THOMAS I. HOWREN.

It affords the biographer particular pleasure to trace the life history of the gentleman whose name heads these paragraphs, a gentleman who in all the varied walks of life has proven himself worthy of the highest respect. As long as history endures will the people of the United States acknowledge their indebtedness to those brave heroes, who, between 1861 and 1865, fought for the preservation of the Union and the honor of the starry banner which has never been trailed in the dust of defeat in a single war in which the country has been engaged. Among those who wore the blue and risked their lives for their country's sake was Thomas I. Howren, now a retired citizen of New Castle, Henry county, Indiana.

Mr. Howren was born in Guilford, North Carolina, on the 14th of November, 1938. When thirteen years old he was brought to Indiana by his mother and his grandfather, Thomas Gilbreth. They settled at Greensboro, Henry county, where Thomas Gilbreth followed his trade, that of wagonmaking, until his death in 1864, at the age of eighty-two years. The subject's mother lived there also until her death in March, 1878, when almost seventy years old. Her four children were as follows: Mary Margaret became the wife of Thomas Swain and resided at Greensboro until her death, at the age of thirty years; Thomas I., the subject of this review; Sarah married Jabez Bowan, resided at Greensboro ant died there in middle life; Irene became the wife Of W. H. Macy, ex-sheriff of Henry county (see his sketch elsewhere in this volume), and is living at New Castle.

Thomas I. Howren, remained with his grandfather and engaged in farmwork by the month until the sounds of the terrible conflict in the southland convinced him that he was needed in the defense of Old Glory. Accordingly, in August, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company D, Thirty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Gen. Grose's regiment. He served faithfully in the ranks, participating in all the marches, skirmishes and battles in which his regiment participated until the battle at Wild Cat, Kentucky, October 17, 1862. This was at the time of Gen. Bragg's retreat from Louisville. Mr. Howren was detailed on the advance guard and approaching close to Bragg's rear guard were engaged in a decisive action with the latter, which lasted about an hour before the rebels retreated. During this engagement the subject received a terrible musket ball wound in the left thigh. He was carried to the hospital at Danville, Kentucky, where he remained until March 10, 1863, when he was discharged. Up to this time and for a year afterward he was unable to walk at all, and when he later commenced the use of crutches had to continue their use for over a year, and has at times since had to return to their use, at other times getting along with the aid of a cane.

After his return home and partial restoration to health Mr. Howren learned the trade of shoemaking and worked at it for ten or twelve years at Greensboro. He was then elected to the office of treasurer of Henry county in 1876, and, removing to New Castle for two years faithfully and efficiently discharged the duties of that responsible office. Upon the expiration of his term of office he returned to Greensboro and later tried farming in Hancock county, but a year later he went back to Greensboro, and in 1892 moved to Knightstown, where he resided until May, 1902, at which time he moved to the city of New Castle, where he now resides. He retained his Hancock county farm until 1901, when he disposed of it, and bought what was known as the Thomas Mullen farm, two and one-half miles east of New Castle.

Mr. Howren has been twice married. In 1871, at Knightstown, he was united in marriage with Miss Anne Woods, the daughter of John Woods, a farmer then living in Knightstown. Sixteen years later she died at Greensboro, leaving one daughter, Effie May. The latter became the wife of Wrighter R. Steel, of New Castle (see his sketch elsewhere in this volume). Mr. Howren's second marriage was in 1889, at Knightstown, to Mrs. Mary Berry, nee Lowrey, daughter of George Lowrey, who is engaged in the butchering business at Knightstown. She was born and reared in Knightstown and she is the mother of one son, Fred L. Howren, born July 27, 1892.

Politically Mr. Howren is a stanch adherent of the Republican party, and has served as delegate to several state conventions of his party. Fraternally he maintains friendly relations with his old army comrades through his membership in Jerry Mason Post, G. A. R., at Knightstown. He is very faithful in his attendance upon all reunions, of his old regiment. He also belongs to the Masonic fraternity, having joined that order at Greensboro in 1876. Religiously he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. During his entire life he has proved faithful to the trusts reposed in him. In Henry county, where he is so widely known, his friends are numbered among its best citizens, a fact which indicates that his career has been an honorable and upright one. He has many pleasant qualities, and is a genial companion, enjoying the regard of all with whom he has been brought into contact.

Source: "Biographical memoirs of Henry County, Indiana : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography--memoirs of eminent men and women in the United States, whose deeds of valor or works of merit have made their names imperishable." ⁹²⁷