Martin Luther Howell and his wife Gertrude Mae arrived in Napoleon in April, 1919. "M. L." as he was known to most people, was born on a farm in Mahaska County, Iowa, October 6, 1882. He was the oldest of seven children born to Rev. Isaac Newton and Clara Howell. Rev. I. N. Howell was a Baptist preacher, serving churches in Iowa, Missouri, and Minnesota. "M. L." as a young man, taught school after finishing grade school, having passed a Boxwell type exam. In summer school he eventually received college degrees from Iowa State Teachers, Highland Park, and Iowa State College.

While teaching at Rowan, Iowa, one of his pupils was Gertrude Ferguson who was to become his wife. She was the daughter of Steven A. and Essie M. Ferguson. The Fergusons owned farms, an implement store, and the hotel. "M. L." later became mayor of Rowan.

From 1907 to 1917 he served as County Superintendent of Schools in Wright County, Iowa. While in this capacity he met and had a close association with "Pop" Benson, County Agent at Clarion, Iowa. They worked together on corn and pig clubs using the 3 H emblem and motto which became the "4H" clubs of America when A. B. Graham of Ohio made it a national program.

[Photo, p. 265a] Martin Luther Howell

[Photo, p. 265b] Gertrude Mae Howell

"M. L." entered Military Service during World War I and was sent to France with the 88th Div. A.E.F., and served as a YMCA Secretary. When he returned, he was assigned to Camp Sherman, Chillicothe, Ohio, to work in the Base Hospital with wounded soldiers who returned from France. It was while there, he learned that an agricultural extension program was being started at Napoleon. His background qualified him, and his great interest in agricultural education led him to seek this work.

Cortright's big bay gelding brought the Howell family and all their possessions from the depot to stay at the Wellington Hotel until Henry Plassman's house on Clinton Street could be readied for Henry County's First County Agent.

"M. L." saw his job as one of helping farm families to do for themselves. He did this by training leaders, and by demonstrations that the farmers coulduse. In his own words, "Once a project has been formulated by these farmers, they feel like seeing it through, both out of belief in what they are trying to do and out of pride in their community."

Some of the farm practices that were introduced in those first five years included: 27 acres of soybeans were planted, 38 boys joined the pig feeding club, the first 4H Club camp was held in Ohio, soil testing, liming of soil, sweet clover as green manure, high protein feed, certified seed wheat, poultry culling, livestock breed associations.

"M. L." put on an apron and taught girls to can fruit and vegetables by the "Cold Pack" method. He trained 4H livestock judging teams and took them to Chicago and Atlanta.

He helped farmers organize cooperative marketing of grain, livestock, and poultry.

In 1926 "M. L." left the extension office to become manager of the Northwest Ohio Poultry Cooperative in Wauseon.

In 1929 he came back to Henry County to operate his farms in Harrison Township.

In the early 30's "M. L." was active in the St. Paul's Methodist Church in Napoleon, teaching the adult Sunday School class and directing the church choir.

In 1930 to '32 "M. L." used his ability as a public speaker on the Farmer's Institute circuit.

Many folks around the county will remember him as director of the Henry County Men's Brotherhood chorus which met on Sunday each month at some church around the county, rehearsing in the afternoon, and having a song fest in the evening.

In 1933 "M. L." went to Tiffin, Ohio, as administrator of the depression spawned triple-A program. In 1934 he became County Extension Agent of Seneca County.

Now came the high point of his career. Again training farmers to improve their lot, he brought dairymen of Seneca County together and masterminded the organization of what was to become NOBA Inc., Northern Ohio Breeders Association, the oldest artificial breeding business in America, and one of the largest.

Gertrude died in 1936, "M. L." died in 1944. They were laid to rest in Greenlawn Cemetery, Tiffin, Ohio.

To this union were born three children, Luther, Ruth, and Kathleen.

Luther married Beatrice Dunbar of Harrison Township. After teaching vocational agriculture, in Napoleon, he was employed as the first artificial breeding technician in Henry County. He then completed 26 years in various capacities in sales and public relations with NOBA, in Tiffin, Ohio. Beatrice, an elementary school teacher retired recently. They live in Bloomville, Ohio, and are active in church and civic activities.

Ruth, the older daughter, married Bill Travis, well known in Napoleon as owner of Bill Travis Motor Sales, Inc. They live in Napoleon.

Kathleen has taught home economics in Malinta, Bettsville, and in Tiffin. After earning her Doctorate at Ohio State University she taught at college level in Illinois, Oklahoma, and Ohio. She now lives in Columbus.

Luther and Beatrice have two sons, Albert and Larry, and a daughter Phoebe, and 10 grandchildren. Albert, his wife Adrienne, and daughters Evonne, Gwen, and Allison live in Tipp City, Ohio. Larry, his wife Janice, and sons Ladd and Lindsay live in Bas-corn, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Nye (Phoebe) and children Steven, Cindy, Darcy, Tony, and Brock live in Elkhart, Indiana.

Ruth and Bill Travis have two sons Dennis and Norman, and 4 grandchildren. (Their third son John Robert died in 1952 at age 11.) Dennis, his wife Roselyn, and daughter Kristin and son David live in Akron, Ohio. Norman, his wife Joyce, and daughter Sherideth Rae and son Marc live in Columbus, Ohio.

Kathleen has one daughter, Nan, and one granddaughter. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Baer (Nan) and daughter, April, live in Marysville, Ohio.

Submitted by Mrs. Wm. Travis