AGED MAN IS CALLED SUDDENLY
Life Passed From Roger A. Howe While Sitting In Chair.
Roger A. Howe died suddenly at his home in this city last Monday afternoon [March 26, 1923] about 6:30 o’clock. He returned to his residence from the business district about 5:30 o’clock and complained to members of his family that he did not feel well. When a numbness crept over his left hand and arm and excessive perspiration followed as he sat in his chair, a physician was summoned. Soon a chill set in and shortly afterward the venerable man closed his eyes and his head sank as dissolution came without ever a quiver. He had enjoyed his usual fair health until an hour before the end, and his sudden demise came as a shock to his wife and children and his friends.
Roger A. Howe was born in the western part of Vermont on May 14, 1845, as was the son of Lucius and Clara (Higgins) Howe. The family came to Minnesota in 1857, the subject of this sketch then being twelve years of age, and settled in Chaska, Carver county, and was there reared. He received a portion of his education in the common schools in his native state, and finished in the institution at his new home.
He remained at Chaska until 1870, when he came to McLeod county and engaged in agricultural pursuits, settling on a farm just north of Glencoe in section 35, Rich Valley township. He commenced the improvement of the property and the tilling of the soil and soon had it reduced from its state of original wildness to the use of civilized man. He made his home on this farm for about thirteen years, and in 1883 disposed of a portion of it and removed to Glencoe township. Here he purchased a tract of about forty acres, to which he added from time to time until his holdings were 188 acres.
In November 1900 he retired from farming on account of his advanced years and moved to this city where he had ever since resided.
The late Roger A. Howe was married September 19, 1869, to Sarah Hanscom, the daughter of David and Ellen (Smith) Hanscom. Her parents were natives of Maine and Vermont, respectively.
Six sons blessed this union, all of whom survive. They are Albert C. Howe, Rich Valley town; Oscar R., Velva, N. D.; William G., Glencoe; Clarence L., Velva, N. D.; Fred B., near Lake Marion, and R. Ellie, Glencoe. Mrs. Martin Swanson, who has resided with Mr. and Mrs. Howe for twelve years and was reared by them, as if their own daughter.
Mr. Howe is also survived by one sister, Mrs. Lydia Mathews, of Grey Eagle; one brother, Henry Howe, of this city, and twenty-two grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
The deceased was a loving husband and father, the sorrowing widow and children have the sympathy of the community in their loss.
The funeral will take place this afternoon. Prayers will be read at the home at 1:30 o’clock and services at the Congregational church at two o’clock, conducted by Rev. Edwyn Evans. The six sons will bear the earthly remains of their father to their last resting place in Mount Auburn cemetery.
Roger A. Howe was one of the early settlers of this section who lived to see the marvelous transformation that has taken place here since pioneer times, in which he contributed a full share to bring about. He was an energetic and progressive man, and the first reaper used in this section was bought by him, and he was among the first always to press into use the new inventions in farm machinery as they came upon the market and which served to lighten the manual labor of the tiller of the soil.
On that part of the old homestead on which his son, Albert C. Howe, now resides, the first brick well in this section was sunk, which is still in use today, and on this place the deceased built the first frame farm house erected in this region. He was one with others who enjoyed a free trip to Carver on the first railroad train that entered Glencoe when the H. & D. railroad was built.
The father of the deceased was a bricklayer by trade and worked in the Chaska brickyards. The son followed his father’s vocation for a time in the Chaska yards, and as a monument to his industriousness stands in Glencoe today, the older portion of the McLeod County court house, the building in which the Shady Inn is located, the Reed block, and the old county jail building now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Wadel as a residence, a portion of the bricks in each were made at Chaska by his hands.
In early days while on the farm, Mr. Howe was among the first who devoted themselves to founding herds of live stock which served to make farming more profitable. He was a man who enjoyed the confidence of his neighbors and who took great interest in educational and public affairs. He served in various township offices, including supervisor, and as a school board member.
In the countryside where Mr. Howe lived, his neighbors attest to his splendid characteristics, his willingness at all times to help where help was needed, and as a citizen, both in the rural district, and in this city, he was all that could be expected of any man. – Glencoe Enterprise.
Source:
Weekly Valley Herald
Volume LXI, Number 25, Page 8
Thursday, April 5, 1923