WILLIAM J. HOWARD, is a son of John W. Howard, who was born in Butler County, Ky., in 1804, and came to Tennessee in 1825, and a few years later married Jane H. Butler, who was born in Giles County, Tenn., in 1809. The father was a farmer and died August 2, 1882. His wife died at the old homestead in 1875. William J. was the second of nine children, and was born in Giles County, Tenn., June 7, 1831. His preparatory education was obtained in the common schools, after which he took a course in Giles College, Pulaski, Tenn. He began farming for himself when about twenty-one years of age, and has followed that calling through life, and owns 518 acres of good land. March 3, 1859, Amanda M. Poor, of Logan County, Ky., became his wife, and of eight children born to them seven are living: George W., Drury R., Isaac B., Edward W., Berilla R., Amanda E. and Tennessee. Mrs. Howard was born June 12, 1837, and is the daughter of George A. and Berilla (Howard) Poor. Our subject served in the late war in the First Tennessee Cavalry, under Col. Wheeler, and was captured and taken to Jeffersonville, Ind., where he was paroled. Mr. Howard is conservative in his political views and belongs to the Masonic fraternity.

Source: Goodspeed’s History of Giles County, 1886