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Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Clark County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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John W. Howard, of the law firm of Matlock, Hiller & Howard, is a native of Clark County, Mo., born in 1857, and the son of Edmond J. and Mary (Hopper) Howard, natives, respectively, of Kentucky and Illinois, and the grandson of John and Susannah (Flanray) Howard, both natives of Virginia, and both of Irish descent. The grandparents came to Kentucky, and settled on a farm where they remained until 1837, at which time they emigrated west and settled in Clark County, Mo. Here they passed the remainder of their days, the grandfather dying in August, 1842, and the grandmother in December, 1848. The father of our subject was born November 9, 1825, and secured his education in the common country schools. After the death of his parents, he began working for himself, and February 24, 1849, he married Miss Mary Hopper, but still continued on the old farm where he is now living, and of which he has been a resident for over fifty years. He is a tiller of the soil, and owns a good farm of 165 acres. He has always been an active, energetic and enterprising business man, and is considered one of the leading and successful farmers of Clark County, and has naturally become very prominently identified with the early history of the same. He is a Democrat in politics, and cast his first presidential vote for Franklin Pierce (1852). Although he has always been an active and hearty supporter of his party, he has never been a political aspirant. However, he has been elected to and filled several township offices to the satisfaction of all. The mother of our subject was born in October, 1831, and is the daughter of William and Lucretia (Ballinger) Hopper. By her marriage with Mr. Howard she became the mother of ten children, nine of whom are living, viz.: Isaac V., Lucretia (Mrs. Warren Harnes), John W., Emma (Mrs. George F. Hull), Edmond J., Ladosia Price (Mrs. T. V. Waggner), Robert L., Mary May and Alberta. Our subject received his education in the public schools of Clark County; Mo., and at Keokuk, Iowa. He reached his majority on the farm, and then entered the teacher’s profession, which he followed for a few years. In 1880 he began reading law under Matlock & Hiller, and afterward associated himself with this firm as a partner. He has been actively engaged in his profession ever since. He was one of the delegates to the National convention that nominated Grover Cleveland in 1884. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity, and in politics is strictly Democratic.

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This family biography is one of 232 biographies included in the Clark County, Missouri portion of the book,  The History of Lewis, Clark, Knox and Scotland Counties, Missouri published in 1887.  For the complete description, click here: Clark County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Clark County, Missouri family biographies here: Clark County, Missouri Biographies

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