a state building in Iowa City, the contract for the same having been given our subject; David T., a contractor and builder of Dubuque; and Roseina, wife of Oscar Mahon, Treasurer of the freight office of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Road.

February 23, 1876, Mr. Howie married Matilda J., daughter of Philip Alexander, a native of Maine, and one of the honored pioneers of Dubuque, who here located in 1837. Mrs. Howie was the second white child born in Washington Township. By their marriage were born two children: Addie S., who is now a student in the high school; and Ollie P., who is also conducting her studies in the home school. Mrs. Howie by a previous marriage had one daughter, Emma, who is now the wife of Edward Ogle, of New Westminster, B. C.

In 1871 Mr. Howie became a member of the Christian Church of Dubuque, and from 1873 to 1878 was a minister in that denomination. He is a pronounced temperance advocate, and lives an honorable, straightforward and consistent life, which has gained him the confidence and high regard of all with which he has been brought into contact. In Masonic circles he is prominent, being a thirty-second degree Mason. He belongs to El Kahir Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is the present Worshipful Master of Metropolitan Lodge No. 49. He also is Past Chancellor of Apollo Lodge No. 41, K. P. for the past five years he has been Chaplain of the Fifth Regiment of the Uniformed Ranks of the Knights of Pythias. He also belongs to Harmony Lodge No.2, O. O. F., Ironwood Camp, M. W. A., and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In politics he is a stalwart Republican, and is a valued and representative citizen, whose name is inseparably connected with the history and progress of this community.