1908 Howe history

Brief Resume of its History, Resources, Industries—And Citizens

Originally published in the Howe Herald, approximately 1908.

“Far to the south, my countrymen, lies the fairest and richest domain of the earth,” Grayson County, Texas, and particularly the country surrounding Howe bears living testimony of the truthfulness of that statement by the lamented Grady of the Boston Mercantile Society. Certainly there is no section to which nature has been more generous in its distribution of good qualities than this. The productiveness of its deep, black, waxy soil is unsurpassed. No costly process of irrigation, no dry farming experiments, no fertilizing stimulus are necessary to its successful growth of abundant crops. No country more susceptible to diversity in products, no section with a larger percent of tillable soil. The principal resources of the country tributary to Howe are corn, oats, wheat and cotton, the staples that rule the world’s commerce, but it is no less adapted to the successful cultivation of many other crops equally as valuable for home consumption, but not as much in demand for exportation, to say nothing of its fruits, vegetables, stock raising, etc. Howe is also the home of the famous Texas red rust-proof oats, so much in demand throughout the Southern States, and its heavy shipments of this commodity alone has brought the town into commercial prominence with the grain dealers of the country.

Howe is located ten miles south of Sherman, Grayson County, Texas on the Houston and Texas Central steam railway and the Sherman-Dallas Interurban line. It occupies the highest elevation between Denison and the Gulf, being 860 feet above the level of the sea. The town’s history dates from 1874 when a small shanty was erected on the3 site of Will Conn’s present home in the northern part of the town and a small stock of groceries opened under the firm name of Root & Page. Six months later these gentlemen were succeeded by S.W. Young who enlarged the quarters and added a stock of general merchandise. The place was named Summit because of its high eminence and commanding view of the surrounding country, the government later establishing a post office by that title. A platform of railroad cross ties served as a depot for Summit during its brief existence. The railroad company desired to establish a town on the property now owned and occupied by J.F. Yeury, (editor’s note: this is the present are of Cassandra and Castlegate Streets) but were unsuccessful in their efforts to obtain possession of the land. The company finally accepted an offer from Jabez Haning to locate the station on its present site. Mr. Haning then resided in a cottage near where the Baptist Church is located (editor’s note: this is now the property of 200 S. Denny) and owned a large tract of land including that on which Howe is situated. He donated to the railroad every alternate lot of the old town plot with the understanding

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that they erect a depot on same. Summit passed into history and the post office was moved to Howe, named in honor of Maj. F.M. Howe, the n general superintendent of the H. & T.C. Ry.

About this time Maj. J.S. Guinn, who now conducts a rooming house contiguous to the Herald office, appeared one the scene and erected an inn, and, by the way, it is worthy of notice here that Maj. Guinn and S. W. Young, the town’s first settlers are still numbered among our eight hundred souls, have a continuously followed the occupation they entered when they first cast their fortunes this way.

Howe’s growth has been slow but sure, the settlers showing their faith in its future by increasing their property and improving their holdings. There has never been a real boom here, nor no great fluctuations in property values. Its development has been along the lines that are calculated to insure stability and permanency. While it is true that its trade field has been reduced by other railroads traversing its former large territory, it still lays just claim to superior advantages as a trading point and a market for the products of the rich lands surrounding it. Howe is an ideal town in which to settle down and enjoy life. Its moral tone is above the average and its educational, social and religious conditions will compare favorably with any town on this mundane sphere. It is comparatively free from the contaminating influences and temptations that assail the youth of the cities, yet it has reached a point in its progress and enlightenment and educational advantages that affords the best opportunities for the development of the character and the installation of these qualities of mind and heart necessary to desirable citizenship.

Four religious denominations are represented here—Baptist, Christians, Presbyterians and Methodists—all having their houses of worship. There is also a spirit of tolerance among the different churches that is commendable. In the Herald’s directory, published elsewhere in this issue, will be found a schedule of their stated meetings and the names of their pastors and Sunday school superintendents.

With its high altitude, healthful climate, brotherly citizenship, excellent schools and splendid opportunities for investment and money-making, Howe offers to the home-seeker inducements he cannot find elsewhere.