OBITUARY: John Howerth (1827 - 1915) Resident of Columbus, Bartholomew County, Indiana Published in the newspaper: Publication dates: June 1915 Photocopy of newspaper articles in submitter’s possession (passed down in family) See submitter’s notes at end “Uncle Johnny” Howerth Dead Died Tuesday Night at Home of Daughter, Mrs. Albert Perry, Of East Columbus WAS KNOWN AS REVIVAL SINGER AND CHURCH MAN ACTIVITY IN RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS SECURED HIM WIDE ACQUAINTANCE – WAS STAUNCH MEMBER OF THE METHODIST CHURCH John Howerth, aged 88 years and 8 months, known universally in this and surrounding counties as “Uncle Johnny,” a much loved and respected old man, passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Albert Perry, 101 Grant Avenue, East Columbus, at 8:15 o’clock Tuesday night. The funeral services will be conducted from the East Columbus Methodist Church, of which Mr. Howerth was a staunch member, at 2:30 o’clock Friday afternoon by Rev. S. H. Reynolds, pastor of the church. Burials will be in the Garland Brook cemetery. Seven children survive the venerable Mr. Howerth. They are I. W. Howerth, professor of education and director of the extension work in the state university at Berkley, California; Mrs. George D. Tilton, Collyer, Kansas; Mrs. E. M. Conde, Delphos, Kansas; Mrs. George T. Long, Selden, Kansas; Mrs. J. T. Patterson, Indianapolis; Mrs. Albert Perry, East Columbus; and Mrs. George A. Goetz, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. All the children were at the bedside when Mr. Howerth died. Mr. Howerth had been well known throughout this county and Brown County for years as a tireless worker in the Methodist Church, and as a singer at revival meetings. As such, he has visited practically all the churches and communities of the county and was known and loved by all. His death was said to have been in keeping with his long, unselfish life. Through his three weeks of illness he never murmured a word of complaint, and he maintained to the last moment the faith that had upheld him throughout his life. Mr. Howerth was born in Bolton, England. He came to America in the year 1830, and lived variously in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio for several years. However, 61 years of his life were spent in Indiana, first in Brown County and then in Columbus and East Columbus. Mr. Howerth dwelt in Illinois a short time. Mr. Howerth was proprietor of the old Madison House at the corner of Fourth and Franklin Streets for a few years. He also served in postmastership in Brown County during the presidencies of Lincoln and Buchanan. In 1850 Mr. Howerth was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Amelia Bright in Ohio. Mrs. Howerth died in 1885, and he never remarried again. Mr. Howerth was a man whose death will be grieved wherever he was known. But the influence of his life will live and will continue to be an example for right living. Submitter’s notes: Parents of John Howerth were Samuel Howerth (born 1797, Lance Bolton, England) and Sarah Bolton (born 13 September 1801, Burghwallis, Yorks County, England). John Howerth was born 18 October 1826 in Bolton, England (near the city of Manchester). The family moved to America in about 1830. John Howerth died 15 June 1915 in Columbus, Bartholomew County, IN. Parents of Elizabeth Amelia Bright were Thomas Bright and Eleanor “Ellen” Davis. Elizabeth Amelia (Bright) Howerth was born 18 June 1832. She died 30 December 1885 in Sims, Illinois and was buried in the Dickeysville cemetery. After the death of his first wife, Thomas Bright then married _____ Hancher. The children of Thomas Bright and Ellen Davis were John Bright, Elizabeth Amelia Bright, and Mary Bright. Mary Bright married Mr. ___________Satterthwaite; they had a son named Tillus. Brothers of Thomas Bright were Fleming Bright and Henry Bright. Family notes state “Thomas and Ellen Davis Bright, born in Belmont County, Ohio . . . “ – not certain if both were born there, or only Ellen. John Howerth and Elizabeth Amelia Bright were married 09 August 1850 in Belmont County, Ohio. John Howerth and his wife Elizabeth Amelia Bright were the parents of 12 children, five of whom either died in infancy or did not live beyond childhood. These children were: Sarah Ellen Howerth, born 09 August 1851 (or possibly 19 August) and died at age 83 in Collyer,Trego County, KS on 09 (or 08) December 1934. She married George Davis Tilton in her parents home in Oak Ridge, Brown County, IN on 04 February 1869. This couple lived to celebrate their 64th wedding anniversary in 1933. George Davis Tilton was born 17 October 1848 in Coshocton County, OH. His parents were Louis C. Tilton (born 07 January 1815; died 23 January 1893) and Elizabeth Lacy (born 14 April 1814; died 12 February 1896); they were married in Coshocton Co, OH 24 January 1838. The children of Sarah Ellen Howerth and George Davis Tilton were: Ida May Tilton born in about 1869. She 09 October 1871 at the age of 2 years. James Elmer (called Elmer) Tilton, born 19 December 1871, Brown Co, IN and died 04 January 1951 in Collyer, Trego County, KS. He married Clara B. Austen of Lucas, KS on 31 December 1893. Their children: 4 daughters Florence, Minnie, Bertha, and Ellen. This couple lived to celebrate their 50th anniversary. His wife died 10 May 1962. John Lewis (called John) Tilton, born 13 August 1874 in Wayne Co, Illinois and died 27 August 1960 at Collyer, Trego Co, KS. He married Mary L. Sparks of Zurich, KS on 21 September 1898. This couple had 2 sons and 2 daughters who died in infancy. In addition they had 3 other sons (George S., Ernest, and Jay) and 3 other daughters (Mae, Mary, and Viola). This couple lived to celebrate their 50th anniversary. His wife died 11 July 1959. Ira Clement (called Ira)Tilton was born 04 December 1877 in Wayne Co, Illinois. He married Esther Eichenberger of Tribune, KS. This couple had 3 sons (Arthur, Victor, and Karl) and 2 daughters (Frances and Irene). Esther (Eichenberger) Tilton died 29 May 1949. Luella Florence (called Ella)Tilton was born 24 October 1879 in Brown County, IN. She married John Ralph (called Ralph) Austin of Collyer, Trego County, KS on 22 November 1900. This couple had one son Claud Ulrich and one daughter Elva Eveline. This couple lived to celebrate their 64th anniversary. George Clarence (called Clarence) was born 23 March 1890 in Trego Co, KS. He married Estella Brown. They had two sons: Lloyd and Everett. Albert Woods “Bert” Tilton was born 09 November 1891 in Trego Co, KS. He married Viola A. Tilton (no relation) of Glasco, KS on 20 September 1915. This couple had 4 sons (Darrell, Ray, David, and John Albert) and 2 daughters (Edith and Thelma). This couple lived to celebrate their 50th anniversary. Lillian Olive Tilton was born 23 August 1894 in Trego Co, KS. She married William H. Curry of Baltimore on 01 May 1916. This couple lived to celebrate their 50th anniversary. This couple had no children. Her husband died 28 May 1966. Mary Elizabeth “Libby” Bright, born 12 February 1853 (or 12 Oct 1853?). She died 12 January 1859. Ursula Jane “Sulie” Howerth, born 20 February 1855 (or possibly 10 February). She died 14 April 1924. She was married to Walsh Craven in 1882 in Simms, Illinois; they had at least one child, Lula Mae. After the death of Mr. Craven, she married a James H. King on 01 January 1874 in Bartholomew Co, IN and had a daughter Cora. Martha “Mat” Ann Howerth, born 07 February 1857. She married AlfredClark in Bartholomew Co, IN on 19 November 1872. Amanda Howerth, born 27 June 1859. She died 14 July 1859. Ira Woods Howerth, born 18 June 1860. He married 16 or 21 August 1881 to Cora Olive Cisne in Wayne Co, Illinois. This couple lived to old age and are buried in Greeley, Colorado. Ida May Howerth, born 21 April 1862. She died 03 August 1864. Clara Campsdelle Howerth, born 09 April 1864. She died 22 December 1866. Susan Louvira “Vida” Howerth, born 08 April 1866 in Bartholomew Co, IN. She died 06 November 1930 in Bartholomew Co, IN. She married 21 August 1884 to Joseph Thomas Patterson of Delphos, Kansas. The marriage occurred in either Pin Oak or Covington, Illinois. Joseph Thomas Patterson was born 20 October 1858 in Bartholomew County, IN. This couple had the following children: Stella Elzora, Bessie Frances, Cora Alberta, Bessie May, and Elva Marie. Stella Carrie Howerth, born 25 June 1870 and died 17 February 1960. She married Albert Perry in Bartholomew Co, IN on 14 September 1890. (NOTE: More information on Stella Carrie (Howerth) Perry will accompany her obituary – see separate e-mail). Minnie Elzora Howerth, born 24 October 1872. She married George A. Goetz on 31 January 1892 in Bartholomew County, IN. NOTE: Sources for this information include a “memoir” written by Stella Carrie (Howerth) Perry which has been passed down in my family, notes from the Howerth Family Bible as posted at http://www.biblerecords.com/howerth.html, and a 2001 posting by Bart Tilton at http://genforum.genealogy.com/cgi-bin/print.cgi?tilton::751.html.