From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I, page 327.
Brant & Fuller, 1890.


JOHN A. HOWARD

John A. Howard, prosecuting attorney of Ohio county, W. Va., was born 
in Steubenville, Ohio, May 27, 1857, the son of John and Mary 
(McGarrell) Howard, both natives of Ireland.  The father came to 
America when about nine years of age, and lived at Johnstown, Penn., 
until he had grown to manhood, when he settled in Steubenville.  He 
came to Ohio county in 1858, and resided upon a farm in the county 
until 1868, when he removed to Wheeling, where he died in 1887, at 
the age of fifty-eight years.  His widow, who came to this country at 
twenty years of age, now resides at Wheeling, in her fifty-fifth 
year.  The children of these parents were eight in number, four sons 
and four daughters, and all are living but one daughter.  The subject 
of this mention, John A. Howard, was reared in Wheeling and was 
educated in the public schools.  While a boy he found employment in 
the glass works, and during a portion of the time he was engaged in 
learning the trade of glass blowing he found time to take a 
commercial course in Frazer's Business college.  He was engaged in 
the glass works until 1883, when he was given a clerkship in the 
office of the secretary of state.  In May, 1885, he went to 
Charleston as the private secretary of Gov. Wilson, and while acting 
in the latter capacity he embraced the opportunity to read law in the 
governor's office, and was admitted to the bar at the capital.  In 
1887 he entered the University of Virginia, and took a course in law, 
and on the following January, began the practice of his profession at 
Wheeling, in partnership with Hon. J. B. Sommerville, the firm being 
known as Sommerville & Howard.  The office which he at present holds 
he was elected to in the fall of 1888 as the candidate of the 
democratic party, and took charge of on the 1st of January, 1889.  
Mr. Howard is prominent among the young attorneys of the city. 


(Linda Fluharty)