William Thompson Howell
| William T. Howell | |
|---|---|
| Associate Justice, Arizona Territorial Supreme Court | |
|
In office March 10, 1863 – June 11, 1864 |
|
| Nominated by | Abraham Lincoln |
| Succeeded by | Henry T. Backus |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
July 8, 1810 Goshen (town), New York |
| Died | April 3, 1870 (aged 59) Newaygo, Michigan |
| Political party | Democratic/Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Sophia Brink (1828-1845) Susan M. Hartwell (1847-1856) Sarah Jones (1857-) |
| Profession | Attorney |
William Thompson Howell (July 8, 1810 – April 3, 1870) was an American jurist and politician. Born and educated in New York, the majority of his career was spent in Michigan where he held a variety of state offices. Howell also served as a judge in the newly formed Arizona Territory where he was a principal author of the territory's first legal code, the "Howell Code".
Howell was born on July 8, 1810 in Goshen, New York to parents of moderate means. He was educated in public schools and was teaching by the age of 16 and editing a newspaper by the time he was 19. He changed professions at the age of 24, becoming an attorney and began practicing in Angelica, New York before moving to Jonesville, Michigan in 1837.
Howell married his first wife, Sophia Brink, on May 24, 1828 and the couple had four children. Sophia died in January 1845, with one of the couple's daughters dying several months later. His second marriage was to Susan M. Hartwell on April 29, 1847. In 1853, the couple moved to Jackson, Michigan. Susan died August 27, 1856 and was survived by four children. Howell wed his third wife, Sarah Maria (Gray) Jones in 1857. The third marriage produced two children.
Howell began his political career in 1840 when he was appointed district attorney for Hillsdale County. This was followed by his election to the Michigan Senate in 1843, a position he held through 1846. During his senate service, he became President pro tempore on January 6, 1845. Howell's senate service was followed by his becoming the presidential elector for Michigan's third district in 1848. In his role as elector, he voted for Lewis Cass.
Howell was admitted to practice law in front of the Supreme Court of the United States in 1849. Among the causes he advocated were the right of married women to hold property in their own name, abolition of capital punishment, and the establishment of free public schools.
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