The Howard Family
of the
Town of Florida
Montgomery County, NY
Contributed by Lisa Slaski.
Source: History of Montgomery County, by Washington Frothingham. Syracuse, N.Y.: D. Mason
& Co., Publishers and Printers. 1892. Slightly reformatted for ease in online reading.
Howard, Ebenezer. - The ancestry of Ebenezer Howard is readily traced back
through several generations and into the latter years of the last century, to Enos Howard,
who lived and died in Duanesburgh, Schoharie county, N.Y. There his son Samuel was born on
the 13th of July, 1795. He married Marilla Hatch on November 12, 1814, and died on
the 9th of March, 1857. Mrs. Howard was one of eight children, namely, Nathaniel, Orrin,
Ephraim, Josiah, Ella, Cara, Lizzie and Marilla, and she was born on the 27th of January, 1798,
and died February 25, 1869.
To Samuel and Marilla Howard were born five children, as follows:
Ruby, born August 28, 1815; married David Griffith September 2, 1833, and died May 5, 1836, leaving a daughter, Susan, who married Richard Jameson, and now lives a widow in Pennsylvania.
Silas H., born October 6, 1817, married Julia A. Avery October 25, 1840; she died in
1881, and he resides at Fort Hunter, N.Y., where also live his sons, Ebenezer and Edward, and daughter Ruby;
his son William lives in Brooklyn and Avery in Virginia.
George, born June 7, 1819, married Charlotte Frazier January 10, 1844, and died
December 20, 1884. To them were born ten children, of whom there are living Charles Howard, of New
York; Mary Foody, of Albany; and Mrs. Clara Johnson, of Fort Hunter.
William T., born February 24, 1822, and died September 23, 1838.
Ebenezer Howard, son of Samuel was born at Duanesburgh January 1, 1827. He married Ellen Crane
February 12, 1852 , and died in Fort Hunter February 10, 1892. Mrs. Howard was born at Newburgh, Orange
county, N.Y., May 16, 1832, and died at Fort Hunter February 11, 1892; she was a daughter of Jacob Crane,
a teacher of mathematics of Newburgh, and had one brother, George Crane, of Australia, and one
sister, Mrs. William Barnes, of Brooklyn.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Ebenezer Howard were four, as follows:
Frank H., born January 18, 1852, and Addie L., who both died in May, 1854, of scarlet fever.
George Anderson, born July 24, 1856, died at Hot Springs, Ark., April 30, 1891.
Charles Louis Howard, born October 11, 1859, at Empire Lock, Fort Hunter, will be noticed a little further on.
Ebenezer Howard was a man of much more than average business capacity, a strong character, and
life principles that gave him a position of honor among his fellow citizens. With only ordinary
opportunities for obtaining an education, he gained by observation and reading a fund of general
information which his prudent and sound judgment enabled him to use to advantage in all the relations
of life. In the year 1859 he became associated with John D. Blood of Fort Hunter in the
manufacture of brooms in a small way. He carefully studied the business for many years and
became thoroughly versed in its methods, quality of stock and the sale of the product. The factory
was conducted with varying success until 1870, when Mr. Blood sold out his interest and removed to
Amsterdam. Mr. Howard continued alone, enlarging and improving the business until 1873, when his
factory was totally destroyed by fire. Owing to the unfortunate division of the insurance which he
carried, the loss was a severe one. But with unfaltering courage he at once built and equipped the
present brick factory and started with renewed zeal.
After a time he associated with himself his nephew, Avery Howard, and his two sons, George A. and
Charles L., and the business was successfully conducted under the firm name of E. Howard & Sons, which
names is still retained. During his long business career in Montgomery county Mr. Howard became a
well-known figure in the community, and by his straightforward business methods and by his general
worth as a man, gained the confidence and good will of all who knew him. At the organization of the
Merchant's Bank of Amsterdam he was made a director, and at the time of his death held the same office
in its successor, the Farmer's National Bank. He was also a director of the Fort Hunter Suspension Bridge.
His public spirit led him to take an active interest in every project for the good of the place where he
lived, and his efforts contributed largely to its growth and improvement. He was an honored and useful
member of the Universalist church at Bramen's Corners and an earnest and efficient mover in the
temperance cause and in the Methodist church of the village in which he lived. In politics he was
a Republican, but his naturally retiring disposition and distaste for active partisanship led him
to decline public office. Generous in his nature his employees always found him their best friend,
and the needy and worthy a sympathetic counselor and aid. At the time of his death the directors
of the bank in which he was an officer adopted eulogistic resolutions, which said among other things:
"Enthusiastic and tireless in his efforts to promote its usefulness and prosperity, this bank is indebted to him in liberal measure for the confidence reposed in it, and for the success it has achieved. His cool judgment and sterling integrity inspired respect for all enterprises with which he was connected. He took a deep and active interest in public affairs, was ever ready to aid and advance the cause of moral and material progress, and his heart beat in sympathy with all movements designed to benefit his fellow men."
By the death of Ebenezer and George A. Howard on the dates above given, and the withdrawal of Avery
Howard, the business of manufacturing brooms fell into the sole control of Charles L. Howard, who still
conducts it. He inherits the excellent business qualifications of his father, while his long experience
has given him a thorough knowledge of the requirements of the industry in which he is engaged. The
factory is now equipped with modern improvements, including electric light, and has an average capacity
of 200 dozen per day. About seventy-five men are employed, and the product is second to none.
Charles L. Howard was married June 9, 1880, to Katie Horton Burtch, daughter of A. H. Burtch of Fonda;
she was born January 21, 1860, and received her education in the Fonda public schools and at Elmira
Female College. They have four children: Harry, Helen, Mabel and Ruth.
Source: History of Montgomery County, by Washington Frothingham. Syracuse, N.Y.: D. Mason & Co., Publishers and Printers. 1892.
Howard, Charles Louis, Florida, one of four children of Ebenezer and Ellen (Crane) Howard, was born at
Empire Lock, Fort Hunter, October 11, 1859. The other children were Frank and Addie who died in childhood,
and George A., who died at Hot Springs Ark., April 30, 1891. Ebenezer Howard, the father, was born at
Duanesburg January 1, 1827, and was a son of Samuel (born July 13, 1795, and died March 9, 1857) and
Marilla (Hatch) Howard (born January 27, 1798, died February 25, 1869). The great-grandfather was
John Howard, who lived and died in Duanesburg. The mother Ellen (Crane) Howard, was born at Newburgh May
16, 1832 and died at Fort Hunter, February 11, 1892. Charles Louis Howard married, June 9, 1880,
Kittie H., daughter of A. H. Burtch [and Charlotte A. Horton] of Fonda, she being a
graduate of the Elmira Female College. Their children are as follows: Harry, Helen, Mabel, and Ruth.
Mr. Howard was educated at Johnstown Union School and Amsterdam Academy. In August, 1880, he engaged in
the broom business with his father, brother and cousin. This industry was started in 1859 by E. Howard
and John D. Blood, and was continued until 1869, when Mr. Blood sold out his interest and removed to
Amsterdam. Mr. Howard enlarged and continued the business until 1873, when the factory was totally
destroyed by fire. Mr. Howard at once rebuilt and equipped the present brick factory, and later
associated with him his sons and his nephew. By the death of E. Howard and his son, George A., and the
withdrawal from the firm of Avery Howard, the business is now conducted solely by C. L. Howard under
the firm of E. Howard & Sons. The mill is equipped with modern improvements, including electric
light, and has an average capacity of 200 dozen per day, which during the busy season is increased from
fifty to ninety dozen above that. There are about seventy-five men constantly employed, and the product
is second to none. Ebenezer Howard was one of the active members of the Broom Manufacturers' Association.
He was a director in the Farmers' National Bank of Amsterdam, and Fort Hunter Suspension Bridge and was
one of the most valued members of the community.
Further Notes:
Silas H. Howard died August 9, 1893. He appears to have had at least the following children:
1. Charles Delos Howard, b. about 1842 in Broadalbin, d. January 27, 1891
2. William Taylor Howard, b. about 1844 in Duanesburgh, d. 6 May 1923
3. Avery Whitfield Howard, b. about 1846 in Glen
4. Ebenezer Howard, b. about 1848 in Sharon. d. 18 Jan 1920
5. George Howard, b. about 1849
6. Ruth Ann Howard, b. about 1859 in Florida, NY
7. Edward Howard, b. about 1862
(death dates above found online: Amsterdam, NY, USA Headlines Database) from
Mohawk Valley Web Development (www.mohawkvalleyweb.com)
Also Mrs. Charlotte F. Howard (wife of George) died December 6, 1896.
Pension index: Ebenezer Howard, Co. C, 153rd, NY Infantry, widow Julia A. Howard
Service record: Ebenezer Howard, Enlisted as a Private at the age of 17 in Company C, 153rd Infantry Regiment New York on 09 March 1865. Mustered out with company on 02 October 1865 in Savannah, GA.
More information on this family can be found in the World Family Tree (gedcom submissions from other
researchers) and on www.familysearch.org
I'm not related to the Howard's, but I believe my Fort Hunter relatives may have worked in a broom shop
that was associated with this family.
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