FOURTH GENERATION

14. Charles Fredrick HOWELL ^{(16) (52)(53)} was born on 17 Dec 1879 in Ross Twp, Pike Co, IL. He served in the military between Sep 1899 and Jul 1901.^{(54) (55)} He served three years in The Spanish American War as an Army Scout in Co A, 41 U.S. Volunteer Infantry Regiment. His discharge says he was 5' 8 1/2" tall, light complexion, blue eyes, light brown hair. There is a Letter of Recognition for Charles F. Howell written 16 April 1901 by 1st Lieutenant Frank Burr stating that he was personally commended by General Grant. This original letter is in the records of his grandson, James Charles Mayhall.
He died in Jul 1925 in Wood River, Madison Co, IL. ⁽⁴⁹⁾ He had been hired, along with other men, to dig a ditch, deep in sandy soil, from the edge of the street over to a main sewer line, to connect a sewer to a nearby house. Precautions had been taken to "shore up" the sides of the opening with lumber to prevent a cave in. The men topside saw the hole caving in and immediately started trying to dig them out. Among those digging for Charles Howell was his son, Charles Elvin Howell of Upper Alton, Illinois. He had been sent for when his father was the only man not rescued in the ditch. It was believed that he was killed almost instantly from the weight of the dirt on him.
He was buried in White Hall, Greene Co, IL. Charles is listed on the 1880 census for Ross Township, Pike Co, IL, as the six month old son of Marion and Sarah.

The Marriage License of Charles F. Howell and Ollie M. Cain, states his birth place was Pike Co, IL. His military discharge also states that he was born in Pike Co, IL. He was living in Madison, Madison Co, IL and working as a laborer at the time of this marriage.

Located on the 1920 census, living with his mother, Sarah (Worsham) (Howell) Buchanan, in White Hall, Greene Co, IL. He was 41 years old, working as a day laborer at the Clay Plant.

To cast a shadow on Charles' actual birth place, is the birth certificate of his daughter, Ann. On the certificate, his birthplace is listed as Clarksville, Pike Co, MO. The request for a birth certificate was filed by his wife, Ollie, in 1940, so it may not be accurate.
He was married to Ollie May CAIN on 27 Jul 1901 in Carollton, Greene Co, IL. ⁽⁵⁶⁾ He was divorced from Ollie May CAIN in 1918.

15. Ollie May CAIN was born on 9 Jul 1885 in Clay City, Pike Co, IL. ⁽⁵⁷⁾ She died on 9 Feb 1947 in Alton, Madison Co, IL. ⁽⁴⁹⁾ Ollie died of a Cerebral Hemmorage.
She was buried in Valhalla Memorial Park, Godfrey, IL. Located on the 1900 Census for Greene Co, IL. The census shows Ollie as 14 years old, born in July 1885.

Ollie May Cain (may be Olive) was born in a place called Clay City. It was not actually a city, but an area between White Hall and Roodhouse, IL, where clay was dug and sent to the Clay Tile Factory in White Hall on a narrow gauge railroad. Another source says that she was born in Rightsville, IL, near Springfield. However, neither Clay City or Rightsville can be found on the Illinois state map. She may have been born in Wrights, IL, near Carrolton.

Her marriage certificate to Thomas Brown states that she was from Alton, MO, however, this is an error.
Children were:

i. Charles Elvin HOWELL was born on 4 Oct 1902 in Mt Auburn, Christian Co, IL. He died about 1957 in San Bernadino, CA. He was buried in San Bernadino, CA.
Called "Chuck".

Charles married Nora Ewing and had one son. They lived in Alton, Illinois. They divorced and he married Juanita Woolsey. They had five daughters. They divorced and he had a common law marriage with June Saxton who ran a tavern in St. Louis, Missouri. They lived in St. Louis for a time and then moved to San Bernadino, California, where he died in 1957 from arthritis and leukemia. It is thought that the leukimia was brought on by Gold shots for the arthritis. He also lived in Ludlow, California for awhile.
7 ii. Ann Louise HOWELL.
iii. Edwin Leroy HOWELL was born on 6 Dec 1907 in White Hall, Greene Co, IL. He died in 1979 in Jerseyville, Jersey Co, IL. He was buried in White Cem, West of Jerseyville, IL.
He was called "Bill". Edwin worked for many years on construction jobs as a concrete finisher. When in his late thirties, he married Hazel Medford who had four sons (Forrest, Verlin, Gilbert and George) by a previous marriage. They lived most of their life in the Godfrey/Jerseyville area. They had one daughter, born late in life. Bill had Emphysema very bad during his later years.

Edwin Howell weighed only 1 1/2 pounds when he was born. The Howell's neighbor had a son named Bill. So, when they found he was going to live, they started calling him Bill because he was so small.
iv. Dora Ann HOWELL (Private).