WI BIO - Dane Co - HOWIE, John
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, pp 457-459

John HOWIE, a farmer of Dane County, WI, was born in 832 in Ayrshire, 
Scotland, a son of Andrew HOWIE, a native of the same country. The parents 
of Andrew HOWIE were [p 458] John and Elizabeth (HEPBURN) HOWIE, and were 
also natives of Ayrshire, Scotland, where they died in middle life. John and 
Elizabeth (HEPBURN) HOWIE had four sons: (1) Andrew, father of our subject; 
(2) John, who died in Scotland in 1855, in the prime of life; (3) William, 
who still resides in Scotland; and (4) Robert, who came to America some 
years after his eldest brother, and resides on the Hudson River in NY, where 
he is a retired contractor and builder.

Andrew HOWIE was married in Scotland to Mary, a daughter of Peter and Mary 
(GALBRAITH) SHAW. In the spring of 1840 they came on the Scotch sail vessel, 
"Romules," to America, landing in NY after a voyage of six weeks and three 
days. They first stopped for a few months in Passaic Falls [Passaic County], 
NJ, resided in Albany [Albany County], NY, six years, and in the spring of 
1846 moved to Hope Township, Hamilton County, NY, where the father and sons 
engaged in farming and lumbering. In 1855 the father and sons came to WI on 
a prospecting tour, the family following two years later, and they engaged in 
teaming in Madison [Dane County, WI]. The family then lived on a rented farm 
near the Madison University [University of WI at Madison], and in 1859 
purchased 166 acres of the farm now owned by our subject, for which they paid 
$2,000. This place was all prairie land, except 15 acres of timber. The 
mother [Mary HOWIE nee SHAW] died in Dec 1860, in her 56th year, leaving 10 
children. The father [Andrew HOWIE] departed this life four and a half years 
later, at the age of 58 years, and both were buried on their farm [Madison, 
Dane County, WI].

Neil HOWIE, the second son of Andrew HOWIE, and a brother of our subject, 
completed a full course in the University Commercial School in the winter of 
1867. During his short earthy career he won a reputation for unswerving 
honor and integrity, and also for undaunted courage. The following spring 
after his graduation Neil HOWIE started alone from Madison, WI, for Pike's 
Peak, the "new El Dorado," as it was then called, to search for gold. Taking 
the cars to Leavenworth, KS, he there joined an emigrant train, going across 
the plains with ox teams. After a few days with this company, during which 
time they lost two men on 22 May [1868] in a terrible blizzard, he and a 
companion started out alone and on foot. They carried their rifles and a 
blanket, arriving in Denver, CO, nearly three weeks before the train. Neil 
HOWIE immediately traded his rifle for a miner's outfit, and began 
prospecting with such success that he sold one of his claims for $4,500. The 
following fall he returned home to see his mother, arriving only a few days 
before death came to relieve her of suffering.

In the spring of 1861 Neil HOWIE again started for Pike's Peak, with a horse 
team and camping outfit, in company with several others. After remaining 
there two years with varying success, he emigrated to MT Territory in the 
summer of 1863, and engaged in mining near Virginia City. While in MT, in 
the rough and perilous time of the road agents and highwaymen, he was known 
as the bravest of the brave, and distinguished himself several times in 
bringing many of the most dangerous to justice. He was one of the vigilantes 
who redeemed that section from the reign of terror and most atrocious murders 
in the annals of modern history.

One instance of his bravery and valuable service deserves special mention. 
In Jan 1864, when the vigilantes were organized, and while engaged in 
teaming, he met a notorious highwayman, nicknamed Dutch WAGNER. The latter, 
in company with a bad Indian, was about to flee from justice. Neil HOWIE [p 
459] urged two companions of freighters to help him secure this murderer, but 
they refused, and he resolved to take him alone. He hailed him as he was 
riding away with his companion, and the fellow halted; HOWIE's quick hand 
grasped his revolver, advanced toward the Dutchman, he took hold of the 
barrel of his gun, and told him to dismount and come with him. The man 
obeyed, and was taken to the headquarters of the vigilantes, and afterward 
hung.

Soon after this Neil HOWIE was appointed Deputy Sheriff; in May 1867 was made 
Sheriff by Governor EDGERTON; 22 Mar 1867 was chosen Colonel of the MT troops 
in the Indian War; appointed U. S. Marshall of MT by President JOHNSON; and 
later went to South America, where he died 12 Jul 1878, in the prime of life. 
This is another proof of the law of heredity. A brother of his grandmother, 
Adam HEPBURN, distinguished himself as a member of the celebrated Scotch 
Greys, in the battle of Waterloo, and also in a personal combat killed two of 
NAPOLEON's cavalry. Adam HEPBURN was an active participant in the battle of 
Waterloo, where this combat took place.

John HOWIE, the subject of this sketch, is engaged in farming on his fine 
place of 200 acres on section 33, Vienna Township, Dane County, WI. This 
land was purchased by the father [Andrew HOWIE] and three sons of William R. 
TAYLOR. After Andrew HOWIE's death, John HOWIE purchased the interests of 
his two brothers. He has given his attention principally to horticulture, 
and the place is now known as "Pine Lawn," from the large number of beautiful 
trees of the pine family embowering it, many of which were planted 28 years 
ago, having now attained a spread of 44 feet, and 50 feet in height.

John HOWIE was married, 24 Oct 1861, to Mary A. LAMONT, a sister of Thayer G. 
LAMONT. To this union four children were born: (1) Jean, eighteen years 
of age, is pursuing her studies at home, and also teaching music; (2) Neil, 
aged seventeen years, works on the home farm; (3) John, aged fourteen years, 
is attending school; and (4) William Thayer, born 17 Aug 1889, has been 
reared by John HOWIE's sister, Mrs. W. W. POTTER, of Chippewa Falls [Chippewa 
County], WI. John HOWIE met a heavy and sad loss in the death of his wife on 
17 Aug 1889, in her forty-fifth 45th year.

John HOWIE was formerly a Republican, but now espouses the movement to 
abolish the American saloon. He has frequently been elected to offices of 
trust by his fellow townsmen, and in 1889 was elected and served as Chairman 
of the Board of Supervisors. He is a member in good standing of Madison 
Lodge, No. 5, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly