Howard, John (2)

Howard, John A Methodist Episcopal minister, was born of Roman Catholic ancestry in Onslow County, North Carolina in 1792. His early education was limited, as his father died shortly after the birth of John, and he was placed in a store at the age of twelve. He was converted in 1808 and entered the ministry in 1818 at Georgetown. In 1819 he joined the South Carolina Conference, and was stationed at Sandy River Circuit. In 1820 he was appointed to Georgetown 1821 to Savannah, 1822 to Augusta, and 1823 and 1824 to Charleston. He located from 1825 till 1828, when he was appointed to the Washington and Greensborough Circuits. In 1829 and 1830 he labored on the Appalachee Circuit. In 1831 he joined the Georgia Conference, then forming, and for three years became presiding elder of the Milledgeville District. From 1834 to the time of his death in 1836, he was agent for the "Manual Labor School" of the Conference. "Mr. Howard's ministry, especially in Savannah, Augusta, and Charleston, was attended with marked success. He labored with great fidelity, not only in the pulpit, but with penitents at the altar being alike fervent in his prayers and appropriate in his counsels. As a pastor, too, he was always on the alert to promote the best interests of his people. Whenever there was darkness to be dissipated, or grief to be assuaged, or sinking hope to be encouraged, or evil of any kind to be removed, there he was sure to be present as an angel of mercy." — Sprague, Annals of the American Pulpit, 7, 614 sq.