The Death of Lem Howell and Disappearance of his family.

Lemuel M. Howell was the son of John Randle Howell and Elizabeth "Betsy" Nash Howell. He was born about 1828 and appears in two census records.




In 1850, he appears as a young man in his early 20's still living at home with his family.

Name:	Lemuel Howell
Age:	22
Birth Year:	abt 1828
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1850:	Centre, Stanly, North Carolina, USA
Gender:	Male
Family Number:	85
Household Members:	Name Age John R Howell 45 Elizabeth Howell 4 Lemuel Howell 22 Mary Howell 20 Griffin Howell 14 Catharine Howell 12 Margaret Howell 9 James Howell 6 Turzy Howell 3 Temantha Howell 0 Martha Howell 66

In 1860, he married a young woman named Mary Williams. The wedding was performed by I. W. Smith, JP.

Name:	Lemuel Howell
Gender:	Male
Marriage Date:	9 May 1860
Marriage Place:	Stanly, North Carolina, USA
Spouse:	Mary Williams
Spouse Gender:	Female
Event Type:	Marriage

In the 1860 census, Lem,  or "Lam", is listed right next to his parents in the roll, with his young wife Mary, his unmarried uncle, Richard and his grandmother, Martha.

Name:	Lam Howell
Age:	30
Birth Year:	abt 1830
Gender:	Male
Home in 1860:	Stanly, North Carolina
Post Office:	Albemarle
Family Number:	902
Value of Real Estate:	View image
Household Members:	Name Age Lam Howell 30 Mary Howell 19 Richd Howell 43 Martha Howell 78

Lemuel M. Howell was a volunteer soldier when the War between the States broke out. He was  enlisted in Co H. 14th Infantry Regiment by R. A. Anderson.

Name:	Lemuel M Howell
Residence:	Stanly County, North Carolina, North Carolina
Occupation:	Farmer
Age at Enlistment:	30
Enlistment Date:	5 May 1861
Rank at enlistment:	Private
Enlistment Place:	Stanly County, North Carolina
State Served:	North Carolina
Survived the War?:	No
Service Record:	Enlisted in Company H, North Carolina 14th Infantry Regiment on 05 May 1861.Mustered out on 17 Aug 1861 at Camp Ellis, Fairfax County, VA.
Birth Date:	abt 1831
Sources:	North Carolina Troops 1861-65, A Roster

Lemuel Howell did not live long after enlisting. He died of disease in 1861.

Name:	Pvt Lemuel M Howell
Birth Date:	1831
Birth Place:	North Carolina, USA
Death Date:	17 Aug 1861
Death Place:	Suffolk City, Virginia, USA
Cemetery:
Has Bio?:	Y
URL:	http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-..

In 1862, his widow Mary, applied for a pension. J Underwood and J. W. Smith. stood as witnesses.


Application of Mary Williams Howell



A short obituary appeared in the Fayetteville Semi-Weekly Observer.


Fayetteville Semi-Weekly Observer 
(Fayetteville, North Carolina)19 Aug 1861, Mon • Page 3


Lemuel M. Howell's life was short. Stanly County lost many of her young men in this horrible war. But we are left with many questions after this brief obituary.

Who was Mary Williams Howell? Who were her parents? She should appear in the 1850 census. The 1860 census has her being 19 years old, born about 1831. The obituary mentions that the couple had a child. Who was this child? He or she would have been born in 1860-1862. What happened to Mary after she filed for the pension in 1862? She was a young widow. Did she remarry? Did she stay in the area or migrate with her mother-in-law Elizabeth to Mississippi?

I post this in hopes that someone can put two and two together and say, "Hey, this might be my Mary". There were a few Williams in Stanly County and a large number in Montgomery. Somewhere out there, Mary Williams Howell ? and her child are waiting to be "found".