John M. HOWDER

Father: George Howder
Mother: Mary WESCOTT

Family 1: Mary Elizabeth SWIFT

(1) 1855 New York State Census, Town of Cambria, County of Niagara, dwelling 117, family 126, June 11, 1855.

Family 2: Electa J. PRIEST

(1) LDS Family Search International Genealogical Index v5.0: John M. Howden [sic.] married Electa J. Preast [sic.], 22 June 1857, Ionia, Michigan.

  1. George Roderick HOWDER
  2. Lewis Henry HOWDER
  3. Adella H. HOWDER 
                                      ________________________
                  _Christian HOWDER__|
                 |                   |________________________
 _George HOWDER__|
|                |                    _Adam HOUFSTATER________
|                |_Mary HOUSTATER____|
|                                    |_Elizabeth Katherine //_
|
|--John M. HOWDER
|
|                                     _James WESCOAT__________
|                 _Nathan WESCOAT____|
|                |                   |_Hannah HORTON__________
|_Mary WESCOTT___|
                 |                    _Nathaniel GRINNELL_____
                 |_Isabel GRINNELL___|
                                     |_Ruth CLARK_____________

Notes

Updated December 14, 2021. Compiled by Howder (www.howderfamily.com) from the following source(s):

(1) 1850 United States Census for New York, Niagara Co., Cambria: August 26, 1850.

John HOWDER is the son of George and Mary HOWDER. He is 21 years old, a farmer, and born in New York.

(2) 1855 New York State Census, Town of Cambria, County of Niagara, dwelling 117, family 126, June 11, 1855.

John M. HOWDER is head of household, married to Mary [maiden surname unknown] HOWDER. He is 26 years old, born in Niagara County and is a farmer. He has lived in Niagara County for 26 years, is eligible to vote and owns land. They live in a frame house. Farm output includes winter wheat, corn, potatoes, beans, apples (and cider), meat cattle, milk, butter, poultry and eggs.

(3) In the Surrogate of the County of Niagara (NY), petition of Mary Howder for the settlement of the estate of George Howder, who died on the Nineteenth of November 1856 without a will; December 1, 1856.

- Mary HOWDER and John M. HOWDER appointed administrators of the estate.

(4) New York, U.S., Wills and Probate Records via Ancestry.com

Final will of Henry SWIFT; 18 July 1855. Filed 19 July 1858. State of New York, Niagara County Surrogate's Office.

"-- And to my daughter Mary HOWDER wife of John M. HOWDER and formerly Mary SWIFT, one sixth part, but my said executors are hereby directed and empowered to pay said Mary HOWDER, her one sixth part, or any part thereof, or the proceeds thereof at such time and times, as the may deem it for the interest of said Mary to have the same paid, and in case there shall remain at the death of said Mary any part of the one sixth part of said property or the proceeds thereof in the hands of said executors, then the same shall be paid to her heirs or personal representatives... and to my daughter Mary HOWDER about $100"

(5) Mortgage on the estate of George Howder, filed Niagara County, New York, September 14, 1859.

- References John M. HOWDER, child and heir of George Howder
- Resident of Cambria, Niagara Co., New York

(6) 1860 United States Census for New York, Niagara Co., the Town of Cambria, Pekin NY Post Office: Pages 49-50; July 19, 1860.

John M. HOWDER is included in the second of three household under the entry for Ephraim and Mary [WESCOTT] MORRELL. John is Mary's son. He is 31 years old, born in Lockport NY, and is a farmer. His wife Electa [PRIEST] HOWDER and son George are also residents.

(7) Newspapers.com: Evening Star. Washington, District of Columbia. 07 Feb. 1862, page 3 and 08 Feb. 1862, page 3.

On the evening of Thursday, February 6, 1862, while John M. HOWDER served in the Union Army in the Defences of Washington, he and another soldier, Timothy SWEENEY entered a home. One of the residents shot SWEENEY and he later died. Accounts varied. The two soldiers either asked to spend the night or demanded to spend the night. One of the soldiers may or may not have pulled a knife on one of the residents. The resident who shot Sweeney may or may not have been known to the other residents, and quickly disappeared. Some of the residents were arrested.

John M. HOWDER provided his side of the story: "John M. HOWDER, of 7th N. Y. cavalry, testified that SWEENEY and himself were together and went to this house. They knocked; a gentleman opened the door; they entered and sat down on a lounge. The man asked what they wanted. They replied that they wanted to stay over night. The man remarked, 'You can't stay over night.' Just then Mr. SULLIVAN came in, and asked the same question as his friends, and received the same reply. He insisted upon the soldiers leaving, remarking, 'I want you to go out.' SWEENEY then said, 'I don't know whether I will or not.' Another man then entered from the back room and fired, and we ran out. Witness did not know SWEENEY was shot until they got some distance from the home. He then arranged to get surgical aid, and also to have the parties arrested. Witness said his idea of the man who fired is very faint, he appeared so suddenly, perpetrated the act, and disappeared so quickly, but thinks he was a shortish man, pretty stout; thinks he had whiskers, but is not certain. SULLIVAN is not the man who fired. In reply to the magistrate witness said: 'We went there to stay over night. There was, I think, only one woman there when we went in -- the woman O'DWYER. No knife was drawn; no violence toward the inmates. I did not see the pistol till the flash; it was fired twice, I think; am not positive. I think the man had on soldier's pants'... John M. HOWDER was recalled, and asked if BROWN was there at the time of the firing. Howder eyed him from head to foot, and remarked, 'the countenance is familiar; but I would not be willing to swear positively that this man was there'..."

"After hearing all the testimony, Justice THOMPSON decided that it was not sufficient to justify the commitment of either of the persons in custody for trial at court, and ordered their discharge."

(8) U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records via Ancestry.com; Counties of Niagara, Genesee and Wyoming, New York; June 1863.

- Residence: Cambria
- Name: HOWDER, John M.
- Age: 33
- Profession: Farmer
- Marital Status: Married
- Place of Birth: New York

(9) National Park Service Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System Search by Soldier Name (database).

John M. HOWDER, Co. G, New York Cavalry (Union). Rank In = Private, Rank Out = Corporal. Film Number M551 roll 67. During his enlistment the unit served in the defenses of Washington, DC, until it mustered out March 31, 1862. He then served Co. ?, 19th New York Independent Battery Light Artillery (Union). Rank In = Private, Rank Out = Private. Film Number M551 roll 67. During his second enlistment the unit served at Petersburg and in the Appomattox campaign. The unit participated in the Grand Review in Washington, DC at the conclusion of the war and mustered out there on June 13, 1865.

(10) American Civil War Soldiers Record via Ancestry.com

- Name: John M HOWDER
- Enlistment Date: 20 September 1861
- Distinguished Service: DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
- Side Served: Union
- State Served: New York
- Unit Numbers: 1325 1325
- Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 20 September 1861 at the age of 32. Enlisted in Company G, 7th Cavalry Regiment New York on 28 September 1861. Mustered out Company G, 7th Cavalry Regiment New York on 31 March 1862 in Washington, DC.

- Name: John M HOWDER
- Enlistment Date: 23 July 1864
- Distinguished Service: DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
- Side Served: Union
- State Served: New York
- Unit Numbers: 1622 1622
- Service Record: Enlisted in Company 072364, 19th Light Artillery Regiment New York on 27 October 1862. Enlisted as a Private on 23 July 1864 at the age of 36. Mustered out Company 072364, 19th Light Artillery Regiment New York on 13 June 1865 in Elmira, NY.

(11) National Archives, Washington DC. Pension file. Invalid application 1,146,483 filed in Michigan, February 20, 1893. Certificate 929,804.

- September 20, 1861: Enlisted as a private in Company G, 7 Regiment Cavalry, NY Volunteers.
- March 31, 1862: Discharged at Washington, DC.
- July 23, 1864: Re-enlisted as a private in 19 Independent Battery of Light Artillery, NY Volunteers. A pension record file dated July 24, 1900 notes that at his 1864 re-enlistment he was: age 36; hair black; eyes hazel; complexion dark; height 5'7"; born Lockport NY; occupation laborer. - June 13, 1865: Discharged with the unit.
- June 27, 1890: complexion dark; hair gray; eyes hazel.
- February 20, 1893: Filed pension application.
- June 1, 1896: Neighbor's Affidavit says "Claimant is or has been a woodsman, now a watchman at a lumber company."
- September 5, 1896: height 5' 7 3/4"; weight 130.
- 1897: Living at Ishpeming, Marquette Co., Michigan.
- October 11, 1898: John HOWDER filled-out a form with the following responses, -- No 1. Are you a married man? If so, please state your wife's full name, and her maiden name. Answer: "I have been twice married booth dead." No 2. When, where, and by whom were you married? Answer: "don't recolect [sic] they died years ago." No. 3 What record of marriage exists? Answer: "None only family record in the Bible and don't know where it is." No 4. Were you previously married? If so, please state the name of your former wife and the date and place of her death or divorce. Answer: [left blank]. No 5. Have you any children living? If so, please state their names and the dates of their birth. Answer: "I have two boys living when last herd from several years ago they was both married their is G.R. HOWDER Lewis Henry HOWDER."
- February 8, 1900: Age listed as 72. Increase in pension "for senile disability, rheumatism & resulting disease of heart" plus a new claim for "deafness of both ears, impaired eyesight, indigestion, & kidney trouble." At this point he is unable to do manual labor.
- June 19, 1901: Living at the Soldiers' Home in Kent Co., Michigan.
- August 26, 1903: Dropped from the pension rolls after pension office advised of his death.

(12) 1894 Census for Michigan veterans.

- He was living in Marquette, Michigan, second ward.

(13) U.S., City Directories via Ancestry.com

Saginaw, Michigan

- 1883: HOWDER John M, laborer, res e s 13th 2 s of Lapeer.

Grand Rapids, Michigan

- 1899: HOWDER John M, inmate Soldiers' Home.
- 1901: HOWDER John, res Michigan Soldiers Home
- 1902: HOWDER John, res Michigan Soldiers' Home
- 1903: HOWDER John, res Michigan Soldiers' Home

(14) Documents from the Michigan Soldiers' Home.

- Became a resident of Michigan on October 10, 1865
- Admitted to Michigan Soldiers' Home, September 27, 1897
- Passed away on May 5, 1903
- Burial at Grand Rapids [Michigan] Home for Veterans, plot 4 row 14 grave 15

(15) Find a Grave

- Name: J. M. HOWDER
- Death: 5 May 1903 (aged 73–74)
- Burial: Grand Rapids Veterans Home Cemetery; Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan, USA
- Plot: Plot 4, Row 14, Grave 15
- Memorial ID: 15757860
- Inscription: 19 N.Y.L.A.