Howard, George T. (George Thomas), 1814-1866

Soldier, explorer, and businessman, of Texas.

George Thomas Howard was born in Washington, D.C., in 1814. Coming to Texas in 1836, he joined the army of the new Republic and served in Galveston and San Antonio, compiling a distinguished record of frontier service. He was part of the Santa Fe Expedition in 1841 and imprisoned in Mexico when the venture's participants were captured in New Mexico. Escaping from prison, he returned to Texas, took part in the 1842 Somervell expedition, and served as sheriff of Bexar County. During the Mexican War, Howard was a member of the Texas Volunteer Cavalry, again compiling a noteworthy military record.

After the war, Howard devoted much of his time to a freighting and supply business in partnership with Duncan C. Ogden. During the Civil War, he joined the Confederate Army and worked to supply troops and negotiate trade agreements.

In 1848, Howard married Mary Frances McCormick in Washington, D.C. The couple had seven children. Howard died in Washington on 1866 August 6. Mrs. Howard died in Washington in 1909.

William Eager Howard (1877-1948) was a son of George T. Howard's brother Henry Peyton Howard. William practiced medicine in San Antonio and Dallas and was an avid collector of books and manuscripts related to Texas and Mexico. Dr. Howard donated portions of his collection to several institutions in Texas; his donation of over 2,000 Texana items to the Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library became the core of its collection.

References

Chabot, Frederick C. With the Makers of San Antonio . San Antonio: Artes Graficas, 1937.

George T. Howard biographical file. Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library, San Antonio, Texas.

Lackman, Howard. "George Thomas Howard." Handbook of Texas Online . http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fho77 .