My Genealogy Hound

BRADLEY HOWARD, farmer and stock-raiser, post-office Sarcoxie, was born in Ray county, Tenn., Oct. 19, 1821, and there lived until thirteen years old. He was a farmer’s son, and most of his time was spent on the farm and going to school, thus acquiring a common school education. In 1884 his father moved to the Hiawatha Purchase, Bradley county, Tenn., where he died in June, 1836. Our subject remained here with the family until Nov., 1850, when he left them and came to Jasper county, Mo., and staid here one year, going thence to Texas. He traveled overland through Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, and back to his home in Tennessee, and returned to southwest Missouri in 1853 and located near the north line of Newton county. He was married in Jasper county, Dec. 20, 1854, to Miss Sarah A. Gray, a native of Virginia, daughter of Edward Gray, one of the pioneer settlers of Jasper county, now a resident of Newton county. He bought and moved on the farm where he now lives in 1857. Being strongly opposed to the war he undertook to observe a strict neutrality, and did so far as refraining from service in either army, but that, however, did not protect his property. He then owned a good farm, well stocked; his live stock was taken by Federal officers, and himself hunted like a wild beast. The family remained on the farm the greater part of these trying days, and often months elapsed without hearing aught from them. During this time he visited many parts of the country, and was in Cook county, Texas, when the glad news reached him that the war was ended. He then returned to the wreck of his home in Jasper county. His family having gone to Kansas near the close of the war joined him here the following September, and by their united efforts they managed to get a new start. His wife died Dec. 3, 1872, leaving a family of four children. In 1874 his house, with its contents, was destroyed by fire, and all was lost. Mr. Howard at the time being in the Indian Territory. Notwithstanding these severe reverses, he has by persevering industry accumulated a nice home. His farm consists of 260 acres of as good land as Jasper county can boast, romantically situated near the head of Jenkins Creek, upon which he keeps a good herd of cattle, also a number of horses and mules. Mr. Howard has traveled quite extensively, and thinks southwest Missouri ahead of all other portions of the country in natural advantages.