Pickett County, Tennessee, was created in 1879 from Fentress and Overton counties and named in honor of Howell Lester PICKETT, the youngest man in the state for whom a county was ever named.

Howell L. PICKETT was born 13 Aug 1847 in Wilson County, TN, the youngest of ten children born to Rev. Hugh Willoughby PICKETT, Sr., and Lurana “Louana” LOOPER PICKETT of Wilson County, TN.

Howell was educated at Union University located at Murfreesboro and then attended Cumberland University in Lebanon where he graduated with a law degree in June 1876. The following year he was elected County Superintendent of Public Instruction in Wilson County.

From 1879-1881, he served as a State Representative representing Wilson County. In about 1882, he left Tennessee and headed west to New Mexico to practice law.

He returned to TN when he married Evaline “Emma” COOK on 25 Mar 1884 in Wilson County. Howell returned to Silver City, New Mexico, with his bride where they remained until 1896. Several years later he was instrumental in the statehood of Arizona after he had moved to Tombstone, Cochise Co, AZ.

Howell and Emma had one child, a son Harry Elliott PICKETT, born 27 Oct 1885. Harry eventually attended law school at the University of Virginia and returned to Tombstone to practice law with his father.

Howell Lester Pickett died in Tombstone, AZ, on 21 July 1914 after an extended illness with interment in City Cemetery of Tombstone.

Researched and submitted by:
Vonnie Looper Munnerlyn
8 May 2000

Additional notes: The birth year on Howell Picket’s tombstone is wrong. Howell’s death certificate indicates he was married and a practicing attorney. Howell died of colon cancer of approximately 10 years’ duration.  His son, Harry Pickett, was a resident of Memphis at the time of Howell’s death. No photos of Howell Pickett have been located on-line.