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Note: From "Devin-Howell and Related Families," by Pauline Devin Gray, 1987: John Bradfield (Brad) Howell, son of Alfred Howell and Martha Yarbrough, was born Dec 4, 1883, Madison County, AR; married Ova Horine Oct 4, 1908; died Oct 9, 1962, Mayes County, OK. Ova was born May 11, 1887, and died Oct 29 1955, Mayes County. Soon after their marriage, Brad and Ova bought land and built a small home near his parents. The house had two rooms downstairs and one upstairs. Water was carried from a spring on his father's place. Like most families in those days, they grew most of their food. They had a few cows, sheep, hogs and horses which ran loose in the woods, for Arkansas had open range laws. Their fields of corn were small and were planted by hand. They also had a small orchard. In Sep 1918, they had a sale and moved to Oklahoma in a covered wagon. Besides their four children, they brought along four milk cows and their dog, Ring. A mare, with her mule colt following, was tied to the wagon. They camped close to people's homes; in fact, they made their beds on the porch of a friendly family one night. After five days of travel, the family arrived at Locust Grove on Sep 20, 1918. They spent their first night in the wagon yard where they had their first taste of bologna, which they considered a treat. The family settled between Broken Arrow and Bixby near Brad's brother, Jack Howell, who had moved there a year or so before. After farming near Broken Arrow and Locust Grove a number of years, Brad moved to Locust Grove where he bought and operated Howell Produce--buying and selling cream and eggs. The family never accumulated a lot of family possessions, but they enjoyed a very rich Christian life. They never ate a meal without giving thanks or retired for the night without Bible reading and prayer. Brad never used alcohol, nicotine, or even drank coffee. He was highly respected by all who knew him.
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