Anthony Howells
Encyclopedia
Anthony Howells was a businessman and Democratic politician from the U. S. State of Ohio
who was Ohio State Treasurer
1878-1880 and a state senator.
, Glamorganshire, Wales
. His father was superintendent of mines in that area. He attended the limited free schools of his town, and, at age 12, a private school in Llandybie
, Carmarthenshire
for one year. He then began working in the mines. At age 14 he was responsible for his own affairs, and decided the United States offered better prospects. He worked underground until age 18 in 1850, when he sailed to America, and moved immediately to Youngstown, Ohio
.
In Youngstown, Howells resumed coal mining in the mines of David Tod
, later Governor of Ohio. In the spring of 1853 he moved to California
to mine, but returned to Youngstown the following spring, and worked in the mines until fall of 1855. Howells tired of mining, and opened a grocery and provision house, which continued until 1869, with the exception of the year 1865, when he engaged in coal mining in Duquoin, Illinois. In 1869, Howells was offered an investment and management position of two mines in Massillon, Ohio
. The Howells Coal Company ended up employing six hundred men.
Howell's first attempts at politics were Democratic nominations for treasurer of Mahoning County in 1866, and state senator in the ninth district in 1868. He lost both times in largely Republican districts. In 1875 he was a candidate for Ohio State Treasurer
at the state convention, but failed to receive the nomination. In 1877, he was nominated, and elected to a two year term as state treasurer. He failed at re-election in 1879.
As reward for his party activity, Howells was appointed Postmaster of Massillon in 1886, but resigned after two years. In 1888 he was nominated a Presidential elector at the state convention, but the state went Republican. In 1889, he was elected to the Ohio State Senate for the twenty first district, Stark
and Carroll
counties, for the 1890-91 term. He lost his bid for re-election to his Republican opponent in 1891.
In 1893, Howells was appointed United States consul to Cardiff, Wales by President Cleveland
, where he represented the government for four years. In 1901 he was nominated for Ohio Lieutenant Governor but lost the general election. He then retired from politics.
In 1901, Howells sold his mining company, and in 1902, began construction of the Hotel Courtland in Canton, Ohio
, which was completed in 1905. He lived there for three years before moving to Cleveland, Ohio
.
Howells was initiated to the I.O.O.F. in 1887 and Knights of Pythias
in 1888. He also belonged to the Welsh Irorites. He was married to Elizabeth James in 1854, and had three sons and a daughter. Elizabeth died in 1890.
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
who was Ohio State Treasurer
Ohio State Treasurer
-List of Ohio State Treasurers:...
1878-1880 and a state senator.
Biography
Anthony Howells was born in 1832 at DowlaisDowlais
Dowlais is a village and community of the county borough of Merthyr Tydfil, in Wales. As of 2001, it has a population of 6646.Dowlais is notable within Wales and Britain for its historic association with ironworking; once employing, through the Dowlais Iron Company, roughly 5,000 people, the works...
, Glamorganshire, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. His father was superintendent of mines in that area. He attended the limited free schools of his town, and, at age 12, a private school in Llandybie
Llandybie
Llandybie is a community, and a large village two miles north of Ammanford in Carmarthenshire, Wales.The latest Ordnance Survey map the Grid reference at the centre of the village is SN 617 154...
, Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
for one year. He then began working in the mines. At age 14 he was responsible for his own affairs, and decided the United States offered better prospects. He worked underground until age 18 in 1850, when he sailed to America, and moved immediately to Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
.
In Youngstown, Howells resumed coal mining in the mines of David Tod
David Tod
David Tod was a politician and industrialist from the U.S. state of Ohio. As the 25th Governor of Ohio, Tod gained recognition for his forceful and energetic leadership during the American Civil War....
, later Governor of Ohio. In the spring of 1853 he moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to mine, but returned to Youngstown the following spring, and worked in the mines until fall of 1855. Howells tired of mining, and opened a grocery and provision house, which continued until 1869, with the exception of the year 1865, when he engaged in coal mining in Duquoin, Illinois. In 1869, Howells was offered an investment and management position of two mines in Massillon, Ohio
Massillon, Ohio
Massillon is a city located in Stark County in the U.S. state of Ohio, approximately 8 miles to the west of Canton, Ohio, 20 miles south of Akron, Ohio, and 50 miles south of Cleveland, Ohio. The population was 32,149 at the 2010 census....
. The Howells Coal Company ended up employing six hundred men.
Howell's first attempts at politics were Democratic nominations for treasurer of Mahoning County in 1866, and state senator in the ninth district in 1868. He lost both times in largely Republican districts. In 1875 he was a candidate for Ohio State Treasurer
Ohio State Treasurer
-List of Ohio State Treasurers:...
at the state convention, but failed to receive the nomination. In 1877, he was nominated, and elected to a two year term as state treasurer. He failed at re-election in 1879.
As reward for his party activity, Howells was appointed Postmaster of Massillon in 1886, but resigned after two years. In 1888 he was nominated a Presidential elector at the state convention, but the state went Republican. In 1889, he was elected to the Ohio State Senate for the twenty first district, Stark
Stark County, Ohio
Stark County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2010 census, the population was 375,586. It is included in the Canton-Massillon, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area....
and Carroll
Carroll County, Ohio
Carroll County is a county located in the state of Ohio. As of 2010, the population was 28,836, no change from 2000. Its county seat is Carrollton. It is named for Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence....
counties, for the 1890-91 term. He lost his bid for re-election to his Republican opponent in 1891.
In 1893, Howells was appointed United States consul to Cardiff, Wales by President Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
, where he represented the government for four years. In 1901 he was nominated for Ohio Lieutenant Governor but lost the general election. He then retired from politics.
In 1901, Howells sold his mining company, and in 1902, began construction of the Hotel Courtland in Canton, Ohio
Canton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, which was completed in 1905. He lived there for three years before moving to Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
.
Howells was initiated to the I.O.O.F. in 1887 and Knights of Pythias
Knights of Pythias
The Knights of Pythias is a fraternal organization and secret society founded at Washington, DC, on 19 February 1864.The Knights of Pythias was the first fraternal organization to receive a charter under an act of the United States Congress. It was founded by Justus H. Rathbone, who had been...
in 1888. He also belonged to the Welsh Irorites. He was married to Elizabeth James in 1854, and had three sons and a daughter. Elizabeth died in 1890.