George G. Howe was born in Cayuga County, New York, in 1825. George was married to Emily Angeline Nutting on May 4, 1854, in Northampton, Massachusetts. Here he learned the brick trade.
George G. Howe moved to Minnesota in 1855.
The 1860 United States census showed G. G. Howe (age 35, born in New York, mason) married to Emilie A. (age 39, born in Massachusetts) and living in Faribault, Minnesota. A daughter, Kate J. (age 3, born in Minnesota), also lived with the couple.
In 1863 George worked in a brickyard in Faribault, Minnesota.
The 1870 United States census showed George G. How (age 45, born in New York, surveyor) married to Emily A. (age 49, born in Massachusetts) and living in Faribault, Minnesota. Children Milton B. (age 9, born in Minnesota) and Mary N. (age 9, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
The 1875 Minnesota census showed Geo. G. Howe (age 49, born in New York) married to Emily A. (age 54, born in Massachusetts) and living in Faribault, Minnesota. Children Mary N. (age 14, born in Minnesota) and Milton B. (age 14, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
George Howe was an agent for Lewis Bischoffsheim (a land speculator). George moved to Todd County in 1878 and platted the townsite of Clarissa on July 21, 1879.
The 1880 United States census showed George How (age 54, born in New York, land agent) married to Emily A. (age 59, born in Massachusetts) and living in Faribault, Minnesota. Children Mary (age 19, born in Minnesota) and Milton (age 19, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
The 1885 Minnesota census showed Geo. G. Howe (age 59, born in New York) married to Emily A. (age 63, born in Massachusetts) and living in Faribault, Minnesota. A daughter, Mary N. (age 24, born in Minnesota), also lived with the couple.
George Howe moved to the state of Washington in 1890, where he died in 1897.
Brought Home For Burial. The remains of Mrs. George G. Howe arrived at Faribault recently for burial. One week ago Mr. Howe and family started for Waterville, Wash. When near Drummond, Mont., they met with an accident whereby Mrs. Howe lost her life. Miss Benson, who was traveling with Mrs. Howe, was somewhat injured, but she was able to return to Faribault. (The Appeal, Saturday, July 12, 1890, Volume 6, Page 3)
Milton B. Howe (son) is a member of the firm of Rogers and Howe, pioneers and leading merchants of Waterville. The firm does a large business and in addition to merchandise have been leaders in various other enterprises in this county. Milton B. Howe was born in Faribault, Minnesota, on October 27, 1860. His father, George G. Howe, was a native of New York and the paternal grandfather of our subject was born in South Farmingham, Massachusetts, and the wife of that gentleman was born in New York state. The father was a surveyor and for many years followed his profession in Minnesota, doing a large portion of the government surveying in the southern part of that state. He was several years in the land department of the Great Northern railroad. Leaving there in 1890, he came to Waterville and joined his son. The mother of our subject was Emily A. (Nutting) Howe, a native of South Amherst, Massachusetts, and descended from the original noted family that was prominent in colonial times. She was killed in an accident on the Great Northern railroad, while enroute to her husband at Waterville, in 1890.
Our subject received his education in Faribault, Minnesota, completing there the high school course. After his graduation he entered the employ of J. B. Wheeler a wholesale and retail merchant, and for seven years continued in that capacity, five of the years being spent in the management of the office. In March, 1888, he came to Waterville and soon opened his present business with his brother-in-law, A. L. Rogers, who is named elsewhere in this work. Since that time, the firm has been doing a large business and now own a great deal of property in this part of the city. In June, 1897, at Spokane, Mr. Howe married Miss Bessie L., daughter of Charles H. and Mary (Lockwood) Armstrong, natives of New York and now residing in Spokane. The mother’s father was an Episcopal minister in China for two years and is now deceased. Mrs. Howe has two brothers, Edwin and Henry, and one sister, Josephine. To Mr. and Mrs. Howe, two children have been born: Margaret, aged five; and Laurence, aged six months. Mr. Howe is a member of the A. F. & A. M., being a past master. Politically, he is a Republican and has been delegate to the conventions and he is now serving as director of the high school and chairman of the school board of Waterville. He was several years city councilman. Mrs. Howe is a member of the Episcopal church. (An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, Embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin Counties, State of Washington, Western Historical Publishing Company, 1904)