# James Henry Howe

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/James_Henry_Howe
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/James_Henry_Howe.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Henry_Howe
> Source revision: 1349155164
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

19th century American lawyer and federal judge

The Honorable James Henry Howe United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Wisconsin In office December 11, 1873 – January 1, 1875 Appointed by Ulysses S. Grant Preceded by Andrew G. Miller Succeeded by Charles E. Dyer 7th Attorney General of Wisconsin In office January 2, 1860 – October 7, 1862 Governor Alexander Randall Louis P. Harvey Edward Salomon Preceded by Gabriel Bouck Succeeded by Winfield Smith Personal details Born (1827-12-05)December 5, 1827 Turner, Maine, U.S. Died January 4, 1893(1893-01-04) (aged 65) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. Resting place Green Ridge Cemetery, Kenosha, Wisconsin Party Republican Spouse Mary G. Cotton ​ ​ (m. 1857; died 1887)​ Children James Torrey Howe (b. 1859; died 1934) William Torrey Howe (b. 1865; died 1897) Bessie Parents Addison G. Howe (father) Mary (Torrey) Howe (mother) Relatives Timothy O. Howe (uncle) Education read law Profession Lawyer, judge Military service Allegiance United States Branch/service United States Volunteers Union Army Years of service 1862–1864 Rank Colonel, USV Commands 32nd Reg. Wis. Vol. Infantry Battles/wars American Civil War Meridian campaign Atlanta campaign

**James Henry Howe** (December 5, 1827 – January 4, 1893) was an American lawyer and [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) politician. He served one year as [United States district judge](/source/United_States_federal_judge) for the [Eastern District of Wisconsin](/source/United_States_District_Court_for_the_Eastern_District_of_Wisconsin), appointed by President [Ulysses S. Grant](/source/Ulysses_S._Grant). Earlier in his career, he was the 7th [Attorney General of Wisconsin](/source/Attorney_General_of_Wisconsin) and served as a [Union Army](/source/Union_Army) colonel in the [American Civil War](/source/American_Civil_War). He was Solicitor and General Manager for the [Chicago and Northwestern R.R](/source/Chicago_and_North_Western_Transportation_Company). and later solicitor for the Chicago, St. Paul and Omaha R.R. He was a nephew of U.S. Senator [Timothy O. Howe](/source/Timothy_O._Howe), and was said to be "like a son" to him.

## Education and early career

Born on December 5, 1827, in [Turner](/source/Turner%2C_Maine), [Maine](/source/Maine),[1] Howe received a general education and proceeded to [read law](/source/Read_law), first with Bradley & Eastman in [Saco, Maine](/source/Saco%2C_Maine), then with his uncle, [Timothy O. Howe](/source/Timothy_O._Howe), at [Green Bay](/source/Green_Bay%2C_Wisconsin), [Wisconsin Territory](/source/Wisconsin_Territory). He was admitted to the bar at Green Bay in 1848. He began practicing law in partnership with his uncle, but the partnership was terminated when the elder Howe was elevated to a [Wisconsin circuit court](/source/Wisconsin_circuit_courts) judgeship in 1851.[1] James Howe went on to partner with William H. Norris until 1860.[1]

He was elected [Attorney General of Wisconsin](/source/Attorney_General_of_Wisconsin) in 1859 and was the first [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) to hold that office. He was re-elected in 1861, but resigned office in October 1862 to [volunteer](/source/United_States_Volunteers) with the [Union Army](/source/Union_Army) for service in the [American Civil War](/source/American_Civil_War).[1] During his second term as Attorney General, Howe led the state delegation to recover the body of Governor [Louis P. Harvey](/source/Louis_P._Harvey), who had drowned while on a visit to the wounded soldiers from the [Battle of Shiloh](/source/Battle_of_Shiloh).[2]

## Civil War service

Howe was commissioned as a [colonel](/source/Colonel_(United_States)) and placed in command of the [32nd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment](/source/32nd_Wisconsin_Infantry_Regiment), which was being organized at Camp Bragg in [Oshkosh, Wisconsin](/source/Oshkosh%2C_Wisconsin). The regiment departed Wisconsin on October 30 and marched to [Chicago](/source/Chicago), they then traveled by river to [Memphis, Tennessee](/source/Memphis%2C_Tennessee), via [Cairo, Illinois](/source/Cairo%2C_Illinois). They reached Memphis on November 3, 1862, and were attached to General [William Tecumseh Sherman](/source/William_Tecumseh_Sherman)'s [XV Corps](/source/XV_Corps_(Union_Army)).[2]

They marched out with Sherman's Corps on maneuvers toward [Jackson, Mississippi](/source/Jackson%2C_Mississippi), in support of General [Ulysses S. Grant](/source/Ulysses_S._Grant)'s [movement](/source/Vicksburg_campaign) against [Vicksburg, Mississippi](/source/Vicksburg%2C_Mississippi). They stopped at the Union supply depot in [Holly Springs, Mississippi](/source/Holly_Springs%2C_Mississippi), and were en route to [Oxford, Mississippi](/source/Oxford%2C_Mississippi), when a messenger reached them of the Confederate [raid on Holly Springs](/source/Holly_Springs_Raid). The 32nd Wisconsin was the first regiment to reach Holly Springs after the raid, and immediately proceeded on a forced march toward [Grand Junction, Tennessee](/source/Grand_Junction%2C_Tennessee), which was also under threat. After arriving at Grand Junction, they were ordered to pursue [Nathan Bedford Forrest](/source/Nathan_Bedford_Forrest). They ultimately returned to Memphis on February 2, 1863, and quartered there on [provost duty](/source/Provost_(military_police)) through most of 1863, with an eye toward deterring Forrest, who was still attempting raids in the area.[2]

Near the end of January 1864, the 32nd Wisconsin headed down the [Mississippi River](/source/Mississippi_River) from Memphis to Vicksburg. There, they were attached to the 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, [XVI Corps](/source/XVI_Corps_(Union_Army)). By seniority, Colonel Howe was placed in command of the brigade. They then set out on the [Meridian campaign](/source/Meridian_campaign). After routing the rebels at Jackson, they proceeded to [Meridian, Mississippi](/source/Meridian%2C_Mississippi), and occupied the city.[2]

On March 11, 1864, the 32nd Wisconsin, along with XVI Corps, returned to Cairo on maneuvers to link up with General Grant on his operations in northern Alabama and Georgia. At Cairo, the 32nd, along with other regiments, was diverted to [Union City, Tennessee](/source/Union_City%2C_Tennessee), to again deal with a raid by Nathan Bedford Forrest. En route to the city however, they received word that they were too late and the defenders had surrendered. They then proceeded to [Paducah, Kentucky](/source/Paducah%2C_Kentucky), where it was believed Forrest would next attack, but, again, were unable to lure the Confederates into battle.[2][3]

After another series of maneuvers attempting to trap Forrest, they again abandoned the chase and proceeded south into Alabama. They arrived at [Decatur, Alabama](/source/Decatur%2C_Alabama), on April 10, where their brigade was renumbered to the 3rd Brigade, 4th Division, with Colonel Howe remaining in command. On May 27, the Brigade marched west and skirmished with elements of General [Phillip Roddey](/source/Phillip_Roddey)'s brigade. Roddey refused to give battle and retreated to the west. They remained on picket duty for the next month.[2]

On July 6, 1864, Colonel Howe resigned his commission and set out to return to Wisconsin.[2]

## Railroad service

After the war Howe was General Counsel [Solicitor] for the [Chicago & North Western Rwy.](/source/Chicago_and_North_Western_Transportation_Company) beginning in 1864,[4] and General Manager in 1872-73.[5] By 1875-1878 he was a Director of that road,[6] this after an appointment to the federal court by President Grant.[1] He moved to Kenosha and from 1876 to 1892 was Solicitor for the [Chicago, St. Paul and Omaha Railway Co.](/source/Chicago%2C_St._Paul%2C_Minneapolis_and_Omaha_Railway)[7]

## Federal judicial service

Howe was nominated by President [Ulysses S. Grant](/source/Ulysses_S._Grant) on December 9, 1873, to a seat on the [United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin](/source/United_States_District_Court_for_the_Eastern_District_of_Wisconsin) vacated by Judge [Andrew G. Miller](/source/Andrew_G._Miller). He was confirmed by the [United States Senate](/source/United_States_Senate) on December 11, 1873, and received his commission the same day. He did not enjoy judicial duties and resigned after only a year of service, on January 1, 1875.[1]

## Later career and death

Following his resignation from the federal bench and railroad work, Howe served for a time on the board of the J. L. Perry Manufacturing Company. During a bitter fight among the state Republican Party over the [United States Senate](/source/United_States_Senate) election in 1878-1879, with Howe's uncle Senator Timothy Howe facing a difficult re-election, several Republican officials floated the compromise of replacing Timothy Howe with James Howe, but the idea never came to fruition and Howe was instead replaced by [Matthew H. Carpenter](/source/Matthew_H._Carpenter).[8]

Judge Howe hosted his uncle's funeral in 1883. After his uncle's death, an effort was made by Wisconsin's senators, [Angus Cameron](/source/Angus_Cameron_(American_politician)) and [Philetus Sawyer](/source/Philetus_Sawyer), to have James Howe appointed as his replacement as [United States Postmaster General](/source/United_States_Postmaster_General), but the effort was unsuccessful.[9]

He died on January 4, 1893, in [Boston](/source/Boston), [Massachusetts](/source/Massachusetts), after a period of incapacitation.[10]

## Family

Howe was the nephew of U.S. Senator and U.S. Postmaster General [Timothy O. Howe](/source/Timothy_O._Howe), and was said to be "like a son" to him.[1]

Howe married Ms. Mary G. Cotton in 1857. They had at least three children.

## Electoral history

### Wisconsin Attorney General (1859, 1861)

Wisconsin Attorney General Election, 1859[11] Party Candidate Votes % ±% General Election, November 8, 1859 Republican James Henry Howe 60,569 53.71% Democratic Samuel Crawford 52,209 46.29% −3.93% Plurality 8,360 7.41% +6.96% Total votes 112,778 100.0% +26.54% Republican gain from Democratic Swing 7.86%

Wisconsin Attorney General Election, 1861[12] Party Candidate Votes % ±% General Election, November 5, 1861 Republican James Henry Howe (incumbent) 55,367 55.86% +2.16% Democratic Philo A. Orton 43,647 44.04% −2.26% Scattering 97 0.10% Plurality 11,720 11.83% +4.41% Total votes 99,111 100.0% -12.12% Republican hold

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-berry_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-berry_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-berry_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-berry_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-berry_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-berry_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-berry_1-6) Berryman, John R. (1898). [*History of the bench and bar of Wisconsin*](https://archive.org/details/historyofbenchba02berr). Vol. 2. [Chicago](/source/Chicago): H. C. Cooper, Jr. pp. 7–8. Retrieved June 11, 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-quin_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-quin_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-quin_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-quin_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-quin_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-quin_2-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-quin_2-6) Quiner, Edwin Bentley (1866). [*The military history of Wisconsin*](https://archive.org/details/militaryhistoryo00quin/). [Chicago](/source/Chicago): Clark & Co. pp. 119–121, 800–803. Retrieved June 11, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["FORREST'S RAID.; The Capture of Union City The Repulse at Paducah"](https://www.nytimes.com/1864/04/01/archives/forrests-raid-the-capture-of-union-city-the-repulse-at-paducah.html). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. April 1, 1864. Retrieved June 11, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=iKwVAAAAYAAJ&pg=GBS.PA44](https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=iKwVAAAAYAAJ&pg=GBS.PA44)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=iKwVAAAAYAAJ&pg=GBS.PA92](https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=iKwVAAAAYAAJ&pg=GBS.PA92)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=iKwVAAAAYAAJ&pg=GBS.PA90](https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=iKwVAAAAYAAJ&pg=GBS.PA90)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS8867](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS8867)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["The Senatorship"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53255123/us-senate-election-1879/). *The Daily Milwaukee News*. [Milwaukee](/source/Milwaukee), [Wisconsin](/source/Wisconsin). January 8, 1879. p. 2. Retrieved June 11, 2020 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["A dispatch from Washington"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53254301/howe-postmaster-1883/). *Janesville Daily Gazette*. [Janesville, Wisconsin](/source/Janesville%2C_Wisconsin). April 3, 1883. Retrieved June 11, 2020 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Death of Col. James H. Howe"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53253487/james-h-howe-obit-1893/). *[Green Bay Weekly Gazette](/source/Green_Bay_Press-Gazette)*. [Green Bay, Wisconsin](/source/Green_Bay%2C_Wisconsin). January 11, 1893. p. 5. Retrieved June 11, 2020 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["The Result of the State Canvass"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53190982/wisconsin-state-election-results-1859/). *[Wisconsin State Journal](/source/Wisconsin_State_Journal)*. December 3, 1859. p. 1. Retrieved June 11, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Statement of the State Board of Canvassers"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57123078/wisconsin-election-canvass-1861/). *[Wisconsin State Journal](/source/Wisconsin_State_Journal)*. [Madison, Wisconsin](/source/Madison%2C_Wisconsin). December 3, 1861. p. 2. Retrieved August 11, 2020.

## External links

- [James Henry Howe](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1382461) at the *[Biographical Directory of Federal Judges](/source/Biographical_Directory_of_Federal_Judges)*, a publication of the [Federal Judicial Center](/source/Federal_Judicial_Center).

- [Judge James Henry Howe](https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/151359822) at [Find a Grave](/source/Find_a_Grave)

Military offices Regiment created Command of the 32nd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment September 25, 1862 – July 6, 1864 Succeeded by Col. Charles Henry De Groat Party political offices Preceded by Mortimer M. Jackson Republican nominee for Attorney General of Wisconsin 1859, 1861 Succeeded by Winfield Smith Legal offices Preceded by Gabriel Bouck Attorney General of Wisconsin 1860 – 1862 Succeeded by Winfield Smith Preceded by Andrew G. Miller United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Wisconsin 1873 – 1875 Succeeded by Charles E. Dyer

v t e Attorneys general of Wisconsin Territory Baird Wells Jackson Lynde H. Smith State Brown Coon E. Estabrook G. Smith W. R. Smith Bouck Howe W. Smith Gill Barlow Sloan Wilson Frisby C. Estabrook O'Connor Mylrea Hicks Sturdevant Gilbert Bancroft Owen Haven Blaine Morgan Ekern Reynolds Sr. Finnegan Loomis Martin Broadfoot Fairchild Thomson Honeck Reynolds Jr. Thompson La Follette Warren Miller La Follette Hanaway Doyle Lautenschlager Van Hollen Schimel Kaul

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [James Henry Howe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Henry_Howe) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Henry_Howe?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.