JOHN VOLENY HOWE, who carries .on general farming in Concord Township and lives on his well improved farm of 160 acres, which is situated on the north township line, was born January 3, 1852, at Piqua, Ohio, and is a son of John Alexander and Rebecca (Stattler) Howe.

John Alexander Howe was born at Oxford, Pennsylvania, and when lie was very young, his father, Dr. Howe, died and his mother started with him, in,1824, to Ohio. The journey was made on horseback and in a wagon, and the mother settled first on a farm near Lockport, Shelby County. Some years later she married James Robinson and they had two children-Caroline, who married William Maymyer, both now deceased; and Mary, who married Thomas Miller, both being now deceased. The mother of these children the n went to the home of her son, John Alexander, Mr. Robinson having also died, and there her last days were spent. John Alexander Howe had to go to work when quite young and for a number of years lived in the home of Stephen Woodney, who was as kind to him as a father. When he reached manhood he started, out for himself and as he had no capital but his strength, he worked at different things and finally became a boatman on the old canal, where he continued for thirteen years. After his marriage be bought eighty acres of land from Henry Kitchen, in Washington Township, near Piqua, and lived there all the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1891, at the age of seventy-three years. He married Rebecca Stattler, who was born south of Piqua, and died in 1893, aged sixty-nine years. Her father, Christopher Stattler, had settled in Miami County while Indians were still numerous. Four children were born to this marriage, namely: Laura, who is the widow of William Du Bois, of Piqua; George, who lives on the home farm situated on the traction line three miles west of Piqua; John V.; and William, deceased.

John V. Howe was two years old when his parents settled on the farm, on which he grew to manhood. His education was secured in the district schools during the winter months, but he found it necessary to help his father, from boyhood up to manhood. He remained at home until he married and then settled on his present farm, secured from his father, and has remained here ever since. He has done a large amount of improving, including the building of his comfortable eleven-room frame house, and other structures on the place made necessary by his large farming operations. He makes no specialty, but carries on general agriculture, living in great comfort and putting aside a modest sum to enjoy when he retires.

On November 25, 1881, Mr. Howe was married to Miss Nellie C. Graham, a daughter of James and Jane Graham. Many years ago the father of Mrs. Howe bought the present farm and here Mrs. Howe was born. It later was purchased by John A. Howe and subsequently became the property of its present owner. Mr. and Mrs. Howe have three children: Alexander, who assists his father: Ethel, who married Hubert Tiser; and Frona, who attends the Troy High School. Mr. Howe and family are members of the Christian Church. In politics he is a Democrat. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias lodge at Covington.