FRANKLIN HOWARD, the owner of Fair View farm in Benton township, Berrien county, was born in Wabasha county, Minnesota, September 11, 1869, his parents being Laconius M. and Harriet (Converse) Howard. The father was a brother of Farley, Sterling, John and Harley Howard, all pioneer settlers of Benton township and Farley Howard was the father of Mrs. Franklin Howard.

The subject of this review spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his native county, being reared and educated in Minnesota. He was married on the 6th of June, 1889, to Miss Addie Howard, who was a double cousin, her mother being Mrs. Diantha (Converse) Howard, a sister of Harriet Converse. In early childhood they were acquainted and later were separated, but Mr. Howard, of this review, came to Michigan the winter before their marriage. Mrs. Howard was born on the present farm, spending her girlhood days here. Her father, Farley Howard, died August 1, 1886, and the mother afterward remained upon the farm. Two years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Howard returned to the old homestead and purchased the property from the other heirs, thus coming into possession of the place in 1891. Six years ago Mr. Howard built his present residence and has a well improved farm, equipped with all modern accessories and conveniences for the raising of fruit. He has thirty-three out of forty acres planted to fruit, and the orchard set out fifty years ago is still in bearing. He has now about one thousand apple trees and he also has pears, peaches and plums. The sales from fifty-six old apple trees amounted in one season to six hundred and fourteen dollars. He is strictly a commercial grower. He plants only fruit of the best varieties, and his business is proving a profitable one, for he thoroughly understands the best methods of caring for the orchard and also for the crop as it ripens.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Howard has been born a daughter, Irma, who at the age of sixteen years is a student in Benton Harbor College. Mr. Howard is a Republican and he belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp. His time and attention, however, are largely demanded by his horticultural interests and the control of his farm, whch is pleasantly and conveniently located about six and a fourth miles southeast of Benton Harbor.

It will be interesting in this connection to note something more of the history of Farley Howard, father of Mrs. Franklin Howard. He was generally called Fulton Howard. His birth occurred June 6, 1830, in Ellisburg, Jefferson county, New York, his parents being Joseph and Purley (Franklin) Howard. His boyhood and youth was passed in the state of his nativity and his education was acquired there in the public schols. Having arrived at years of maturity he was married in Maysville, New York, on the 3rd of November, 1850, to Miss Diantha Converse, whose sister Harriet later married Laconius Howard, a brother of Farley Howard. Another brother, Sterling Howard, had already come to Berrien county and John Howard, still another brother, came at the same time as Farley Howard and his wife. At one time there were five brothers and a sister of this family living in the county, namely: Sterling, Squire, John, Harley, Farley and Mrs. Susanne Snyder, the wife of Warren Snyder. After ten or fifteen years, however, all the family removed to other localities except the sister and John and Farley Howard. Sterling Howard went to Idaho, Harley to Kansas and Squire to California. Mrs. Warren Snyder, however, lived and died here, passing away at the age of fifty-six years. John Howard was the father of Mrs. Frank McKindley, of Benton township, an died here in middle life.

On coming to Michigan, Farley Howard, after looking over the country to some extent, made purchase of a tract of land for which he paid three dollars per acre. It was in the midst of the green woods and was covered with a dense growth of timber. His first house was a log structure, which he continued to occupy until the present residence was erected. He at once began to clear and cultivate his land and in the course of time plowed fields were returning good crops. His brother, Sterling, paid the expenses of his journey so that he was in debt when he began life here and he bought his land on time. In early years he worked out for others, but as the months passed by he was enabled to discharge his financial obligations and give his attention to the improvement of his own farm, which in course of years became a valuable property.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Howard were born eight children, of whom one died at the age of twelve years. Four of the number are now living, namely: Foster, a resident of Benton township; J.D., of Benton Harbor; Nettie, the wife of W. F. Howard, a brother a Franklin Howard, living in Pipestone township and Mrs. Franklin Howard of Benton township. One daughter, Edith, died at the age of twelve years. Alice, the eldest of the family, became the wife of Charles Moore, of Pipestone, and died at the age of forty-four years. Mary became the wife of John Anthony, of Benton township, and died at the age of forty-two years.

Farley Howard and his wife were members of the United Brethren church. His death occurred on the 1st of August, 1886. In later years, Mrs. Howard has been an adherent of the faith as understood by the Christian or Disciples church. She is well read, especially in the Bible, and she is a constant reader of one of the church papers, the Christian Standard. She has lived upon one farm for fifty-five years and is now seventy-four years of age, a most estimable lady, loved and esteemed by all who know her.

To read other historical biographies, click on HISTORICAL LIST.