Jonas George (Rep.) HOWARD

JONAS GEORGE HOWARD, ex-member of Congress, third district, and lawyer at Jeffersonville, was born in Floyd County, near the then village of New Albany, May 22, 1825. His father, James (sic, Jonas) Howard, was a substantial farmer in Clark county, Indiana, whither he had emigrated from Champlain county, Vermont, in 1816. His mother, Margaret (Helmer) Howard was a native of Herkimer county, New York, where she removed with her parents to Indiana early in the history of the State. In the common and select schools, Mr. Howard obtained his early education. In his twentieth year he entered Asbury University, Greencastle, Indiana, where three years he pursued a scientific course. He then read law with Mr. John F. Read, of Jeffersonville, and in 1851, received his certificate of graduation in the Law Department of Indiana University, at Bloomington, having previously taken one course in Law Department at the University of Louisville. In 1852, Mr. Howard was admitted to the bar, and since time has devoted himself assiduously to the practice of his profession. His career as a lawyer has been marked with unqualified success; he ranks high as a counselor at the bar and is highly regarded by his associates in the profession. In numerous important cases he has been honored by an appointment from the Judge of his district to render judgment, and his decisions have always commanded the highest respect. In 1862 and 1864 he was elected to represent his district in the State legislature, on the Democratic ticket. In 1868 he was chosen presidential elector, and bore an able and effective part in canvassing the State for the Democratic candidates. In 1876 he was again called upon to take a place on the electoral ticket, and again his voice was heard in the field in support of his candidates and their principles. He has always taken a lively interest in politics but has generally declined the cares of official positions, until in 1884 he was chosen by the Democratic party of the third congressional district as the candidate for congress and was accordingly elected at the November election following, and took his seat in the Forty-Ninth Congress, and was re-elected to the Fifieth Congress in 1886. As a member of Congress, Mr. Howard was a hard worker and supported every measure that he regarded was to the people’s interest. On November 23, 1854, Mr. Howard married Miss Martha J. Roswell, daughter of James and Drusilla Roswell, of Clark county, Ind. She died February 19, 1872, leaving three children. September 8, 1873, Mr. Howard married Miss Elizabeth Roswell, sister of his former wife, by whom he has one child. Source: pp. 16-17, Biographical and Historical Souvenir for the Counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott Washington, Indiana, John M. Gresham Company, Chicago Printing Company, 1889. Jonas George Howard (May 22, 1825 - October 5, 1911) was a U.S. Representative from Indiana. Born on a farm near New Albany, Indiana, Howard attended private school, Indiana Asbury College (now De Pauw University), Greencastle, Indiana, and Louisville (Kentucky) Law School. He was graduated from the law department of Indiana University at Bloomington in 1851. He was admitted to the bar in 1852 and commenced the practice of law in Jeffersonville, Indiana. City attorney of Jeffersonville in 1854, 1865 from 1871 to 1873, and 1877-1879. He served as a member of the city council 1859-1863. He served as a member of the State house of representatives 1863-1866. Howard was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-ninth and Fiftieth Congresses (March 4, 1885 - March 3, 1889). He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1888. He returned to Jeffersonville, Indiana, where he resumed the practice of law. He also engaged in agricultural pursuits. He died in Jeffersonville, Indiana, October 5, 1911. He was interred in Walnut Ridge Cemetery. References United States Congress. "Jonas G. Howard (id: H000842)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.

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