Born in
Jefferson County, Virginia, Howard attended public schools and later studied law. He was
admitted to the
bar in 1840 and subsequently established a law practice. He later moved to
Batavia, Ohio, and served as a
prosecuting attorney from 1845 to 1849. He served in the
Mexican–American War and was made
second lieutenant of Company C,
2nd Ohio Infantry. Following the Mexican-American War, Howard served as a member of the
Ohio Senate from 1849 to 1852. Howard was elected as a
Democrat to the
Thirty-sixth (March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1861). He was not a candidate for re-election. He enrolled in the army following the outbreak of the
American Civil War and was commissioned as the
major of the
59th Ohio Infantry, on August 11, 1861. He was promoted to
lieutenant colonel and commanded the regiment at the
Battle of Stones River. Howard resigned his commission on February 24, 1863, and returned home to resume his law practice. Howard practiced law until his death in
Batavia, Ohio on June 1, 1891, at the age of 73. He was interred in the Batavia Union Cemetery. ==References==