Henry Howard (Detroit)
Encyclopedia
Henry Howard was a banker and businessman, and served as mayor of Detroit in 1837, and as the first treasurer of the state of Michigan
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on September 15, 1801. He later moved to Geneva, New York
. In 1827, Howard entered into a partnership with Ralph Wadhams to form Howard and Wadhams (a third partner, W. S. DeZeng, stayed in New York and was not active in the business for the five years he was associated with Howard and Wadhams). Ralph Wadhams had lived in Detroit since 1823, operating a dry goods store in the Smart Block on the corner of Jefferson
and Woodward with another business partner. Wadhams was looking to form a new partnership, covering the dry goods store and expanding into the timber business.
Howard and Wadhams purchased timberland and a sawmill in St. Clair County, and Howard moved to Detroit to manage the firm. The firm distributed their product at the mill, and in Detroit, with a warehouse at the foot of Randolph Street. In 1829, Wadhams moved to St. Clair County, near the mill' leaving Howard in Detroit=, and in 1832, DeZeng sold his portion of the partnership to Wadhams and Howard. However, Howard and Wadhams piled up $30,000 worth of debt by 1835. They still need to purchase pine forest for timber production, however, and due to overspending and the financial panic of 1837, were forced to assign assets to their creditors in 1839, after which the company was dissolved. In 1840, Ralph Wadhams' father, a wealthy businessman from New York, personally intervened to save his son's business from creditors, and in 1844 reconveyed some of the lumber firm's assets to his son, who continued to run the firm without Henry Howard.
While in Detroit, Howard was a Democrat
, although later in life he switched allegiance and became a Republican
. He served as an alderman of Detroit in 1833 – 1834 and as mayor in 1837. He was the first treasurer of the state of Michigan, serving from 1836 – 1839 and also served as state Auditor General from 1839 – 1840.
In 1840, Howard moved to Buffalo, New York
, to join the Buffalo Savings Bank. He worked as treasurer of the Buffalo Savings Bank for nearly thirty years, and died in Buffalo on July 15, 1878.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
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Biography
Henry Howard was born in Hinsdale, MassachusettsHinsdale, Massachusetts
Hinsdale is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area...
on September 15, 1801. He later moved to Geneva, New York
Geneva, New York
Geneva is a city in Ontario and Seneca counties in the U.S. state of New York. The population was 13,617 at the 2000 census. Some claim it is named after the city and canton of Geneva in Switzerland. Others believe the name came from confusion over the letters in the word "Seneca" written in cursive...
. In 1827, Howard entered into a partnership with Ralph Wadhams to form Howard and Wadhams (a third partner, W. S. DeZeng, stayed in New York and was not active in the business for the five years he was associated with Howard and Wadhams). Ralph Wadhams had lived in Detroit since 1823, operating a dry goods store in the Smart Block on the corner of Jefferson
Jefferson Avenue (Detroit)
Jefferson Avenue is a scenic road along the eastern part of the Detroit metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Michigan. It travels alongside Lake Erie, the Detroit River, and Lake Saint Clair. This road also provides access to many recreational facilities in the area...
and Woodward with another business partner. Wadhams was looking to form a new partnership, covering the dry goods store and expanding into the timber business.
Howard and Wadhams purchased timberland and a sawmill in St. Clair County, and Howard moved to Detroit to manage the firm. The firm distributed their product at the mill, and in Detroit, with a warehouse at the foot of Randolph Street. In 1829, Wadhams moved to St. Clair County, near the mill' leaving Howard in Detroit=, and in 1832, DeZeng sold his portion of the partnership to Wadhams and Howard. However, Howard and Wadhams piled up $30,000 worth of debt by 1835. They still need to purchase pine forest for timber production, however, and due to overspending and the financial panic of 1837, were forced to assign assets to their creditors in 1839, after which the company was dissolved. In 1840, Ralph Wadhams' father, a wealthy businessman from New York, personally intervened to save his son's business from creditors, and in 1844 reconveyed some of the lumber firm's assets to his son, who continued to run the firm without Henry Howard.
While in Detroit, Howard was a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, although later in life he switched allegiance and became a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. He served as an alderman of Detroit in 1833 – 1834 and as mayor in 1837. He was the first treasurer of the state of Michigan, serving from 1836 – 1839 and also served as state Auditor General from 1839 – 1840.
In 1840, Howard moved to Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, to join the Buffalo Savings Bank. He worked as treasurer of the Buffalo Savings Bank for nearly thirty years, and died in Buffalo on July 15, 1878.