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Dr. Jacob Harrison Howell (1861-1924)
He was born January 20,1861. His father was Amos Howell of United Empire Loyalists. His mother was Catharine Kline from Germany. Jacob was raised on a farm on Foss Road, east of Haist Road., educated in Fonthill and Welland High school
Jacob taught school then attended Toronto School of Medicine.
Dr. Howell began practice with the firm of Burger & Howell in 1885. He was a member of the Masonic Fraternity. December 28, 1887 he married Julie Josephine Reekie, born 1859. She was from Shedden in Elgin county.
After a year, Dr. Howell left Welland to establish a practice in Shedden. Later he came back to Welland for the remainder of his life.
Dr Howell’s residence and office still stand on the north east corner of Bald and Fraser Streets in Welland. Dr. Howell was the jail surgeon and medical officer of health and served on the school board. He played an important roll in the construction of the Welland High and Vocational School. Later he served on the Ontario Committee for Crippled Children.
His children were James Harrison Howell born July 28,1892, he was a soldier in World War 1. He became a physician. On September 20, 1922 he married Lillie Isabel Murray in Frontenac. They lived in Galt.
Dr Howell’s daughter was Helen Doris Howell born January 29, 1898, another son was Frederick Howell born 1895.
Helen Doris Howell became a Doctor. She accompanied her father in a horse drawn cutter down the old feeder canal to see a patient of Dr. W.B. Hopkins of Wainfleet. After her father’s death Dr. Doris Howell carried on the family practice 1927-1938. She retired from general practice and became a pathologist. She moved to Galt. Dr. Doris Howell died August 9, 2005 in Cambridge Ontario.
Dr. Jacob Harrison Howell died in Welland of a Cerebral Hemorrhage on November 15,1924. He is buried in the Fonthill cemetery.
Thank you to whomever wrote this nice tribute to the Howells. It might be of interest for readers to know that Doris Howell’s father and brother both discouraged her from a career in medicine, but her mother encouraged her very strongly to follow her desires. A female cousin of Mrs. Howell had also been a doctor.
Doris Howell wanted to volunteer for service during WWII but the Canadian Army would not accept women at the beginning of the war. instead Dr Howell paid her own way overseas and joined the red cross and worked in blood transfusion labs. As soon as the Canadian Army would accept female doctors Doris enlisted. She had in her possession a letter from her Commanding Officer, advising her to remember that her “army age” was 38, as she was past the cut off date by the time she was able to enlist. After the end of the war Captain Doris Howell returned to her work at the Provincial Pathology Labs.
Dr. Howell retained a remarkable memory until her sudden death at 92
Good Morning John
Thank you for the wonderful letter on the life of Doris Howell. It is tales such as this that add to the memories of Welland County citizens. We appreciate receiving such personal tributes as it adds to our growing stories of people who helped shape the events of yesteryear. Thank you. B
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