Solomon Howe
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(Taken from the HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK  BY L. H. EVERTS 1879)

Solomon Howe comes of Revolutionary stock, his grandfather, Moses Howe, of New Hampshire, having served in several of the struggles with Great Britain that culminated triumphantly by the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776.  The father of Solomon was Aaron Howe, who was born in the State of New Hampshire, and subsequently resided in Madison and Tompkins Counties, and finally in Cattaraugus County, where he died in the year 1836.  His widow survived him until March 6, 1870, when she too went to her eternal rest, full of years and respectability.

Solomon Howe was born in Groton, Tompkins Co., N. Y., May 4, 1818.  At the age of twelve years his parents removed to the town of Yorkshire, Cattaraugus Co., where he still resides.  The facilities for education were limited, and school-houses few and far between, so that he received but a small modicum of learning.  The little he did get, however, he was greatly increased by subsequent reading and observation.

Mr. Howe has been twice married: first, to Minerval Gould of New Hudson, Allegany Co., N. Y., in 1845.  She died June 27, 1865.  His second wife was Lucia E., daughter of George Graham, Esq., a respected pioneer of Yorkshire, Oct. 7, 1869.  They have two children,--Ormond, born Nov. 20, 1870, and Minerva, born June 28, 1872.  Both are living.

In politics, Mr. Howe is a Democrat of the Jacksonian school.  He has been frequently elected to town offices and often honored by his party with nominations to county offices, but owing to the overwhelming Republican majority, although always running ahead of his ticket, it has been impossible to secure an election.  In 1873, he was elected a member of the Board of Supervisors, and again to the same position in 1876.  He has also held several minor offices in the town government.  In 1869 he received the Democratic nomination for Assembly, but was defeated by George N. West.  In the fall of 1872, he was nominated by his party for the office of County Superintendent of the Poor.  In both instances he received a flattering recognition, running from one hundred to one hundred and fifty votes ahead of his ticket.  He made an honest and capable supervisor, and did his duty faithfully, and well in all the offices of trust to which he has been elected.

Mr. Howe is generally considered a man of more than average intelligence, and what is of equal if not of greater importance, of uncompromising honesty.  In the various relations of life he strives to do his duty, and that he has succeeded is shown by the popularity he enjoys, both at home, where he is well known, and abroad, where his reputation stands deservedly high.

submitted by Pam Davis