Sonoma County Biographies

This pioneer, whose portrait appears in this work, was born on the island of Bornholm, in the Baltic Sea, October 23, 1823. He received a limited education in the common schools of his country in his early youth. He began his career as a sailor at the age of thirteen, on board the Danish brig "Cecilia," then engaged in seal fishing on the coast of Greenland. One voyage, though a successful one, cured him of all longings he may have entertained for this kind of adventure. Shortly after his return, he shipped on board the Danish bark "Concordia," at Copenhagen, bound for a whaling cruise in the north-western sea. The voyage consumed about two years. At the age of sixteen Mr. Howard engaged as a seaman on board an American ship at Elsinor, bound for Boston, United States. They touched at Turks Island, where they found the American Brig "Norman" from the coast of Africa, homeward bound, in distress, having lost all her crew, of African fever, the captain and mate being the only survivors. Mr. Howard volunteered to assist in working the brig to New York. They sailed from Turks Island with a crew consisting of five, all told. The captain (who was convalescent from the fever), the mate, Mr. Howard, and two negroes, one employed as cook, by almost superhuman efforts, this small crew managed to sight the Sandy Hook lights, where they received on board a pilot. Before reaching New York harbor they encountered a heavy northwester that drove them out to sea; they were driven about for four days. A little before daylight of the fifth day of the storm the brig went ashore on Barnegat. The day previous to their going ashore one of the negroes died from exposure. Mr. Howard sewed his remains up in canvass, preparatory to consigning them to a watery grave. When the vessel struck they found they were on a sandy coast. The pilot and captain went ashore in the "dingy," the mate and Mr. Howard commenced preparing to follow in the long-boat. While gathering the ship's papers and instruments the surf, which was constantly increasing, lifted the stern of the long-boat from the davits. This mishap rendered it necessary to jump in and cut loose the bow at once. They had hardly cleared the brig when their boat was swamped. This was the last that Mr. Howard knew until he found himself under the shelter of the long-boat, where he had been placed by the mate, who had rescued him from the surf. That evening they were visited by a wrecker, who conducted them to his shanty, where they were provided with such comforts as the place afforded. The mate and Mr. Howard returned to the vessel as soon as the storm had subsided sufficient to permit of their again venturing into the surf, and brought off the surviving negro, whom they were compelled to leave, also the corpse they had prepared to bury at sea. With the assistance of wreckers, the brig was lightened and worked off the sand. Mr. Howard, in company with the mate, returned to the shore to collect such articles as they had left, and while thus engaged the brig was taken in tow by a tug, sent out for that purpose, leaving them on shore. Several days after they boarded a coaster bound for New York, but were again driven out to sea by adverse winds; they finally succeeded in reaching Staten Island. Over-exertion and exposure proved too much for Mr. Howard. On reaching Staten Island he was taken down with lung fever, and went to the Sailors' hospital. Not being favorably impressed with the management of the hospital he remained but two days; by representing himself much improved, he gained assent to his leaving, and went immediately to New York. He barely reached the city when he lost consciousness, and was conveyed to the city hospital, where his life was for a long time dispaired of, but his constitution proved equal to the strain, and brought him through. On recovering strength he entered the United States service, on board the receiving ship "North Carolina." He was transferred to the sloop-of-war "Preble," in 1844, then under orders to proceed to the African Coast. Immediately on their arrival in African waters they were ordered up the river Besow to protect a Portuguese settlement from the natives. On reaching the settlement they found there was not sufficient sea-room for working the vessel. The guns of the "Preble" were transferred to an old hull lying in the river. This proved a disastrous move for the crew of the "Preble." But a day or two had elapsed when Mr. Howard and one other man were taken down with unmistakeable symptoms of African fever. The surgeon ordered the sloop to vacate the river immediately. They sailed for the Cape de Verde Islands. Before reaching there between eighty and ninety of the officers and crew were taken down. Nearly twenty fell victims to the terrible disease, and as many more were sent home invalids. Mr. Howard in this case owed his life to the fact of being among the first to contract the disease, thereby receiving more favorable attention than could have been given a few days later. At the expiration of his term of service he returned and re-entered, the naval service, being assigned to the frigate "Columbia," bound for the Brazilian station. This proved a rather uneventful cruise. He was in Rio de Janeiro at the time of the arrest of two American officers and two sailors for a trivial offense. Through the intercession of Minister Wise all were soon released, but one seaman, who was kept in prison until the "Columbia" returned from a cruise to Buenos Ayres. On entering the port Mr. Wise ordered the "Columbia" to double-shot her guns and haul up within easy range of the town. This demonstration, taken in connection with a notice to release the American or prepare to receive the fire of the "Columbia," had the desired result, and the man was soon at liberty. This occurring just previous to the christening of Don Pedro the First, the American vessels were the only ones in port that refused to dress ship in honor of the event. Mr. Wise also declined to illuminate. These events, taken in connection with the Minister's remarks at the time of the christening (on board the "Columbia" ) of the daughter of a veteran of Palo Alta (born at sea), to whom Minister Wise stood godfather, that "he would rather stand godfather to an American soldier's child than to Don Pedro," resulted in Mr. Wise being called home. He took passage in the "Columbia." An idea may be formed of the impression Mr. Wise had made upon the crew of the "Columbia" by his course in Brazil, and his gentlemanly bearing while an honored passenger on board the "Columbia" frigate, when it is stated that the crew, who were ordered aloft to cheer when he went ashore at Norfolk, not only cheered with good-will, but refused to desist when ordered, and even went so far in their endeavor to demonstrate their esteem for the gentleman that they threw their hats after him, thereby laying themselves liable to chastisement for violation of orders. On reaching Norfolk, Mr. Howard re-enlisted on board the sloop-of-war "St. Mary's," bound for the Pacific station. They anchored at Monterey, in 1848; from there they sailed to San Francisco bay, where the vessel remained until Mr. Howard quit the service. On leaving the Navy he followed the course of all seekers after fortune or adventure at that particular time, and went immediately to the gold mines of California. He followed mining for two summers on Beaver Creek and in Hangtown canon, spending the winter in Sonoma County. He was moderately successful in mining, but lost all he had accumulated in a cattle speculation. In 1850 Mr. Howard, in company with Charles Roamer (a countryman of his) settled on Government land, where he now resides. The two partners carried on the ranch, keeping bachelor quarters up to the year 1855, when Mr. Howard found in a young lady (Miss Caroline Kolmer) a more congenial partner. Mr. Howard and Miss Kolmer were married at the residence of Alexander Duncan at Salt Point, October 5, 1855. Mrs. Howard was born in North Carolina, December 31, 1838. She, with her parents, came to California in 1846. They spent the first winter at Sutter's Fort, near Sacramento; the following season went to Fort Ross; afterwards settled in Kolmer Valley. In 1851, they moved to Timber Cove, where they resided at the time Mr. and Mrs. Howard were married. On assuming his new relations he bought out his partner, who returned to Denmark. Mr. and Mrs. Howard have had the satisfaction of seeing the wilderness in which they commenced life together gradually settled and improved until a railroad passes through their farm, and a station, around which quite a village has sprung, bears Mr. Howard's name. They have been blessed with nine children, all living, and who still reside with them. The following is a list of the children, with the dates of their birth: Elizabeth, born December 10, 1857; Charles, born April 13, 1859; Theodore, born July 11, 1861; Amelia, born May 31, 1863; Clara, born July 12, 1865; William, born January 24, 1868; Annie, born September 20, 1870; Emma, born December, 31, 1873; Alfred, born December 21, 1877.