George Howe - October 12, 1891
George Howe was born at Beekman Town, Clinton Co., NY August 21, 1825. He learned the printer trade when a young boy at Dansville, under a gentlemen by the name of Stevens. From there he went to Angelica and in 1840 was employed as journeyman printer on the Angelica Reporter, published by Horace R. Purdy. While there, he met Miss Abigail Brown, so whom he was married in 1848. One child was born to them, Mr. David Howe now residing in Williamsport PA. Mrs. Abigail Brown Howe died in Wellsville, July 15, 1853.
Deceased was a Deputy Sheriff for one year the then later for a time published a paper in Wellsboro, PA after which he returned to Angelica and remained until 1848, when he tried the fortunes of Western life for two years.
Mr. Howe was with the late A.N. Cole when the first Republican paper ever published, Mr. Cole’s Free Press, was started at Belfast. For months money was received from Gerritt Smith to conduct and keep alive this paper. He was with him when it was removed to Wellsville. In 1861, Mr. Howe went to Newburgh, NY and was employed in journalistic work for a year and a half and thence he went to the lower Oil country, and remained until 1865, when he again returned to Wellsville. He purchased of Dick Shant(?) a small paper known as The Weekly Budget, that will be well remembered by citizens of Wellsville. Soon after this The Wellsville Times was started by Mr. Howe and conducted by him until the paper was consolidated with the Allegany County Reporter under the management of George Dickinson. Deceased remained with the paper until it passed into the hands of Enos W. Barnes and still continued with him, a faithful employee for years, and until his health unfitted him for such confining work, and later was engaged in mercantile business for several years in Wellsville, and at the time his health began to fail he was conducting a job printing office.
Mr. Howe at different times held offices of trust and responsibility in Wellsville having served upon the Board of Trustees and was twice chosen President of the village.
Deceased was twice married, his second wife being Miss Emma McCreary, of Wellsville, their marriage taking place in 1855.
For something over fourteen months past, he had been confined to his house and most of the time to his bed, by a complication of stomach and kidney troubles that finally resulting in his death on Monday last. During this time as during his failing health the faithfulness, are and devotion of his wife are matters that are so well known, as to hardly need mention and yet they should not pass unnoticed. Geo. Howe as a man of the most generous impulses and his life, though one of hard work, cast about him much of sunshine and pleasure to others, and his death makes a break in the family circle never again to be re-united here.
From Wellsville Daily Reporter - transcribed by Mary Rhodes