Evan Howell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Evan Park Howell
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| 36th Mayor of Atlanta | |
| In office January 1903 – January 1905 |
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| Preceded by | Livingston Mims |
| Succeeded by | James G. Woodward |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 10, 1839 |
| Died | August 6, 1905 (aged 65) Atlanta, Georgia |
| Resting place | Westview Cemetery, Atlanta, Georgia |
| Spouse | Julia Adelaide Erwin |
| Education | Georgia Military Institute |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Confederate States |
| Branch/service |  Confederate States Army |
| Rank |  Captain |
| Unit | 1st Georgia Infantry Georgia Light Artillery |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Evan Park Howell (born December 10, 1839 – died August 6, 1905) was an important American politician. He was also an early telegraph operator and a military officer. He served in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. Later in his life, he became the Mayor of Atlanta.
Growing Up and Learning
Evan Park Howell was born in Warsaw, Georgia. This area is now part of northern Fulton County. His father, Clark Howell, Sr., was one of Atlanta's early settlers.
When Evan was just twelve years old, he started working for D.U. Sloan. Sloan was Atlanta's first telegraph operator. Evan was a runner for him and also learned how to use the telegraph.
In 1855, Evan went to the Georgia Military Institute in Marietta. After that, he studied law in Sandersville. He practiced law in Atlanta for a short time before the Civil War began.
Military Service in the Civil War
In 1861, Evan Park Howell joined the infantry. He enlisted in Georgia's First Regiment. Within two years, he was promoted to first lieutenant.
He fought alongside General Stonewall Jackson in Virginia. Later, he was sent to the western part of the war. There, he fought in important battles like the Battle of Chickamauga. He also took part in the Atlanta Campaign. During this campaign, he helped defend the city of Atlanta as a captain of artillery.
Evan ended the war as a captain in Hardee's Corps. He commanded a group called Howell's Battery, which was part of the Georgia Light Artillery.
Career in Business and Politics
After the war, Evan Park Howell spent two years farming. He cleared and sold lumber from his father's land near Atlanta. Then, he worked as a reporter for the Daily Intelligencer newspaper in Atlanta. He later became the city editor for the paper.
In 1869, he went back to practicing law. He also held several political jobs. He was a member of the Atlanta city council and served in the state Senate. He was also a solicitor-general for the Atlanta area.
Evan became involved with The Atlanta Constitution newspaper. In 1876, he bought half of the newspaper and became its editor-in-chief. For the next 25 years, he owned the paper with his managing partner, William Hemphill. Both Howell and Hemphill later served as Mayor of Atlanta.
Evan Park Howell also had other business ventures. With other important businessmen like Richard Peters and Samuel M. Inman, he bought buildings from the International Cotton Exposition of 1881. They turned these buildings into the Exposition Cotton Mills, which were very successful.
While he was editor of the Constitution in 1895, he helped share Booker T. Washington's famous separate as the fingers speech across the country.
Evan Park Howell served on the Atlanta city council many times. He became the mayor of Atlanta shortly before he passed away at age 66. His son, Clark Howell, continued his work at The Atlanta Constitution newspaper.
