Howesville, a town and postoffice in the extreme south part of the county, within half a mile of the Greene county line, in Lewis township, seven miles southwest of Clay City, and twenty-four miles a little east of south from Brazil, founded by Robert Howe, in 1856, and so named for him. Having failed to make any record of his plat, the town was not formally and officially recognized until platted and put to record by William Muir, in 1867. The pioneer man of business on the site of the town was Rodney Taylor, who preceded Robert Howe as much as twelve or fifteen years, having located there at some time early in the forties. The individuals and firms who have done merchandising at this place, including those now engaged, may be enumerated in the following order: Rodney Taylor, Robert Howe, Fox & Stark, Fisher & Haines, William Morgan, John M. Clark, J. N. Crawford, N. A. Harris, L. S. Bartlett, D. A. Hill, N. A. Harris, J. W. Eversole, William Mast.

Howesville postoffice was established at the time of Robert Howe’s doing business there, but at what time can not now be said. The succes- sion in postmasters may be given substantially as follows: Robert Howe, James Fox, Samuel Barcus, J. N. Crawford, B. V. Hill, Edward Bonham, N. A. Harris, J. W. Eversole, N. A. Harris (present incumbent).

The industries operated at this place have been few: A feed mill, for a time, by D. A. Hill; a saw-mill, by William Rumple; a cooper shop, by Robert Jordan, and a feed-mill now maintained by the Coal City Milling Company.

The Presbyterian church wascompleted in the year 1871 and dedi- cated on the 26th day of November, by Rev. Henry Little, Synodical Missionary of the State of Indiana, when the total indebtedness incurred was liquidated by collections made. The society was organized five years before, at the old Camp Island schoolhouse, with twelve adult members, which had increased to thirty at the time of the dedication of the new house. The brick schoolhouse was built in 1897, by Edward Bonham, Trustee of Lewis township.

Howesville is a station on the Monon Railroad, with a promising outlook for the future in the development and history of the county. Population 200.