James Richard Howell (1879-1957) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree

James Richard Howell

Born 7 Dec 1879 in LaRue, Kentucky, United States

Ancestors

Son of James Mason Howell and Martha Jane (Benningfield) Howell

Brother of Mary Catherine (Howell) Elliott, Margaret Jane (Howell) Lewis, Joseph R Howell, John W Howell, Ellen Frances (Howell) Wilson, Nora E (Howell) Rayle, Hattie Virginia Howell, Stella B (Howell) Ennis and Fred Howell

Husband of Martha (Johnson) Howell — married 1910 in LaRue, Kentucky, United States

Father of Carl Johnson Howell and James Richard Howell Jr.

Died 15 Sep 1957 at age 77 in LaRue, Kentucky, United States

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Biography

James was born in 1879 to James Howell and Martha Benningfield in LaRue County, Kentucky.

In 1911, James married Mattie Johnson in LaRue County. They had at least two sons. James was a miller at a rolling mill.

The cabin where Abraham Lincoln was born and raised is located in LaRue County. In 1911, the Lincoln Preservation society constructed a neoclassical memorial at the site. They enclosed a reconstructed version of the cabin because original was dismantled before 1865. Today, this building is the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park.

In 1912, James was elected as Kentucky State representative, a two-year position.

In about 1923, bought the Hodgenville Roller Mills Company, which he operated for 25 years.

In 1928, James built the Nancy Lincoln Inn near the memorial to serve tourist needs for food and souvenirs. He named the Inn after Lincoln's mother. Originally, the Inn consisted of a small museum, restaurant, souvenir shop, picnic area, and four cabins.

In about 1947, sold the Hodgenville Roller Mills Company.

James ran the Inn until he passed away in 1957. His descendants continue to operate the Inn (son Carl and then grandson Carl Jr.)^[1] even though the Inn is now within the National Historic Park.^[2]

Messenger-Inquirer (Owensboro, Kentucky) Sun, Feb 6, 1955, page 14

IKE GETS DINNER PLATE

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 (AP)—Mrs. Dwight D. Eisenhower yesterday received a dozen blue Staffordshire dinner plates commemorating the Kentucky log cabin where Abraham Lincoln was born Feb. 12, 1809.

The plates are a gift of James R. Howell of Hodgenville, Ky., proprietor of the Nancy Lincoln Inn—named for Lincoln's mother—at the Abraham Lincoln National Historical Park.

They were presented by Mr. and Mrs. Maurice H. Thatcher of Louisville, Ky., and Washington. Thatcher was a Republican representative from Kentucky from 1923-33 and while in the House sponsored legislation to preserve Lincoln's birthplace.

The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky) Mon, Sep 16, 1957, page 13

J. R. Howell, Hodgenville, Dies at Home

Special to The Courier-Journal

Hodgenville, Ky., Sept. 15.—James Howell, 78, operator for 30 years of the Nancy Lincoln Inn, adjoining nearby Abraham Lincoln National Park, died Sunday morning at his home here.

A former Hodgenville Mayor, City councilman, and School Board member, he served as State representative from 1912 to 1914 and was a deputy United States marshal during World War I. He also had served as LaRue County sheriff.

Until its sale about 10 years ago, Howell had owned and operated the Hodgenville Roller Mills Company 25 years. He was a director of the LaRue County Federal Savings & Loan Association and was a 50-year Mason

1880 Federal Census in Otter Creek, ED 155, LaRue, Kentucky: