Benjamin Franklin Howell (January 27, 1844 – February 1, 1933) was an American banker and Civil War veteran who served eight terms as a Republican Party politician, representing New Jersey's 3rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1895 to 1911.

Benjamin F. Howell
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Jersey's 3rd district
In office
March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1911
Preceded byJacob Augustus Geissenhainer
Succeeded byThomas J. Scully
Personal details
Born
Benjamin Franklin Howell

January 27, 1844
Cedarville, New Jersey
DiedFebruary 1, 1933(1933-02-01) (aged 89)
New Brunswick, New Jersey
Resting placeChrist Cemetery, South Amboy, New Jersey
Political partyRepublican
ProfessionPolitician

Early life and education

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Born in Cedarville, New Jersey, Howell attended the common schools, and graduated from Fort Edward Institute, New York.

Civil War

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He enlisted in the Twelfth Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, in 1862 and served until the close of the war.

Early career

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He engaged in mercantile pursuits in South Amboy, New Jersey, 1865 and was named to the Township Committee, and served as Surrogate of Middlesex County from 1882 to 1892.[1] He served as president of the People's National Bank of New Brunswick, vice president of the New Brunswick Savings Institution, and was a founder and vice president of the First National Bank of South Amboy (now known as Amboy Bank).[2]

Congress

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Howell was elected as a Republican to the Fifty-fourth and to the seven succeeding Congresses, serving in office from March 4, 1895 to March 3, 1911. He served as chairman of the Committee on Immigration and Naturalization (Fifty-eighth through Sixty-first Congresses). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1910 to the Sixty-second Congress.

He served as a delegate to the 1896 Republican National Convention. He served as a member of the United States Immigration Commission 1907–1910.

Death

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He died at the age of 89 at his home in New Brunswick, New Jersey, February 1, 1933, and was interred in Christ Cemetery, South Amboy, New Jersey.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Staff. "B. F. HOWELL DIES; LONG IN CONGRESS; Former Representative From New Jersey for 16 Years - Was 89 Years Old. VETERAN OF THE CIVIL WAR Served Throughout Conflict in Many Important Battles - Once Head of New Brunswick Bank.", The New York Times, February 2, 1933. Accessed January 30, 2013. "NEW BRUNSWICK, N. J. Feb. 1 - Former Representative Benjamin Franklin Howell died here this morning at his home, 32 Union Street, after a month's illness.... After the war, Mr. Howell settled in South Amboy, where he was appointed a member of the Township Committee."
  2. ^ Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.), 01 Nov. 1894. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. Accessed Jan 31, 2019.<http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87068192/1894-11-01/ed-1/seq-1/>
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  Media related to Benjamin Franklin Howell at Wikimedia Commons

  • United States Congress. "Benjamin F. Howell (id: H000857)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  • Benjamin Franklin Howell at The Political Graveyard
  • Benjamin Franklin Howell at Find a Grave
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Jersey's 3rd congressional district

March 4, 1895-March 3, 1911
Succeeded by