Person:Thomas Howard (157)

Identity

Many trees incorrectly identify Thomas Jefferson Howard's parents as Carey Howard and Rachel Sweeten. This is a result of confusing him with Robert Jefferson Howard. Both men were 7-year-old boys named Jefferson Howard in the 1880 census - the son of Elbert Howard and Emeline Hill, living in Lick Mountain, Conway, Arkansas, and the son of Carey Howard and Rachel Sweeten, living in Cadron Township, Van Buren, Arkansas.

Very little evidence is easily available online to determine which Jefferson Howard was Thomas Jefferson Howard (who married Martha Ellen Prince) and which was Robert Jefferson Howard (who married Sarah Lett) - however, such evidence does exist. The most significant evidence is that when Thomas Jefferson Howard married Martha Ellen Prince, permission for him to marry was granted by his father, E. J. Howard^[4].

The second piece of evidence is geography. The Elbert/Emeline Howard family was living in Lick Mountain, Conway County, Arkansas in 1880^[2], which is the same county where Thomas Jefferson Howard was living at the time of his marriage^[4] and his death^[5]. Furthermore, Thomas Jefferson Howard was living in Lick Mountain in 1920^[7] and 1930^[8]. Robert Jefferson Howard, husband of Sarah Lett, is known (from his obituary) to have been born in Cleburne County, Arkansas. In the 1880 census, Carey and Rachel Howard were living in Cadron Township, Van Buren County, Arkansas, which borders Cleburne County.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 [1], in Ancestry.com. Public Member Trees: (Note: not considered a reliable primary source).
2. ↑ Lick Mountain, Conway, Arkansas, in United States. 1880 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T9).

   Elbert J Howard, age 28, born in Tennessee
   Emeline Howard, age 22, born in Arkansas
   son: Jefferson Howard, age 7, born in Arkansas
   plus 3 other children

3.   Thomas Jefferson Howard, in United States. Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. (Washington, D.C.: National Archives Microfilm Publication M1509, 1987-1988).

   born 26 May 1873
   next of kin: Ellen Howard

4. ↑ ^4.0 4.1 Thomas J Howard and Ellen Prince, in Arkansas, United States. Arkansas Marriages, 1837-1944. (FamilySearch Record Search).

   married 16 Jul 1893 in Conway County, Arkansas
   Thomas was 20 years old, living in Center Ridge, Conway County, Arkansas
   permission for Thomas to marry was given by his father, E J Howard (see the bottom note on the right-hand side of image 684; the marriage bond, license, and certificate are in the next image)

5. ↑ Thomas J Howard, in Division of Vital Records, Arkansas Department of Health. Death Index, 1914-1950. (Ancestry.com).

   died 4 Sep 1932 in Conway County, Arkansas

6.   Thomas Jefferson Howard, in Find A Grave.
7. ↑ Lick Mountain, Conway, Arkansas, in United States. 1920 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T625).

   Jeff T Howard, age 46, born in Arkansas, father born in Tennessee, mother born in Arkansas
   wife: Ellen Howard, age 41, born in Arkansas, both parents born in Arkansas

8. ↑ Lick Mountain, Conway, Arkansas, in United States. 1930 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T626).

   Jeff T Howard, age 56, born in Arkansas, father born in Arkansas [incorrect], mother born in Arkansas
   wife: Ellen Howard, age 52, born in Arkansas, both parents born in Arkansas