William Alanson Howard (April 8, 1813 – April 10, 1880) served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Michigan from March 4, 1855 to March 3, 1859 and from May 15, 1860 to March 3, 1861. Howard was the sixth Governor of the Dakota Territory from 1878 to 1880.
William Howard was born at Hinesburg, Vermont. When he was fourteen, Howard apprenticed to a cabinet maker at Albion, New York. He graduated from Middlebury College at Middlebury, Vermont in 1839. Howard taught school before moving to Michigan for health reasons. Howard spent a year teaching mathematics at the University of Michigan. Then, Howard studied law and was admitted to the Michigan bar in 1842 before practicing law in Detroit. In 1850 he was a lead defense attorney for those accused of plotting the burning of the Michigan Central Depot in Detroit.[1]
After leaving Congress, he became Chairman of the Michigan Republican Party from 1862 to 1868. From 1869 to 1871, Howard served as land commissioner of the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railway. In 1871, Howard ran unsuccessfully as a Republican candidate for the United States Senate. From 1872 to 1878, Howard was the land commissioner of the North Pacific Railway.
In 1878, Howard was appointed as Governor of Dakota Territory by President Rutherford B. Hayes. The appointment was approved April 12, 1878. At the age of sixty-six, Howard came to Dakota Territory and served as Governor until the time of his death, spending the last part of his life residing in Yankton, Dakota Territory. Howard died in Washington, D.C., aged 67.
Referencesedit
^Robert Conot. American Odyssey. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1986. p. 44, 55.
william, alanson, howard, april, 1813, april, 1880, served, member, united, states, house, representatives, from, michigan, from, march, 1855, march, 1859, from, 1860, march, 1861, howard, sixth, governor, dakota, territory, from, 1878, 1880, william, howardgo. William Alanson Howard April 8 1813 April 10 1880 served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Michigan from March 4 1855 to March 3 1859 and from May 15 1860 to March 3 1861 Howard was the sixth Governor of the Dakota Territory from 1878 to 1880 William HowardGovernor of the Dakota TerritoryIn office April 12 1878 April 10 1880Preceded byJohn L PenningtonSucceeded byNehemiah G OrdwayMember of the U S House of Representatives from Michigan s 1st districtIn office May 15 1860 March 3 1861Preceded byGeorge CooperSucceeded byBradley F GrangerIn office March 4 1855 March 3 1859Preceded byDavid StuartSucceeded byGeorge CooperPersonal detailsBornWilliam Alanson Howard 1813 04 08 April 8 1813Hinesburg Vermont U S DiedApril 10 1880 1880 04 10 aged 67 Washington D C U S Political partyWhig Before 1854 Opposition 1854 1857 Republican 1857 1880 EducationMiddlebury College BA Biography editWilliam Howard was born at Hinesburg Vermont When he was fourteen Howard apprenticed to a cabinet maker at Albion New York He graduated from Middlebury College at Middlebury Vermont in 1839 Howard taught school before moving to Michigan for health reasons Howard spent a year teaching mathematics at the University of Michigan Then Howard studied law and was admitted to the Michigan bar in 1842 before practicing law in Detroit In 1850 he was a lead defense attorney for those accused of plotting the burning of the Michigan Central Depot in Detroit 1 In 1854 Howard was elected as an Opposition Party candidate to represent Michigan s 1st congressional district in the 34th Congress and was re elected two years later He successfully contested the election in 1859 of George B Cooper to the 36th Congress and served from May 15 1860 until March 3 1861 was not a candidate for renomination in 1860After leaving Congress he became Chairman of the Michigan Republican Party from 1862 to 1868 From 1869 to 1871 Howard served as land commissioner of the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railway In 1871 Howard ran unsuccessfully as a Republican candidate for the United States Senate From 1872 to 1878 Howard was the land commissioner of the North Pacific Railway In 1878 Howard was appointed as Governor of Dakota Territory by President Rutherford B Hayes The appointment was approved April 12 1878 At the age of sixty six Howard came to Dakota Territory and served as Governor until the time of his death spending the last part of his life residing in Yankton Dakota Territory Howard died in Washington D C aged 67 References edit Robert Conot American Odyssey Detroit Wayne State University Press 1986 p 44 55 External links editUnited States Congress William Alanson Howard id H000847 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Profile PoliticalGraveyard com Accessed March 28 2024 U S House of Representatives Preceded byDavid Stuart Member of the U S House of Representativesfrom Michigan s 1st congressional district1855 1859 Succeeded byGeorge Cooper Preceded byGeorge Cooper Member of the U S House of Representativesfrom Michigan s 1st congressional district1860 1861 Succeeded byBradley F Granger Party political offices Preceded byE C Walker Chair of the Michigan Republican Party1862 1868 Succeeded byJohn J Bagley Political offices Preceded byJohn L Pennington Governor of the Dakota Territory1878 1880 Succeeded byNehemiah G Ordway Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Alanson Howard amp oldid 1216087250, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
