Library of Congress

HOWELL, James Bruen, (son of Elias Howell), a Senator from Iowa; born near Morristown, Morris County, N.J., July 4, 1816; moved with his parents to Newark, Ohio, in 1819; attended the public schools; graduated from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, in 1839; studied law; admitted to the bar in 1839 and commenced practice in Newark; moved to Keosauqua, Iowa, in 1841, where he practiced law; owned a newspaper in Keosaugua and, in 1849, moved the newspaper to Keokuk, Iowa; postmaster of Keokuk 1861-1866; frequent, unsuccessful Republican candidate for state and national office; elected as a Republican to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of James W. Grimes and served from January 18, 1870, to March 3, 1871; was not a candidate for reelection to the Senate; one of three commissioners of the court of Southern claims appointed by President Ulysses Grant in 1871 to adjust claims for stores and supplies and served until 1880; died in Keokuk, Iowa, June 17, 1880; interment in Oakland Cemetery.