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Howard
Centre Democrat April 22 1920, page 6
Industries and Institutions of Centre County, D. S. Maynard, 1877
"The borough of Howard is situated in the Bald Eagle valley fifteen and three tenths miles from lock cave in and eleven and five tenths from Bellefonte. The land in which the village is located Boeing's to several original surveys. At the time it was started to the owners were: William Tipton, Roland Curtin and James Butler, each of whom laid out and sold lots.
The first house built within the present limits of the borough was erected about the year 1800 by William Tipton. It is now on by A. S. Tipton, son of the former. About the same time Jacob and Joseph Baker, pages of Northumberland County, each build a house, the former the one owned and occupied by Rev. Nathan J. Mitchel, and the latter of the war now owned by the heirs of Samuel Leathers. About the year 1814, James Crawford built the house now owned by Jacob Z. Long. Not far from that time a long church was erected by the Mennonites, a set of German Baptists. It stood near the site of the present Methodist church. It was torn down about 1825. In 1843 the Methodist building frame church on the same lot which finally gave way to the fine brick edifice they now occupy a wreck did in 1875.
At a very early day, probably previous to 1800, a knoll is constructed at the east end of the present pro, and run for many years by John Miller. It eventually went to ruins and was replaced, a few years ago, but the present knoll owned by T. A. Long.
The borough derived its name from the township in which it is located - that the so-called in honor of the great philanthropist, John Howard.
The first store and Howard borough was started in 1830, by H. B. Packer, brother of Gov. Packer. When he ordered his first stock of goods you need to trip to Philadelphia on horseback. Soon after opening his store he was appointed Postmaster, the first in the place.
Howard was incorporated as a pro and he teamed 64. The first purchase was S. F. Kline, who now also occupies that position. Jacob Baker, Esq., was first appointed justice of the peace in 1840, and is held the office continuously ever since. He is the oldest citizen of the place. George Sperring, Esq., is the other justice for the borough. He is a native of England, and came to this country and 1835.
The following are the man now engaged in business and Howard; Lucas & Bro., S. F. Kline, Robert Cooke and B. Webber & Co., dry goods and groceries; B. F. Troxel and John Deal, tinware and stoves; A. G. Shope, jewel are; H. C. Holter, cabinetmaker and undertaker; B. F. Holter and Thomas Mallory, blacksmiths; Samuel Brickley, shoe store; each be Grover, wagon maker and butcher; L. R. Hensyl, physician; D. W. Pletcher, cabinetmaker and stair builder; James Mehaffey, confectioner and postmaster; R. V. Shaffer, landlord - proprietor Syracuse House; Howard A. Moore, druggist.
To place an astute churches, Methodist Episcopal and Disciple, one public school building, a good structure, with accommodations for two schools. It has no secret order except Odd Fellows; three ministers, Reverend's N. J. Mitchell, Disciple, W. E. Detwiler, Evangelical, and J. B. Akers, Methodist.
Near the town there is being constructed, at the expense of the county, a fine bridge across the Bald Eagle creek. It is to be build entirely of iron and stone, and will be a substantial structure. It will also cost about thirty-five hundred dollars.
There is one old and highly respected citizen of the place who deserve something more than a passing notice. The Rev. Nathan J. Mitchel ahead of the Disciple church and Central Pennsylvania, was born March 2, 1808, and Washington County, Pa., and came to Howard and 1832, from stark county, Ohio, where he has just married a sister of the Governor Packer. Mr. Mitchell is a man of great intelligence, being well informed on general topics, as well as the doctrines of his church, and probably has had many warm personal friends as any other man in the county."
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