History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties

"History of Lincoln, Oneida, and Vilas Counties Wisconsin"

Compiled by George O.Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others. Printed in 1924 by H.C.Cooper. Jr. & Co., Minneapoli-Winona MN. ill. 787 pages. The first two hundred pages are history of the three counties, the remainder of the book is biographies.

Biography

Howland, Elbert E. well-known hardware merchant of Merrill, was born on a farm in the town of Rutland, Dane County, Wis., Oct. 29, 1877, son of Samuel S. and Oritta N. OSGOOD HOWLAND. The mother was born in Vermont; the father, a native of Canada, came to the United States in 1848. The parents met and were married in the town of Rutland, Dane County. The father died when Elbert E. was but six years old, and the mother died when he was 18. Elbert E. HOWLAND attended the country schools of the town of Rutland and Stoughton High School and subsequently took a commerical course in Stoughton Business College at Stoughton, Wis., graduating from that institution in 1896. In the fall of the same year he entered the employ of Charles L. DEARBORNE as operator of his grain elevator and feed business at Stoughton. After two years Mr. HOWLAND was transferred to the flour milling department of this concern as packer and assistant miller, and he remained with the business for seven and a half years, during the last two of which he occupied the position of miller. By 1903 he had reached the conclusion that fulfillment of his ambition for complete success was not to be obtained by working for others, and he decided to venture forth for himself. Accordingly he came to Merrill with Olaf NORDLAND and bought out the Weiss Hardware Co. at 906 E. Main Street, which was subsequently operated for a year and a half by these partners under the firm name of Nordland and Howland. Mr. NORDLAND sold his interests at the end of that time to Harry HURD of Merrill, and the firm was then Howland and Hurd for about six years, after which Mr. HOWLAND purchased Mr. HURD'S interest and has ever since been sole owner of the business. He began the erection of his present two-story solid brick store buiding at 1006 E. Main Street in 1912 and moved his stock into these quarters during the spring of the following year; the building has 30 feet of frontage on Main Street and is 90 feet deep, with a 30 x 20 foot one-story addition in the rear which is used as a tin shop. The upper floor of the building is fitted up for offices and is occupied by professional men, while Mr. HOWLAND'S store occupies the entire lower floor. His stock is one of the largest and best in this section, and he draws patronage from a very wide territory. Mr. HOWLAND was married on April 12, 1899, to Eletha N. STROMMEN, who was born on a farm near Stoughton, Wis., Sept. 28, 1877, daughter of Gunder and Nine STROMMEN. Five children, as follows, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. HOWLAND: Gerold B., Giles W., Lillian A., Ruth O., and Ethel Mae. Gerold B., who was born Jan. 31, 1900, is now employed in his father's store; he graduated from the Merrill High School with the class of 1918 and subsequently attended Carroll College at Waukesha for two years. Giles W., born Dec. 6., 1902, graduated from high school at Merrill in 1920 and is now in his third year at Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill. Lillian A., born May 24, 1907, is in her Senior year at the Merrill High School; Ruth O., born May 9, 1910, is attending grade school at Merrill; Ethel Mae was born Sept. 26, 1919. The family are prominent and active members of Scott Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church at Merrill, Mr. HOWLAND being a trustee of the church and contributing liberally to its financial support. In politics, Mr. HOWLAND is Republican, though relegating party considerations to a secondary place in an effort to cast his vote for the candidate best fitted for the office sought. He belongs to the Masonic order including the Eastern Star Chapter, and is a member of the local Elks Lodge, Modern Woodmen of America and the Equitable Fraternal Union. He is one of the eminently successful business men of the city, and he and his wife take an active part in the social life of the community.

Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from pages 619-620; History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties Wisconsin; Compiled by George O. Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others 1924, H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co

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