James B. Howell
Encyclopedia
James Bruen Howell was a United States Senator from Iowa
for slightly over one year.
Born near Morristown, New Jersey
, he moved with his parents to Newark, Ohio
, in 1819, and attended the public schools. He graduated from Miami University
(in Oxford, Ohio
) in 1839, studied law, and was admitted to the bar
in 1839, commencing practice in Newark. He moved to Keosauqua, Iowa
in 1841, where he practiced law. He also owned a newspaper in Keosauqua and, in 1849, moved the newspaper to Keokuk, Iowa
. He was postmaster
of Keokuk from 1861 to 1866 and was a frequent, unsuccessful Republican
candidate for state and national office.
In 1870, the Iowa General Assembly
elected Howell to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of James W. Grimes
. He served out the end of Grimes' term from January 18, 1870, to March 3, 1871, but was not a candidate for reelection to the Senate. He was one of three commissioners of the court of Southern claims appointed by President Ulysses Grant in 1871 to adjust claims for stores and supplies and served until 1880. He died that year in Keokuk, and his interment was in Oakland Cemetery.
James Howell's father, Elias Howell
, was an Ohio U.S. Representative.
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
for slightly over one year.
Born near Morristown, New Jersey
Morristown, New Jersey
Morristown is a town in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 18,411. It is the county seat of Morris County. Morristown became characterized as "the military capital of the American Revolution" because of its strategic role in the...
, he moved with his parents to Newark, Ohio
Newark, Ohio
In addition, the remains of a road leading south from the Octagon have been documented and explored. It was first surveyed in the 19th century, when its walls were more apparent. Called the Great Hopewell Road, it may extend to the Hopewell complex at Chillicothe, Ohio...
, in 1819, and attended the public schools. He graduated from Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
(in Oxford, Ohio
Oxford, Ohio
Oxford is a city in northwestern Butler County, Ohio, United States, in the southwestern portion of the state. It lies in Oxford Township, originally called the College Township. The population was 21,943 at the 2000 census. This college town was founded as a home for Miami University. Oxford...
) in 1839, studied law, and was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1839, commencing practice in Newark. He moved to Keosauqua, Iowa
Keosauqua, Iowa
Keosauqua is a city in Van Buren County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,066 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Van Buren County.-History:...
in 1841, where he practiced law. He also owned a newspaper in Keosauqua and, in 1849, moved the newspaper to Keokuk, Iowa
Keokuk, Iowa
Keokuk is a city in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Iowa and one of the county seats of Lee County. The other county seat is Fort Madison. The population was 11,427 at the 2000 census. The city is named after the Sauk Chief Keokuk, who is thought to be buried in Rand Park...
. He was postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
of Keokuk from 1861 to 1866 and was a frequent, unsuccessful 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...
candidate for state and national office.
In 1870, the Iowa General Assembly
Iowa General Assembly
The Iowa General Assembly is the legislative branch of the state government of Iowa. Like the federal United States Congress, the General Assembly is a bicameral body, composed of the upper house Iowa Senate and the lower Iowa House of Representatives respectively...
elected Howell to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of James W. Grimes
James W. Grimes
James Wilson Grimes was an American politician, serving as the third Governor of Iowa and a United States Senator from Iowa.-Biography:...
. He served out the end of Grimes' term from January 18, 1870, to March 3, 1871, but was not a candidate for reelection to the Senate. He was one of three commissioners of the court of Southern claims appointed by President Ulysses Grant in 1871 to adjust claims for stores and supplies and served until 1880. He died that year in Keokuk, and his interment was in Oakland Cemetery.
James Howell's father, Elias Howell
Elias Howell
Elias Howell was a United States Representative from Ohio.Born in New Jersey in 1792, he attended the public schools and in 1819 moved to Newark, Ohio. He was a member of the Ohio Senate from 1830 to 1832 and was elected as an Anti-Jacksonian to the Twenty-fourth United States Congress, serving...
, was an Ohio U.S. Representative.