Mr. Howell was the fifth child and second son of Humphrey Posey Howell and Eugenia Blanchard Howell. He grew up in Salt Springs, Douglas County, where his father ran a mill on Sweetwater Creek. He gained a strong moral compass and learned the value of hard work during these formative years.
The family is listed as living in Villa Rica, Carroll County, Georgia, in the 1870 census. By 1880, however, the family is listed as living in Salt Springs, within walking distance of Austell.
Robert's birth year is questionable, but have listed the year as 1870, which is what appears in the Howell family Bible. His death certificate and grave marker also list his birth date as 22 Nov. 1870. The 1940 census (data collected on 4 April 1940) lists has an estimated birth year of "1871". The 1880 census (data collected on 4 June 1880), however, lists his age as "8" and the 1900 census (data collected 2 June 1900) lists his age as "27" and his birth month and year as "Nov. 1972". He also listed his birth date as "22 Nov 1872" on his WWI draft registration card in 1917. The place of his birth is also confusing. On his son R.Z. Howell's death certificate, Robert lists his birthplace as "Lithia Springs"; the family, as mentioned above, was living near Villa Rica at that time, so Robert's death certificate lists Villa Rica as his birthplace. Eugenia's parents lived near Lithia Springs and women often went home to have their children, so either place is possible.
In 1883, the family suffered a devastating loss when Robert's older sister, Lula, drowned in a tragic accident on her birthday. She and her friend didn't want to wait for her father to finish work to take them home safely, so they talked a young boy into rowing them across the creek. The current was too strong for him and the boat went over the dam and capsized.
On 22 November 1893, Robert married Mary Virginia Zachry, the daughter of Col. Charles Thornton Zachry and Elizabeth Jane (Russell) Zachry of McDonough. They had three children: Charles Russell Howell (1894-1956), Posey Blanchard Howell (1896-1972), and Robert Zachry Howell (1909-1937).
Robert worked for the railroad as a dispatcher, first in Jacksonville, Florida, and later Tampa, Florida. During the latter half of the 1920's, he and his son, Blanchard, formed a real estate company called Howell & Howell in Tampa. He is said to have had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to play golf.
By 1942, the family had moved back to the Atlanta area. He died in November 1942 leaving his wife, two of his three children, and six grandchildren. He is buried with his son in Westview Cemetery in the plot next to his older brother, George, and his family.
The family is listed as living in Villa Rica, Carroll County, Georgia, in the 1870 census. By 1880, however, the family is listed as living in Salt Springs, within walking distance of Austell.
Robert's birth year is questionable, but have listed the year as 1870, which is what appears in the Howell family Bible. His death certificate and grave marker also list his birth date as 22 Nov. 1870. The 1940 census (data collected on 4 April 1940) lists has an estimated birth year of "1871". The 1880 census (data collected on 4 June 1880), however, lists his age as "8" and the 1900 census (data collected 2 June 1900) lists his age as "27" and his birth month and year as "Nov. 1972". He also listed his birth date as "22 Nov 1872" on his WWI draft registration card in 1917. The place of his birth is also confusing. On his son R.Z. Howell's death certificate, Robert lists his birthplace as "Lithia Springs"; the family, as mentioned above, was living near Villa Rica at that time, so Robert's death certificate lists Villa Rica as his birthplace. Eugenia's parents lived near Lithia Springs and women often went home to have their children, so either place is possible.
In 1883, the family suffered a devastating loss when Robert's older sister, Lula, drowned in a tragic accident on her birthday. She and her friend didn't want to wait for her father to finish work to take them home safely, so they talked a young boy into rowing them across the creek. The current was too strong for him and the boat went over the dam and capsized.
On 22 November 1893, Robert married Mary Virginia Zachry, the daughter of Col. Charles Thornton Zachry and Elizabeth Jane (Russell) Zachry of McDonough. They had three children: Charles Russell Howell (1894-1956), Posey Blanchard Howell (1896-1972), and Robert Zachry Howell (1909-1937).
Robert worked for the railroad as a dispatcher, first in Jacksonville, Florida, and later Tampa, Florida. During the latter half of the 1920's, he and his son, Blanchard, formed a real estate company called Howell & Howell in Tampa. He is said to have had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to play golf.
By 1942, the family had moved back to the Atlanta area. He died in November 1942 leaving his wife, two of his three children, and six grandchildren. He is buried with his son in Westview Cemetery in the plot next to his older brother, George, and his family.
Mr. Howell was the fifth child and second son of Humphrey Posey Howell and Eugenia Blanchard Howell. He grew up in Salt Springs, Douglas County, where his father ran a mill on Sweetwater Creek. He gained a strong moral compass and learned the value of hard work during these formative years.
The family is listed as living in Villa Rica, Carroll County, Georgia, in the 1870 census. By 1880, however, the family is listed as living in Salt Springs, within walking distance of Austell.
Robert's birth year is questionable, but have listed the year as 1870, which is what appears in the Howell family Bible. His death certificate and grave marker also list his birth date as 22 Nov. 1870. The 1940 census (data collected on 4 April 1940) lists has an estimated birth year of "1871". The 1880 census (data collected on 4 June 1880), however, lists his age as "8" and the 1900 census (data collected 2 June 1900) lists his age as "27" and his birth month and year as "Nov. 1972". He also listed his birth date as "22 Nov 1872" on his WWI draft registration card in 1917. The place of his birth is also confusing. On his son R.Z. Howell's death certificate, Robert lists his birthplace as "Lithia Springs"; the family, as mentioned above, was living near Villa Rica at that time, so Robert's death certificate lists Villa Rica as his birthplace. Eugenia's parents lived near Lithia Springs and women often went home to have their children, so either place is possible.
In 1883, the family suffered a devastating loss when Robert's older sister, Lula, drowned in a tragic accident on her birthday. She and her friend didn't want to wait for her father to finish work to take them home safely, so they talked a young boy into rowing them across the creek. The current was too strong for him and the boat went over the dam and capsized.
On 22 November 1893, Robert married Mary Virginia Zachry, the daughter of Col. Charles Thornton Zachry and Elizabeth Jane (Russell) Zachry of McDonough. They had three children: Charles Russell Howell (1894-1956), Posey Blanchard Howell (1896-1972), and Robert Zachry Howell (1909-1937).
Robert worked for the railroad as a dispatcher, first in Jacksonville, Florida, and later Tampa, Florida. During the latter half of the 1920's, he and his son, Blanchard, formed a real estate company called Howell & Howell in Tampa. He is said to have had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to play golf.
By 1942, the family had moved back to the Atlanta area. He died in November 1942 leaving his wife, two of his three children, and six grandchildren. He is buried with his son in Westview Cemetery in the plot next to his older brother, George, and his family.
The family is listed as living in Villa Rica, Carroll County, Georgia, in the 1870 census. By 1880, however, the family is listed as living in Salt Springs, within walking distance of Austell.
Robert's birth year is questionable, but have listed the year as 1870, which is what appears in the Howell family Bible. His death certificate and grave marker also list his birth date as 22 Nov. 1870. The 1940 census (data collected on 4 April 1940) lists has an estimated birth year of "1871". The 1880 census (data collected on 4 June 1880), however, lists his age as "8" and the 1900 census (data collected 2 June 1900) lists his age as "27" and his birth month and year as "Nov. 1972". He also listed his birth date as "22 Nov 1872" on his WWI draft registration card in 1917. The place of his birth is also confusing. On his son R.Z. Howell's death certificate, Robert lists his birthplace as "Lithia Springs"; the family, as mentioned above, was living near Villa Rica at that time, so Robert's death certificate lists Villa Rica as his birthplace. Eugenia's parents lived near Lithia Springs and women often went home to have their children, so either place is possible.
In 1883, the family suffered a devastating loss when Robert's older sister, Lula, drowned in a tragic accident on her birthday. She and her friend didn't want to wait for her father to finish work to take them home safely, so they talked a young boy into rowing them across the creek. The current was too strong for him and the boat went over the dam and capsized.
On 22 November 1893, Robert married Mary Virginia Zachry, the daughter of Col. Charles Thornton Zachry and Elizabeth Jane (Russell) Zachry of McDonough. They had three children: Charles Russell Howell (1894-1956), Posey Blanchard Howell (1896-1972), and Robert Zachry Howell (1909-1937).
Robert worked for the railroad as a dispatcher, first in Jacksonville, Florida, and later Tampa, Florida. During the latter half of the 1920's, he and his son, Blanchard, formed a real estate company called Howell & Howell in Tampa. He is said to have had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to play golf.
By 1942, the family had moved back to the Atlanta area. He died in November 1942 leaving his wife, two of his three children, and six grandchildren. He is buried with his son in Westview Cemetery in the plot next to his older brother, George, and his family.
Inscription
ROBERT LEE HOWELL
Nov 22, 1870
Nov 30, 1942
Gravesite Details
There are two different birth years and counties listed for Robert Howell, depending upon which document you look at. (See above for details)
Family Members
Siblings
