"Biographical History of Clark and Jackson Counties, WI," Lewis pub. co., 1891:

SAMUEL HOWDEN, of section 15, Eaton Township, was born in Canada West, forty miles north of Toronto, August 15, 1843, the son of James Howden, a native of County Fermanagh, Ireland. He came to Canada when a young man, where he worked at his trade of wagon-making the remainder of his life, the last ten years of which was spent in County Lampton. Our subject's mother, nee Ann Hicks, a native of Ireland, died when Samuel was nine months old. He was brought up on a farm, and also followed carpentering a number of years. In 1863 he came to the United States, stopping first at West Salem, La Crosse County, which was his home for nine years. During the winters he worked in the pineries, and on a farm in the summers. He came to Clark County in the fall of 1872, locating in Eaton Township, which he has since made his home. When he first came here the Indians and wild animals were numerous, and the wolves made the nights hideous. Mr. Howden settled on his present farm in the Spring of 1874, where he owns eighty acres, one-fourth of which is cleared.

He was married, October 8. 1870, to Hester Cummins, daughter of George E. (deceased) and Rosanna M. (McMullin) Cummins, the former a native of Rochester, and the latter of Buffalo, New York. The father settled in La Crosse County in the fall of 1865, where he lived until his death. He was a soldier in the United States army during the late war. Mr. and Mrs. Howden have ten children, viz: Lottie M., Maude R., Samuel J., James B., George F., Lillie M., Hester A., William M., Nellie F. and Harry C. Lottie married Oren Van Kirk, and has one child, Lee W. Mr. Howden never seeks office, but was prevailed upon to assess the town in 1889. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Church, and the former is a Republican in his political views.

WILLIAM MOSES HOWDEN was married in about 1913 at St Johns church in North Dakota. He was a partner in the Howden Bros Construction company there. He married Kathryn E McNiece daughter of Catherine Murphy and Matthew McNiece. They had four children, Lilas E. Vera R Marian A and Dale M . William passed away at about 36 years old from an accident in the woods in Washington state.  His wife lived out her life and raised her four children in Portland Oregon.

Contributors

Joan Charette and Janet Schwarze.

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