HOWITT, JOHN (QUAKER)

John Howitt was born April 3, 1805 Long Eaton Hall, Long Eaton, Derbyshire, England, and died March 29, 1881 buried at the Howitt Church cemetery, married twice, Catherine Lee and Margaret McIntosh

1834 early settler on his 500 acre farm "The Grange" in the College District, north side College Ave east of Edinburgh, known as "Quaker" Howitt and was said to be "the largest landowner in the county", soon after he purchased the 800 acre Wingfield property and prize shorthorn herd in Puslinch. John showed these cattle at the first Provincial Exhibition in 1845, held at Niagara, taking most of the prizes. He sold his livestock to F.W. Stone in 1851.

Shortly before the sale, his home was destroyed by fire, and he lost his valuable library, besides deeds, pedigrees, mortgages and other papers.

1843-44 Wellington District Council representing Guelph Township and was the first President of the Guelph Agricultural Society.

He had 23 children, some of whom died young.

1856-1858 (Pewholder Norfolk St.)

1871 farmer living in Puslinch Con 4 Lot 7, member Howitt Memorial church

Dr. John Howitt the son of John "Quaker" and Elizabeth was born Feb 3, 1827 and died Jan 13, 1870 of T.B., He was buried at his own request, under a maple tree where he had studied, on the family farm, now the site of the Dolime Quarry. Later, Quarry owners obtained permission to move the remains to the Howitt cemetery

1856-1858 (Pewholder Norfolk St.)

1845 graduated from district school and became a doctor,

1850 Director of the Farmers and Mechanics Institute, card in the local paper November 4, 1851 residence: Waterloo Road two doors below H. W. Peterson's, Esq;

He was a writer and lecturer of note.

In 1851 he opened his office in Guelph and he was the son of John Howitt, and no physician ever held a warmer place in the hearts of the people in this community than he did. He was a half brother of the late Dr. Henry Howitt.

1852 on the Faculty of the Toronto School of Medicine.

Dr. Henry Howitt was the son John "Quaker" and Margaret and was born 1849 and died July 22, 1934. He was a surgeon

1902 Medical Officer of Health, residence at 221 Woolwich St.,

First son by "Quaker's" second wife, buried Woodlawn Cemetery Guelph

Pedigree Ploughing - "In attempting to plough the meadows of "The Grange" (Quaker Howitt's farm) for the first time, William Thompson, the ploughman, found it impossible to use horses, owing to the rocky condition of the sub-soil and roots. He was told to yoke the imported Shorthorn bulls "Comet" and "Forester", and the difficult work was done, the ploughman only once being thrown in the air. The valuable yoke was used occasionally afterwards for special work, the only time on record when imported Shorthorns were employed as beasts of burden." - Dr. Henry Howitt

Refereeing a Logging Bee - "In 1836, the late Patrick Keheler and his relative, Henry Scriber, undertook to cut, split, log and burn 100 acres on the Grange farm. At the logging, eighty yoke of oxen in file drove across the meadow to the place assigned, with practically all Guelph and district present. The Catholic priest kindly assumed the important duties as "Grog-boss" and owing to his infulence and judicious management, the occasion passed off without incident or rumpus and with much enjoyment and jollification. Mr. Kejeler and Mr. Schriber were chosen as logging captais, but history does not relate which side won." - Dr. Henry Howitt