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Churchill * Foerst
* Wyman * McKindley * McLean Contact the genealogist PHOTOS Last Name Index Home page HOWARD FAMILY William Howard McKindley SEE PHOTO William Howard McKindley was born February 26, 1872. He married Cynthia Eleanor Wees on December 26, 1894. He worked as a farmer in the Benton Harbor, Michigan area. He had a son, William Myrl McKindley, born May 22, 1896, died December 25, 1975. He had a second son, Howard Randall McKindley, born in June 1898 and who died Sept. 3, 1898. The baby's tombstone in Pearl Cemetery says the child died at the age of 2 months and 12 days. William Howard McKindley died October 11, 1913 at age 41, and is buried at Pearl Grange Cemetery in Benton Harbor, Michigan. Helen Cornelia Howard (McKindley) SEE PHOTO Born December 27, 1845 in Ellesburg, New York. Her parents were John Franklin Howard and Sylvesta Easton. She was only 14 when her father died. She inherited one cow from her father's estate. She went to work at neighboring homes and did farm work, because her mother was blind and Helen, as the oldest, became the head of the household in a sense. At age 23, Helen married Francis Austin McKindley. She had one son, William Howard McKindley (born 1872), and one daughter, Mamie (Mary) McKindley. To read a historical biography about their family, click on "History of Berrien County" 1906. Helen died in December 1926 of a stroke and a broken hip. She is buried at Pearl Grange Cemetery. HISTORICAL NOTE: In April 1861, the Civil War started. Sylvesta Easton (Howard) SEE PHOTO Born in New York on June 15, 1815. Her parents were David Easton (born September 11, 1764; died August 20, 1823) and Sallie Lewis (born August 25, 1814, died November 29, 1887). Sylvesta apparently had at least one sister, because the old family photo album indicates that Henry Nichols is the great grandson of Sylvesta Howard's sister. Sylvesta is the mother of Helen Cornelia Howard. She had two other daughters, Eleanora and Viola, who both died as teenagers. Apparently both Eleanora and Viola had died already when the 1900 census was taken. Sylvesta also had a son, Reynaldo Howard, known as "Uncle Judge." The children of Sylvesta Easton Howard were as follows:
Sylvesta had a grade school education. She was 20 when she married John Farley Howard. They were married in Jefferson County, New York. The couple lived in Illinois and Wisconsin before they came to Michigan in 1852. They had a child born in New York, a child born in Illinois, a child born in Wisconsin, and a child born in Michigan. In 1859, Sylvesta was widowed. She had to raise her young family alone. She would spin and knit for the neighbors and do whatever she could for her family. Sylvesta’s large spinning wheel and yarn-winder is currently in the possession of Aunt Helen in Chula Vista, California. Sylvesta was blind as an adult, but apparently had her sight when she was growing up. A 1906 biography of Francis Austin McKindley comments that his wife’s mother, Sylvesta (Easton) Howard, "had four children, but never saw any of them for she was blind for sixty years." This suggests she was 26 when she lost her vision, perhaps in about 1841. She was about 20 years old when she married John F. Howard, (about 1835,). She must have lost her vision after her marriage, but before she had any children. Apparently she became blind, then had her daughter Helen, then the family moved to Illinois, then to Wisconsin, and finally they landed in Michigan. They probably came to Berrien County, Michigan (near Benton Harbor) at the suggestion of John F. Howard's brother Sterling Howard. Sylvesta died February 2, 1902 of pneumonia. She was buried in the Penn Yan Cemetery next to her husband and the two teenaged daughters. She was 86 years old and six months when she died. To find out how the Pearl Grange and the Pearl Cemetery got their name, click on PEARL. Born July 6, 1813 in Ellisburg, New York. (Or, he was born in 1814.) His parents were Joseph Howard and Purley Franklin. He was the second of 14 children. He had one sister, Susanne Howard (Mrs. Warren Snyder). He also had five brothers: Squire Howard, Laconius M. Howard, Farley "Fulton" Howard, b. 1830; Sterling Howard; and Harley Howard. John F. Howard was 22 when he married Sylvesta Easton in 1835. He was "crippled" and his wife was blind. They had one son and three daughters. John was a carpenter, and several chairs he built are still in our family. He also built a "rope bed" with ornate carving (feels like a hammock to sleep in it.) Helen and Lee have the rope bed.] In 1858, John F. Howard signed a Will. He gave his real estate to his wife Sylvesta, and gave two steer calves to his son Rinaldo. He gave a cow to his daughter Helen. He gave $5 to each of the younger girls, to be paid to them upon reaching age 12. According to the probate records, his property at the time of his death included "three swarms of bees." John Howard died September 3, 1859 at age 45. Sylvesta had a special casket made for him so he could be buried as he was in life (and so he would not have to be straightened). John was buried at the Penn Yan Cemetery southeast of Benton Harbor, Michigan. NOTE: The records in the Bainbridge Book show he was buried at Penn Yan Cemetery, that he died in 1858, and that his first name was spelled "Johne." Joseph Howard Born April 25, 1789 in Vermont. His parents were John Howard, born about 1760 in Glocester, Mass., and Lavinah Harris, born about 1765. He was a farmer. He married his fifth cousin, Purley Franklin, and had 14 children. See the Purley Franklin biography, above, for a complete list of their children. Joseph Howard died March 1, 1852 in Ellisburg, New York. Purley Franklin Purlie was born February 25, 1794 in Swanzy, New Hampshire. Her parents were John Franklin (born October 25, 1763 in Rehobath, Mass.) and Perly (Perla) Battles, born Sept. 21, 1767 in Uxbridge, Mass. Her name is spelled "Pearlie" in a photo album, based on Aunt Mamie’s information. Her name is spelled "Purley" according to a 1906 biography of Franklin Howard. She was the mother of John F. Howard. She married her fifth cousin, Joseph Howard on February 14, 1811 in Ellisburg, Jefferson County, N.Y. Purley and Joseph were fifth cousins through the Ormsby line, in that Jonathon Ormsby, Sr., born 1678, was the brother of Martha Ormsby, born 1680. Jonathon was the GG Grandfather of Joseph Howard, and Martha Ormsby was the GG Grandmother of Purley Franklin. Purley had 14 children, including John Franklin Howard, who married Sylvesta Easton. Here is a list of her children::
For additional information about the Howard line, check out the work done by genealogist Lynn Howard at the web site below: http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=howcom&id=I21 Purlie died February 24, 1859 in Ellisburg, where she is buried. Born September 11, 1764. He was a widower at the age of 19, though the name of his first wife is not known. He apparently married a second time, to a widow, Sally Lewis. The marriage to Sally took place on August 25, 1814. His daughter, Sylvesta Easton, was born less than a year later. David Easton died August 20, 1823. Sally Lewis Sally Lewis was born on an unknown date in the late 1700’s. She married someone, and became a widow. Then she married David Easton on August 25, 1814. She had a daughter with David Easton. The daughter, Sylvesta Easton, was born June 15, 1815. Sally Lewis Easton died Nov. 29, 1887. John Howard John Howard was born in about 1760 in Glocester, Massachusetts. His parents were Ebenezer Howard, born before 1734, probably in Cumberland, Rhode Island, and Dorothy Ormsby, born April 27, 1765 in Rehoboth, Mass. John Howard was married to Lavinah Harris on December 24, 1783 in Manchester, Vermont. Lavinah was born about 1765. For further information about him and his ancestors, click on JOHN HOWARD.
ADDITIONAL PEOPLE IN THE FAMILY: Reynaldo S. Howard ("Uncle Judge") (not a direct ancestor) SEE PHOTO Also spelled "Rinaldo" and "Rhinaldo." Born March 11, 1849 in Cain County, Illinois. He was the brother of Helen Cornelia Howard. His parents were John F. Howard and Sylvesta Easton. Reynaldo served in the Civil War in the Union Army for three years. He was about age 15 on February 13, 1864 when he enlisted at Benton Harbor. He was honorably discharged at Springfield, Illinois, on July 11, 1865. He must have gotten to know his future brother-in-law, Frank Austin McKindley, very well while he was in the military because they served together. On January 1, 1868, at age 17, Reynaldo married Leuella H. Sweet, who was also 17. She had been born January 2, 1951 in Oswego County, New York, the daughter of William c. Sweet and Chloe Ann Woodard. Reynaldo and Luella were married at Spinks Corners in rural Berrien County, by a justice of the peace. His marriage certificate says he was a farmer. He and his wife lived in Coloma, Michigan, where he became known in the family as "Uncle Judge." See GROUP PHOTO. Reynaldo had a son and a daughter:
Rhynaldo died October 9, 1907 in Coloma, where he is buried. Franklin Howard (not a direct ancestor) SEE PHOTO Franklin Howard was born September 11, 1869 in Wabasha County, Minnesota. His father was Laconius M. Howard, brother of John F. Howard. Franklin’s mother was Harriet Converse Howard. Harriet had a sister, Diantha Converse, who married Farley Howard, a brother of Laconius. Franklin grew up in Minnesota. He married his "double cousin" Addie Howard on June 6, 1889. Addie had grown up in Berrien county. The two of them lived in a home on Meadowbrook Road in Berrien County, Michigan. In 1891, they purchased some Berrien County farmland from the other heirs of Addie’s father, Farley, who had died in 1886. Franklin and Addie had one child, Irma, who was born in approximately 1890. In 1906, she was 16, and attending the Benton Harbor College. It is not known how many sisters and brothers Franklin had, but he did have a brother W. F. Howard who apparently lived in Berrien County as an adult. This brother, W.F., married Nettie Howard, a sister of Franklin’s wife Addie. On August 1, 1886 Franklin died. Click on "History of Berrien County" 1906 to read a historical biography of him. HISTORICAL NOTE: In 1861, the Civil War started. Sterling Howard (not a direct ancestor) SEE PHOTO. Joseph Sterling Howard was born August 25, 1823 in Watertown, N.Y. His parents were Joseph Howard and Purley Franklin. Sterling arrived in Berrien County, Michigan sometime prior to 1850. He probably arrived in about 1847. Later, his brothers John and Farley followed him. His wife’s name was Anna. On May 15, 1842, Sterling was married to Anna Dewey Hovey in Mantua, Ohio. Anna was born March 28, 1823 in Portage, Ohio. Sterling may have been quite enthusiastic about Berrien County when he lived there. He loaned money to his brother Farley to help Farley and his wife move to Berrien County and buy farmland. At one point many of the Howard siblings were living in the area, including Squire, John, Harley, Farley, and Suzanne. After 10 or 15 years, they all left except Susanne, John and Farley. Sterling and Anna had seven children, as follows:
Eventually Sterling left Berrien County and moved to Idaho. He probably lived in Berrien County for about 10 or 15 years. His religion was Morman. He died February 11, 1890 in Moscow, Idaho, and is buried at Troy Road Cemetery in Moscow. Diantha Converse, wife of Farley Howard (not a direct ancestor) She was probably born in about 1830. It is likely that she was born in the state of New York. She married Farley "Fulton" Howard November 3, 1850 in Maysville, NY. The two of them eventually went to live in Berrien County. In 1906, she was still living, and was 74 years of age. Diantha and Farley were members of the United Brethren church. They had eight children. According to the 1906 biographical information, she was "well read, especially in the Bible." Farley "Fulton" Howard (not a direct ancestor) Farley Howard was born June 6, 1830 in Ellisburg, Jefferson County, NY. His parents were Joseph Howard and Purley (Franklin) Howard. Farley went by the name "Fulton." On November 3, 1850, "Fulton" married Diantha Converse in Maysville, NY. Diantha’s sister Harriet later married Farley’s brother, Laconius. Diantha was probably born in about 1820. She was 74 years old in 1906 and had been living on the farm in Berrien County for 55 years at that time, so she must have started living on that farm in about 1851. To cover his original cost of moving with his wife to Berrien County and purchasing farmland at $3 per acre, Farley borrowed from his brother Sterling. Farley cleared the dense forest and built a log cabin to get started, then later built a better home for himself. Farley and Diantha had eight children. They had a daughter, Addie Howard, who grew up in Berrien County and married her "double cousin" Franklin. By the time Farley’s biography was published in 1906 (page 412) only four of his children were still living. The following list is not necessarily in birth order because the dates of birth are not known:
On August 1, 1886 Farley Howard died. Chloe S. Howard According to Jack McKindley, Chloe S. Howard was his great-grandmother. He says Chloe was born April 1848 in Ohio, the daughter of Nathaniel Howard and Arielia Bovee. She married Homer Henry Harrison Olds on April 17, 1865 in Battle Creek, Michigan. One of her kids was Vira Ann Olds, born January 1, 1868, who married John Archie McKindley
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