John Howell

     John was born on Sunday, 1 December 1811 in Minisink Town, Orange County, New York. He was the son of Parshall Howell II and Elizabeth Horton. John married Mariett Decker on 8 February 1833 in Hainsville, Sandyton Township, Sussex County, New Jersey. They were pioneer settlers in the township of Stockbridge, Ingham County, Michigan settling on land he obtained from the government. He had to clear the land and built a log cabin & later erected a frame house which is still standing in 1996. John was a farmer. He raised cranberries and took them to Dexter to trade them. He was noted as a staunch Democrat. He also owned forty acres of land across the road from his land in Stockbridge in Unadilla Township, Livingston County. 30 July 1850, John and his wife, Mariett, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Stockbridge Township. Enumerated in this household were John Howell [38 New York], his wife: Marietta [36 New York], children: Abigail E. [16 New Jersey], Parson [14 New Jersey], Emily J. [12 New Jersey], William H. [9 Michigan], Athaline [7 Michigan], & Sarah M. [1 Michigan].⁷ 6 June 1860, John and his wife, Mariett, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Stockbridge Township. Enumerated in this household were John Howell [48 New York], his wife: M. [46 New Jersey], children: E.J. [22 Michigan], W,H. [18 Michigan], A. [15 Michigan], J.E. [13 Michigan], S.A. [11 Michigan], Z. [8 Michigan], & I.W. [6 Michigan].⁸ 24 June 1880, John and his wife, Mariett, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Stockbridge Township. Enumerated in this household were John Howell [69 New York CT & NY], his wife: Mariett [65 New York NY & NY], children: William H. [28 Michigan], & Atheline [35 Michigan].⁹ John's wife, Mariett, died on 19 September 1888 in Stockbridge leaving him a widower. John died on Monday, 13 April 1896 in Stockbridge Township at his home at age 84 years, 4 months and 12 days of paralysis.

Obituary: Mr. John Howell was born the first day of December, the year 1811 in the state of New Jersey. He was married to Miss Mariet Decker, Feb. 9th, 1833. They moved to Michigan September 9th, 1838, and located first in the township of Dexter, and remained there until January 1839, then moved to the township of Stockbridge, where he resided until his death, which occurred April 13.
There were nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Howell, of which five are living to mourn the loss of a father .. three sisters and two brothers, all younger than himself, survive him. Funeral was held yesterday, at Plainfield Presbyterian Church, and the ramains laid to rest in the Plainfield Cemetery.¹⁰

He was buried in Unadilla Township, Livingston County, Michigan, in the Plainfield Village Cemetery.^11,12