Daniel Howell

Daniel Howell (October 26, 1807 – December 2, 1890) was an American businessman, Democratic politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was a member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing Jefferson County during the 1854 and 1855 terms.

Biography Daniel Howell was born in Delaware County, New York, and grew up on his family's farm. In 1832, he was one of the co-founders of a town in Chautauqua County, New York, and established the post office there, known then as Salem X Roads.

In 1835, he went west to the Michigan Territory, establishing a hotel in the village of White Pigeon, Michigan, which he operated until 1839. Over the next decade, he operated a hotel in Belvidere, Illinois, and then another in Rockford, before settling in Jefferson, Wisconsin, where he operated the Jefferson House hotel for several years. His reputation was damaged by this political service due to his support of Governor William A. Barstow—he was counted among the "forty thieves" accused of participating in bribery scandals with Barstow. Howell led his company through the first two years of the war, participating in mostly guard and logistics duty in Tennessee and Kentucky.

He resigned due to illness in March 1863 and returned to Wisconsin, residing at Waukesha, Wisconsin. Two of Howell's sisters also moved to Waukesha County. His younger sister, Clarissa, married Foskett Maynard Putney, an important pioneer of Waukesha, Wisconsin. Clarissa's son, Frank Howell Putney, served in Daniel Howell's company in the Civil War and served as an adjutant and staff officer near the end of the war; he later became prominent in politics, served as private secretary to Wisconsin Governor Harrison Ludington, and served as county judge.

Daniel Howell was also an uncle of New York lawyer and politician William Townsend, through Townsend's mother, Howell's half-sister Sarah Townsend.

For many years he was active in Freemasonry, was one of the charter members of the Knights Templar of Milwaukee, and held the rank of grand master at one point. He died at his home in Waukesha on the morning of December 2, 1890.