Watch "The First Brickmaker in Chaska Minnesota, Lucius Howe" Video.
Lucius Howe was born January 13, 1801, in Jamaica, Vermont.
The 1850 United States census showed Lucius Howe (age 48, born in Vermont, farmer) married to Clara (age 45, born in Vermont) and living in Jamaica, Vermont. Children Emmons (age 18, born in Vermont), Viorna (age 16, born in Vermont), Lydia (age 14, born in Vermont), Jane (age 12, born in Vermont), Amelia (age 10, born in Vermont), Mriah (age 7, born in Vermont), Rogers (age 5, born in Vermont), and Henry (age 1, born in Vermont) also lived with the couple.
The 1857 Minnesota census showed Lucious How (age 56, born in Vermont) married to Claracy (age 52, born in Vermont) and living in Chaska, Minnesota. Children Emma (age 24, born in Vermont), Maria (age 14, born in Vermont), Rogers (age 12, born in Vermont), and Henry (age 8, born in Vermont) also lived with the couple.
Records show that Lucius established the first Chaska brickyard in 1857, and it was named Howe & Sons.
The 1860 United States census showed Lucius Howe (age 58, born in Vermont, farmer) married to Clara (age 55, born in Vermont) and living in Chaska, Minnesota. Children Amelia (age 20, born in Vermont), Maria (age 16, born in Vermont), Rogers (age 15, born in Vermont), and Henry (age 11, born in Vermont) also lived with the couple.
The 1870 United States census showed Louis Howe (age 68, born in Vermont, brick manufacturer) married to Clara (age 65, born in Vermont) and living in Chaska, Minnesota. Children Henry (age 21, born in Vermont, brick maker) and Roger (age 25, born in Vermont, brick maker) also lived with the couple.
Clarissa Higgins Howe (born July 28, 1805) died on May 8, 1873.
The Howes sold the brickyard in 1873.
The 1875 Minnesota census showed Lucian Howe (age 74, born in Vermont) living in Chaska, Minnesota.
The 1880 United States census showed Lucius Howe (age 76, born in Vermont) living in Glencoe, Minnesota.
Died. At Glencoe, on the 15th inst. [February 15, 1882], Lucius Howe, aged 80 years. The report of Mr. Howe's death caused much surprise and regret in this village where he had lived so long and was so well known. Only two weeks before his death he was in town visiting his daughter and old friends and remarked that he felt unusually well and intended to again embark the brick business in Chaska next season. But alas for human hopes! He returned to his home in Glencoe only to die in a few short days. Mr. Howe moved to Chaska with his family in the summer of 1856, coming from Vermont, and for twenty years thereafter, was one of our most prominent and respected citizens. He was the first one to open a brick yard in our village and carried on the business until he sold out his yard to Messrs. Gregg and Griswold in 1873. He was at one time quite wealthy, but became involved in a series of unfortunate law suits that left him but a few thousand dollars in the end. He leaves a number of grown up sons and daughters all settled down in life, who have the sympathy of a large circle of friends in their affliction. Mr. Howe’s remains were brought down from Glencoe last Friday, and interred in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, besides those of his beloved wife. (Weekly Valley Herald, Thursday, February 23, 1882, Volume 20, Number 16, Page 4)