Early Oregon Cousins -- Lucelia (Jewett) Howell

Back to some early Oregon cousins who were 1st cousins of John Howard Bond and my 1st cousins 3 times removed. Lucelia (Jewett) Howell was another one of his cousins who was born in 1859. Lucelia was born on 7 Feb 1859, just a week before Oregon became a state. She was the 3rd child and only daughter of Reuben and Lydia Louisa (Hayes) Jewett.

She appeared on the census with her parents in 1860 in Linn County Oregon at age 1 and then in 1870 in Petaluma Township in Sonoma County California at age 11. By 1875 the family was back in Oregon and her father died in 1875 in Linn County Oregon.

Just 2 days after her 21st birthday, on 9 Feb 1880, Lucelia was married to Oliver Howell in Albany, Linn County, Oregon by Judge Johns. On the 1880 census taken in June, Lucelia and Oliver were living with his parents in Monroe Precinct, Benton County Oregon.

Apparently by 1890 Lucelia and Oliver were living in Halsey since a newspaper article from December 27th tells of a fire in the rear of Oliver Howell's variety store and the neighboring billiard hall. The fire destroyed both buildings and their contents. Oliver did have enough insurance to cover his loss. The 1900 census shows them still living in Halsey with their 8 living children, out of 10. Now Oliver was listed as a day laborer. When the 1910 census was taken, Lucelia and Oliver had moved to Lebanon, Linn County Oregon where Oliver was working in the paper mill. The 2 youngest daughters were still at home.

World War I brought sadness to their life when their son, Arthur, was wounded at the battle of Chateau Theirry 19 Jul 1918 and his right arm was amputated below the elbow. But he did survive and after a stay in a hospital in Europe was back in Lebanon early December of 1918.

Lucelia and Oliver lived a long married life together. The Statesman Journal newspaper from Salem printed an article about their 60th anniversary including a photo of them. Seven of their children were still living and all were present at the celebration which included 2 large wedding cakes. The Albany Democrat-Herald stated that their 65th anniversary was   observed at their home with a quiet family reunion.

It was a little over a month after their 66th anniversary that Oliver died on 24 Mar 1946. Lucelia lived 6 more years before her death at age 93 in Lebanon 14 Apr 1952. At the time of her death her obituary noted that she was survived by 6 living children, 14 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. She was buried next to Oliver in the IOOF Cemetery in Lebanon.