Early Loss For Milton Howard in His New Town of Norwood

Mary Elizabeth Cottle Howard (1853-1874)

George M. Howard (1874-1874)

The remains of Mary Cottle Howard and her son George M. Howard were removed from the Old Parish Cemetery and reinterred in Highland Cemetery.

Milton Harrington Howard was born in West Bridgewater on September 8, 1851. While working on his father’s farm during the summer, he attended district schools in the winter and, later, Bridgewater Academy. He served an apprenticeship in building in North Bridgewater (today’s Brockton) and took up drafting in Boston. He subsequently installed exhaust fans for the removal of shaving chips and dust in a number of factories.

In September, 1872, Howard moved to Norwood and opened a contracting business and eventually built some of the finest buildings in town. He was a member of the school board for five years and belonged to many fraternal and social organizations.

In 1872, Milton Howard married Mary Elizabeth Cottle of Boston. Milton and Mary had one child, a son, George Milton Howard, born in August 25, 1874. On September 3, 1874, Mary Cottle Howard died. On December 26, 1874, George Milton Howard died; he was four months and 1 day old. Mother and son were interred in lot 31 in the Old Parish Cemetery.

On July 6, 1876, Milton Howard married Ella A. Capen, the daughter of Silas P. Capen. They had four children: C. Ethel, Maud S., Herman C., and Marion W.

On June 9, 1906, the remains of Mary Cottle Howard and her son George M. Howard were removed from the Old Parish Cemetery and reinterred in Highland Cemetery, lot 117. Lot 31 in Old Parish remains empty.