Jackson County OR Archives Obituaries.....Howard, Martha B April 14, 1917 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ********************************************************************************* File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Elizabeth C jaxsearch@hotmail.com May 18, 2006, 4:22 pm Medford (Oregon) Mail Tribune, Saturday, 14 Apr 1917, p. 6, c. 1 : Mrs. Martha B. Howard, wife of James S. Howard, the "father of Medford," and pioneer engineer of southern Oregon, and herself a pioneer of Oregon, died Saturday, April 14, 1917, aged 86 years, 1 month and 7 days, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. E. Roberts, of Crater Lake avenue. She was born in London, England, March 7, 1831, coming to America in 1850. She was married to Mr. Howard December 21, 1854, and a few years later the couple left for Oregon, crossing the plains by ox team, arriving at Jacksonville in October, 1860, where they engaged in the merchandise business. After a fire destroyed their store in 1883, they moved to Medford, being the pioneers, and the first merchants. Mrs. Howard was prominent in the social and religious life of the early days. Her home was the meeting place of all the ministers and they always kept a spare room for their use, before there were hotels and school houses in Medford. She was the mother of six children, three of whom are living, Charles J. Howard of Kerby, Or.; Mrs. Nettle L. Webb of Hollywood, Cal., and Ms. J. E. Roberts of Medford. The funeral will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock from Perl's chapel. Interment at Jacksonville cemetery. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/jackson/obits/h/howard1583gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 1.8 Kb