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Note: William Davis Howren (1882-1978)
By Robert Burlingame 11 Sep 2020
Named after his father's brother, William Dennis Howren
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This is an article that appeared in the Dallas Morning News, May 14, 1969 by Frank X. Tolbert
On a raw, windy day after heavy rains last week a tall, wiry, old (87 years) civil engineer in weather stained khaki was directing the work of a surveying crew alongMr Williams the muddy-red flood tide of the South Canadian River, north of Amarillo. He is William Davis (Uncle Bill) Howren, who has been walking all over the Texas Panhandle since 1903 -- and enjoying it.
Bill Howren was 21 and fresh out of Southwestern University when his father, Captain Aaron Howren of Georgetown, got a comission from the state to make a fresh survey of the monster XIT ranch. Except for a few years off adventuring, such as engineering work in Mexico, Uncle Billy has been surveying the Panhandle ever since.
At 87 Mr Howren is still much in demand for professional services. I talked with him last week in his Amarillo office, interrupting his paper work on his current survey of a stretch of the Canadian River Bed which a Colorado petroleum company has leased for drilling.
Mr Howren's father was called Captain because he'd been once a sea captain and a bay pilot. [This statement is not accurate, he had never been a sea captain, when he was in the army, he was only an enlisted man, he was the captain of a Surveror's team.] He had an engineering degree and turned to surveying after he came to Texas. On the 1903 survey of the XIT ranch the Howrens found that the ranch owners had received more than the 3,500,000 acres they were supposed to get for building the present Texas state capitol.
"The XIT's surveyors had some long chains", said Uncle Bill. "We found they's gotten 65000 acres too much. And the ranch gave the 65000 acres back to the state in 1915 after a law suit."
In 1907 there wasn't much engineering work for a spell and the young Howren became, temporarily, a cowboy for the XIT ranch. In a roping accident he lost part of his right arm, below the elbow. [This statement is not accurate, he was never a cowboy for the XIT - see the following autobiography. He was briefly a cowboy as a young man, after he dropped out of college and befre he joined his father as a surveyor.] He has a hook attached to what's left of his right arm.
Mr Howren was a close friend of the late Cal Farley, the Amarillo businessman who founded the original Boy's Ranch, for misguided or unwanted boys, at Old Tascosa on the Canadian River. Boy's Ranch now encompasses more than 4000 acres. And Uncle Bill did all the early engineering work, surveyng and laying out the water systems and other utilities -- of course for no charge. [Comment from Robert Burlingame -- He actually did receive pay -- fishing rights on the lake at Boy's ranch.]
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Transcription of Newspaper
article in Amarillo Daily News, May 4 1974
PIONEER SURVEYOR SET HIS SIGHTS ON 100, by Bill Cox
Lanky Bill Howren of 800 Florida, who will be 92 in July, Friday evening slipped on a coat and tie (he detests this), clamped on his four year old western hat, and drove to Canyon to attend the 53rd annual meeting of the Panhandle - Plains Historical Society. It was the 52nd annual meeting of the group that the pioneer surveyor and civil engineer, who is a charter member of the society, has attended. The only one he missed was in 1942, when he was in Colorado doing one of the things he love most -- fishing. In fact, William Davis Howren -- just Bill to all his friends -- has a printed sign on his office which reads: "God does not deduct from man's allotted time those hours spent in fishing". And Howren comments, "If I hadn't fished all I have, I'd died at 80 at least." He's aiming for 100 -- and more. There are few charter members of the historical society left. It was founded in 1921 and chartered two years later. Howren recalls he became involved in the organization through the late "Judge" H E Hoover, an attorney at Canadian. The pioneer surveyor, who came to the Panhandle in 1903 at the age of 21 to take charge of the surveying team that in the next five years would divide one and one-half million acres of XIT ranch land into sections, retired last year. "I thought 70 years was long enough to do my engneering work." Howren said. "The Government got to mixing up in local construction jobs and improvements, raising prices and messing up." He still does a few house plats for insurance companies on his drawing board in the office located in his home. But he figured it was time to quit tromping the rough Panhandle countryside with his surveying tools.
Nowadays, he's doing a lot of reading (currently a couple of Sir Walter Scott novels) and "kinda checking up on my Texas history." Indeed, Bill Howren is the right man to "check up" on Texas history, because he has lived so much of it. When he was three and one-half years old, Bill's father, "Captain" Aaron Howren (called captain because of his experience as a sea captain and bay pilot) [This statement is not correct] took him to Austin to witness the cornerstone laying of Texas pink granite Capitol. "I still remember it," Bill said, "My Father was acquainted with lots of politicians -- he wasn't a politician himself by any means -- but he was a personal friend of the governor."
Bill was born at Georgetown, Texas on 28 Jul 1882, and grew up there. When he received his degree in engineering [not true - he dropped out his second year] at Southwestern University at Georgetown, young Howren joined his father in the Texas Panhandle. The elder Howren had been commissioned by the State of Texas to survey the huge XIT Ranch. "My father thought he was getting pretty old - he was 60 - and wantedsomeone to take charge of the party," Bill recalled. "I landed in Dalhart at 2 AM on 1 Aug 1903. I learned my surveying under my dad." In Oct 1903, while continuing the XIT survey work that kept him in the field for days, Howren moved to Amarillo - then a town of about 1500 or 2000 people. He'd been here only two days when he became a volunteer fireman. "A lumberman named Harding owned a big house at 10th and Harrison, and it cought fire." Howren recalled. "There was a deep ditch on one side of 6th Street, and I was running to the fire when I fell in it. When I got to the burning house, I grabbed hold of a hose. Some of the vounteer firemen wanted to know who the hell I was. I told them, 'I'm a fireman' and went ahead helping. I went back to the fire station with them. He served as a volunteer firefighter until the town got a paid fire department about 1907. "There were four taxicabs in town, and when the fire bell would ring, all the cabs would head for the fire station. One would pull the two wheel hose cart, which was all we had, and the rest of us would ride to the fire in the other cabs." Howren said.
The approach of a howling blizzard in Feb 1907 contributed indirectly to Howren losing his right arm just below the elbow. Thereafter, he wore a steel hook, but it never interferred with his survey work, even though he had been right handed. He soon became as efficient as any surveyor with two hands. Howren and his crew were working near Romero when the winter storm struck. Cattle in the area had sensed the impending white fury and strayed into the surveying camp to feed on the hay meant for the party's mules and horses. The men in the camp mounted up and began chasing out the intruding cattle. "I always rode my horse with a loose chinch," Howren said, "I threw my rope on a cow, and when it hit the end of the rope, it jerked my saddle off. It jerked my horse hole. I reached out to get the saddle and push it back on the horse and saw that I didn't have a right hand. The hand was hanging from a strip of skin. I got a bite of the rope. Howren wrapped a bandana around the almost severed hand, and he then started out to the railroad station in Romero, but the snow had started and no train could get out. About 11 PM, he finally got a passenger train to Tucumcari, New Mexico. Howren woke up a doctor, but he was still a long way from receiving treatment. "He built a fire in his stove and said, 'Now, let's see that arm'", Howren recalled. "I asked him, 'Ain't you gonna wash your hands?', and he said no, I told him he damn sure wasn't going to touch my arm then and walked out." Before Howren finally got a train into Amarillo, arriving late the next night, blood poisoning had set in. "I had tried to get the boys to take a knife or scissors and cut off the hand," Howren said, "but they wouldn't do it, and I couldn't do it." The blood poisoning resulted in his arm having to be amputated below the elbow instead of at the wrist.
Bill Howren says his health is good these days. His shoulders have a slight stoop, but his crinkled, weather etched face is that of a man who has lived many years outdoors and profited from it. He wears glasses only to read. "As long as I was out in the sun, the sun shining on my eyes kept them young. Television has hurt my eyes more than anything." Although he still drives, Bill says his wife, Fay, is reluctant to ride with him. "For 40 years she slept when she rode with me," he said with a grin. "Now she's all tensed up and ready to jump out." "He's a good safe driver", his wife said. She rode with him to his 32nd Historical Society meeting Friday night.
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Amarillo Sunday News Globe, 13 May 1973
Bill Howren's book
... Bill is an old time surveyor of the Panhandle praries. When he was 10 years old his father took him to Austin for the corner stone laying of Texas' pink granite Capitol for which the legislature traded 40 counties of Panhandle land. This track became the XIT ranch. Fifty two years ago, Bill joined the Panhandle Plains Historical Society. In all the years that have followed, he has missed only one annual meeting of the Society. Bill was present last Thrusday for the 1973 meeting in the assembly room of the museum. He was given an ovation and made a life member. He responded laconically, in the manner of his generation, "I can use that $5 a year."
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Written by William Davis Howren (Date not known, probably after 1960)
I was born in Georgetown Texas on the 28th day of July,1882, the 9th child of 12 children. 3 girls and 1 boy died in infancy. At this time two sisters and I are all that remain of the family.
My father always took me along with him or trips. He was active in the Masonic Lodge, so when the cornerstone of the Capitol Building at Austin was laid, he took me with him. And I remember very well that event. The masons in charge allowed me to place a penny in the box which is sealed in the Corner Stone. My father was aquainted with many of the men in and around Austin. I remember that one time Charles Culberson brought me a sack of "Austin Chips" candy, which is still made in the same shop at Austin. Jim Hogg, Albert Burleson, J.D.Sayers, Joe Bailey, and many others were men I used to see often, as friends of my father.
I attended school in Georgetown, with one year at Southwestern University. In September 1901, I went to work in Richardson's Book Store, we also sold musical instruments, china, crystal ware, and sporting goods. As a sideline I framed pictures and made rubber stamps. I worked here two years, then on July 29th 1903, I recieved word from my Farther to report to work for him as surveyor on the XIT ranch. I arrived in Dalhart at 2:00 AM, August 1st 1903. That summer we retraced the west line of Texas, and staked some sections of land in Parmer County, and on Oct lst we pulled the wagons into Channing for storage for the winter. My mother and two younger sisters moved from Georgetown to Channing the 1st of August. So when the survey work was stopped, we all moved to Amarillo. and on the 15th day of October my father rented a 4 room house at 6th and Harrison from O.M.Eakle.
I got a job with Maddry Keynon Furniture Store as picture framer, N.S. Griggs was employed by the same firm.
In November 1903 I joined the Volunteer Fire Dept. The boys at Goodnight College wanted a foot-ball game with Amarillo that fall, so a bunch of the boys here in town, most of them worked for the old Pecos Railroad, got together and played one game with those eager Goodnight boys. I have forgotten the score. Then in the Spring of 1904, we all got the baseball fever, so I joined up with the Amarillo team sponsored by the Santa Fe R.R. I do not remember all the members of that team. They were John Trollinger, Harvey Trollinger, Dave Sturor, Bill Simms, Bill Davis and me. I am the last member alive. The Santa Fe furnished transportation for the team, so we played games at all the towns up the R.R. as far as Newton, Kansas. Baseball did not pay anything, so I went to work for the LX ranch, first on the farm (Bill Rule was the foreman), then for the cow outfit (Harrison Smith, foreman). One day at noon Harrison said that my mount was in a stall in the barn. I saddled the horse, rode him to the roundup, and then learned that he was the worst outlaw on the ranch. But he never offered to pitch me. [There may be a line cut off at the bottom of the page]
Henry Harding was general manager of the ranch. He didn't like the way I drove the team to the freight wagon, so I got my time one day in December. However I didn't miss a day, but went to work for Sellers Bros, Coal & Feed, where I stayed until Sept 1st, when the X.I.T. Ranch boss called us back to the surveying job. The first job was laying out the town of Farwell, we had to burn the high grass off before we could survey the site.
We continued the survey of the lands in Parmer, Deafsmith, Oldham. Hartley and Dallam Counties until the late fall of 1908, when I completed the surveys in Hartley County. A survey party on the X.I.T.consisted of a cook tent with coal stove, a 16' x 10' tent for sleeping, and usually two teepee tents,a wagon with grain box, four mules, a jigger wagon, two mules, a buckboard, four horses or mules, (we used a spare team for buckboard, because it was used every day) four saddle horses, a cook, a swamper, 2 chainmen, two flagmen, a buckboard driver and a surveyor. When I pulled the wagons and live stock into Channing and discharged the men, I felt like I had taken all the wind and weather I could stand, so I went to Arizona on a job of railroad location and construction for the El Paso and Northeastern Railroad Company, north of Duglas, Arizona, up the Sulfur Springs Valley to Courtland, a small mining town. Back in those day's all dirt work was performed with mules and horses and a no. 2 scraper. On this particular job, the general contractor, Jim Mullins, had about 600 mules and brought to the job a new dirt mover called a Fresno, which would move about four times as much dirt as the no. 2 scraper, and use four mules instead of two. Earth for the fills was obtained from borrow pits along the right of way, each side of the road bed.
In the fall of 1909, I was called to work on the Mexico & Northwestern R.R. in old Mexico, building from Casas Grande to Madera, and July 1910 I was transfered to the Madera Lumber Company, owned by the same company that owned the Mexico & Northwestern railroad, namely, The Pearson Company, which owned the street railway system in Mexico City, and other interests. It was an English concern, Lord Pearson president and owner. I was named chief engineer for location and construction of all railroads in the mountains for the purpose of harvesting the timber on 3,000,000 acres of land. This was a beautiful land, ranging in elevation from 5,000 feet to 9300 feet in the mountains. There were many deer, turkeys, bears and quail, as well as little green parrots during the sunmer time.
Under Porfiero Diez, Dictator of Mexico, no Mexican was allowed to have a gun or firearm of any kind, so game was plentiful, except to quail. This bird was called a fool hen because they would set, and a man with a stick about four feet long could knock them down, thus the Mexicans could kill quail, but not other game. Thousands of antelope ranged the country. Blue quail were in abundance everywhere. Prairie chickens were also abundandant, espcially in the tall grass regions. Coyotes and lobo wolves were numerous. In 1905, the state of Texas prohibited the killing of antelope, but that did not stop the land agents and land buyers from shooting them indescriminately, so by 1908 there were few antelope left.
In Feb.1907, I was laying out the town of Romero in Hartley County, on the Rock Island railroad. On the 7th day of the month, about three o'clock we noticed a dark cloud in the north, so suspecting bad weather, we pulled out for camp, about two miles north. When we arrived at camp we found a bunch of black muly cows feeding on the hay that we kept for the horses and mules. Now the two flagmen and I were mounted on horses, so I suggested that we run the cattle off. We started to do just that, but the first cow that I tried to roll by fore-footing her was caught by only one fore foot. And in some way my right hand became entangled in rope and was severed just below the wrist. About this time, a blizzard struck camp. It was so severe that the trains could not run that night and not until afternoon the next day. So it was about midnight of the 8th before I got to Amarillo, and the doctors. [Gangrene set in and they cut off his arm to 1 inch below the elbow, addition by R.S Burlingame].
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On the list of Potter Co, Texas officials for 1938
W D Howren, Surveryor
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1908 Texas County tax rolls, Dallam Co, Texas
D W Howren (line 29)
Miscelaneous property $10,
Total value = $10
State taxes = $1.00 (ad valorum)
State taxes = $2.00 (school)
County taxes = $2.00 (ad valorum)
County taxes = $2.00 (special)
County taxes = $3.00 (school)
Total state and county taxes = $8.00
Amount received = 0
Poll taxes = $0.50
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1920 Census
Howren, William D, Age: 37, Year: 1920, Birthplace: Texas, Roll: T625_1790, Race: White, Page: 12B, State: Texas, ED: 53,
County: Deaf Smith Image: 794, Township: Hereford
William D Howren, head, male, white, age 37, married, born Texas, father unknown, mother unknown, occupation Civil Engineer
Fay D Howren, wife, female, white, age 21, married, born Texas. father Texas, mother Texas
Robert C Howren, son, male, white, age 6 mo, single, born Texas, father Texas, mother Texas
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1925 TAX ROLL, CITY OF TULIA, TEXAS
Howren, W. D.
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1930 Census, Amarillo, Potter Co, Texas, (800 Florida Street)
Roll: T626_2384, Page: 17B, ED: 4, Image: 0140
William D Howren, Head, Own Home value $4000, No radio, Male, white, age 48, married, age at marriage 37, born Texas, father Florida, mother Alabama, Civil Engineer
Doris Howren, Wife, female, white, age 32, married, age at marriage 21, born Texas, father Texas, mother Texas
Robert Howren, son, male, white, age 11, born Texas, father Texas, mother Texas
Mary Howren, daughter, female, white, age 8, born Texas, father Texas, mother Texas
Margaret Howren, daughter, female, white, age 6, born Texas, father Texas, mother Texas
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1940 Census, Amarillo, Potter Co, Texas
800 South Florida
Own $3000
William D Howren, Head, M W 58, Married, College-2, born Texas, 1935 residence-Same house, Civil Engineer-county engineer,
F Doris Howren, wife, F W 42, Married, High-2, born Texas, 1935 residence-Same house
Margaret A Howren, daughter, F W 18, single, High-2, born Texas, 1935 residence-Same house
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Robert Keys & Associates
3144 W. 28th, Amarillo, TX 79109
Office: 806-352-1782
Fax: 806-352-1942
Email: rekeys@sbcglobal.net
http://www.keyssurveying.com/employees.htm
Robert Keys & Associates (formerly Jimmie Nail & Co.) is a Texas professional corporation whose primary business is land surveying in the State of Texas. It is wholly owned by Robert E. Keys, Registered Professional Land Surveyor. The company began more than 50 years ago with Morris Browning, Licensed State Land Surveyor, and followed by Jimmie Nail, Licensed State Land Surveyor, in 1952, followed by Robert E. Keys in 1980.
The surveying and engineering records and files of W. D. Howren, Licensed State Land Surveyor and Professional Engineer, were purchased in 1976.
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World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
Name: William Davis Howren
Residence, Scholle, Valencia Co, New Mexico
Birth Date: 28 Jul 1882
Race: White
Roll: 1711809
DraftBoard: 0
Occupation, Miner, Employer Williams and Howren, Scholle Valencia, New Mexico
Nearest relative, Mrs W G Word, Rural Route 2, Hedley, Donely Co, Texas
He has lost right arm, below the elbow
Height tall, Build, slender, Eyes Brown, hair black
12 Sep 1918
County: Torrance
State: New Mexico
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William Davis Howren, "United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942"
name: William Davis Howren
event: Draft Registration
event date: 1942
event place: Amarillo, Potte [Potter Co], Texas
gender: Male
birth date: 28 Jul 1882, Georgetown, Texas
nara publication title: World War II Draft Cards (4th Registration) for the State of Texas
nara publication number:
arc identifier: 576252
film number: 4145643
digital folder number: 004145643
image number: 02001
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Funeral pamphlet
In Memory of William Davis Howren
born 28 July 1882 in Georgetown, Texas
died 22 April 1978 in Amarillo, Texas
Services Llano Cemetery, 25 Apr 1978
Minister Paul Sneed
Bearers: Tom Curtis, Terry Curtis, Jimmy Nait, Tolly Jones, Harold Daniel, Don Strout
Internment, Llano Cemetery
Funeral home, N S Griggs and sons
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Amarillo paper - 23 Apr 1978
William Davis "Bill" Howren, 95, of 800 Florida, well known Panhandle pioneer surveyor died yesterday. Services are pending with N S Griggs and Sons Funeral directors. Mr Howren was born in Georgetown. He moved to Amarillo in 1903, after he received his degree from Southwestern University, and helped his father survey 3.5 million acres of XIT ranch land that encompassed nine counties along the New Mexico line. Mr Howren surveyed and laid out the cities of Farwell, Friona, and Coldwater. he was the city engineer from 1916 to 1918. Mr Howren was a charter member of the Panhandle Plains Historical Society and the XIT reunion. He was a member of Professional Engineers Society, the Panhandle Old Settlers Association and the Outdoor Society. He was a former director and vice resident of the Texas Wildlife Federation. He and Doris Blair were married in 1918 [actually 1919] at Amarillo. Survivors include his wife, one son R C "Bob" of Fort Pierce, Florida, one daughter, Mrs Margaret H Miller of Wichita Falls, one sister, Bess H Anderson of Los Angeles, California, seven grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
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Obituary in Amarillo Paper, unknown date
Graveside services for William Davis "Bill" Howren, 95 of 800 Florida, well known Panhandle pioneer surveyor, will be at 2 PM today at Llano Cemetery. Paul Sneed, minster of Central Church of Christ, will officiate. Arrangements are with N S Griggs and Sons Funeral Directors. Mr Howren was born in Georgetown, Texas. He moved to Amarillo in 1903 after he received his degree from Southwestern University [not actually true since he quit in his 2nd year], and helped his father survey 3.5 million acres of XIT Ranch land that encompassed nine counties along the New Mexico line. He was Amarillo city engineer from 1916 - 1918. Mr Howren was a charter member of the Panhandle-Plains Historical Society and the XIT Reunion. He was a member of the Professional Engineers Society, the Panhandle Old Settlers Association and the Outdoor Society. He was a former director and vice president of the Texas Wildlife Federation. He and Doris Blair were married in 1918 at Amarillo. Survivors include
Wife [Fay Doris Blair]
Son [Robert Conrad Howren]
Daughter [Margaret Alleine Howren]
Sister [Elizabeth Howren]
7 grandchildren [Gary Conrad Howren, James William Miller, Robert Stevens Burlingame, Raymond Nelson Burlingame, Jimmy Edward Burlingame, Michael Lee Miller, John Newman Miller, Kathy Blair Howren]
3 great grandchildren.
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Obituary in the Dalhart Texas, 26 Apr 1978
XIT Cowhand Bill Howren, 95, Is Buried Tuesday in Amarillo
XIT cowhand William Davis Howren [actually he was never a cowhand for the XIT], 95, of Amarillo and a charter member of the XIT Cowhands Reunion Association, who rarely, if ever, missed an XIT reunion, died Saturday. Graveside services and burial were held Tuesday in Llano Cemetery in Amarillo. Mr Howren was born in Georgetown. He moved to Amarillo in 1903, after he received his degree from Southwestern University [actually he only attended 1 year], and helped his father survey 3.5 million acres of the XIT ranch land that encompassed nine counties in Texas along the New Mexico line. Mr Howren surveyed and laid out the cities of Coldwater, Friona, and Farwell. He was Amarillo city engineer 1916-1918. In addition to being a charter member of the XIT Reunion, he also was a Panhandle Plains Historical Society Charter member. Other memberships include Panhandle Old Settlers Association and the Outdoor Society. He was a former director and vice president of the Texas Wildlife Federation. Survivors include his wife, the former Doris Blair. They were married in Amarillo in 1918; also a son. R C (Bob) Howren of Fort Pierce, Florida; a daugher, Mrs Margaret H Miller of Wichita Falls; sister, Bess H Anderson of Los Angeles, California, seven grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
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William Davis Howren
Birth: Jul. 28, 1882
Death: Apr. 22, 1978
Burial:
Llano Cemetery
Amarillo
Potter County
Texas, USA
Plot: Section 20 Lot 57 Space 1
Record added: Dec 20 2006
By: Walter Dunn
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Certificate of death
Place of death, Potter Co, Texas, 800 S Florida
Usual residence, Potter Co, Texas, 800 S Florida
Residence in city limits
Name: William Davis Howren
Date of death, 22 Apr 1978
Male, White, Married
Date of birth, 28 Jul 1882, Georgetown, Texas
Age 95
Occupation, Civil Engineer
Father, Aaron Sharp Howren
Mother Martha Spivey
Was deceased in armed forces, no
Informant, Mrs Doris B Howren
Cause of death, Cardiac failure due to Arteriosclortic heard disease
Doctor, Kenneth F ??, 2209 West 7th Street, Amarillo, TX
Name of cemetery, Llano Cem, Amarillo, Texas
Funeral home, N S Griggs and Sons
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Howren, William Davis; ASCE Member
(1882-1978)
Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers 1981, pg. 650, Document type: Memoir
Abstract: William Davis Howren, the son of Aaron Sharp Howren and Martha Alliene Spivy, was born on July 28, 1882 at Georgetown, Texas. He was graduated [not correct- he dropped out after 1 year] from Gergetown University in 1903, and immediately began work with his father who was engaged in surveying ranches and other properties in the Panhandle of West Texas. This was in the days when every survey party in that country included one or two security guards against Indian attacks. He continued this work without interruption for 60 years. During that time he also prepared plans and supervised the construction of a number of water systems and sanitary sewer systems in small communities in West Texas. Since 1922 he was active as an Associate Member in ASCE, and became a Member in 1958. He was a member of the Elks Lodge in Amarillo and a member of the Methodist Church. In 1918 he was married to Fay Doris Blair who survives him. Mr. Howren died on April 22, 1978 in Amarillo, Texas and also is survived by his son, a daughter, six grandsons, one grand daughter and five great grandchildren. Mr. Howren was elected Associate Member of the Society in 1922 and a Member in 1958.
Abstract of a memoir prepared by Joe J. Rady, F. ASCE
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Biographies of engineers, written 1944
William Davis Howren was born in Georgetown, Texas, 81 years ago. He attended Southwestern University and began work in 1903 for the Capitol Freehold Investment Company as a land surveyor. Until 1908, he worked for Railroad interests in Arizona and Mexico. Prior to WWI, he worked as chief engineer for Madera Lumber Company, Construction Superintendant for the C A Smith Lumber Co in Oregon, and engaged in general engineering practice. From 1916-1918, he was city engineer for Amarillo and since then has operated on his own as general and consulting engineer in Amarillo. He is a member of the Elks lodge and of the Amarillo Methodist Church. He holds licenses as a State Land Surveyor and as a Registered Public Surveyor. In WWI, he served on a selective board and in the recent conflict was Assistant Superintendant of Utilities at the Lone Star Ordnance Plant in Texarkana and at the Synthetic Rubber Plant in Port Neches.
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24 Oct 1905 The Twice a Week Herald (Amarillo, Texas)
Advetizement block
We are selling those H & T C Railroad lands, located on the Canadian River, near Amarillo. They are going fast and will not last long. The new wagon bridge will open up that entire section. See us about location and prices
W D Howren, Agent with The John J Burns Land Company, Amarillo National Bank Building, Amarillo, Texas
Hereford Brand, Vol 6, No 51
Amarillo, Texas, 22 Jan 1907
As a result of an accident while roping from horseback last week near his camp in the XIT pasture near Middle Water, Will Howren, a young civil engineer of this city, has suffered the loss of his right arm and is... still in a critical condition. Howren roped a steer and got the finger of his right hand caught in the rope. The impact when the horse set back to stop the steer pulled Howren's finger from his hand. Before his wound could be given proper attention, blood poisoning had set in and when he was brought to the hospital here the arm had to be amputated below the elbow. Charming Courier.
Will Howren has quite a number of friends in Hereford who deplore the sad accident and who sincerely hope it will not prove of so serious a nature as to result fatally.
Dallas Morning News, Jan 23 1907
His Arm is amputated, Man's condition serious as result of accident while roping a stere in panhandle
Amarillo, Texas, Jan 22
As the result of an accident while roping from horseback last week near his camp in the XIT pasture near Middlewater, Will Howren, a young civil engineer of this city, has suffered the loss of his right arm and is still in a critical condition. Howren roped a steer and got the finger of his right hand caught in the rope. The impact when the horse set back to stop the steer pulled Howren's finger from his hand. Before the wound could be given proper attention, blood poinsoning set in, and when he was brought to the hgospital here, the arm had to be amputated below the elbow.
23 Jan 1907 The Houston Post (Houston, Texas)
Lost Arm Through Roping Steer
Amarillo, Texas, January 22, Will Howren has suffered the loss of his right arm as the result of an accident while roping for horseback. Howren roped a steer and the rope, catching the fingers of his hand at the horn of the saddle, pulled several fingers off at the joint. Blood poisoning set in and when he reached here the arm had to be amputated at the elbow.
24 Jan 1907, Bryan Morning Eagle, Bryan, Texas
Arm Amputated
Mishap was brought about while roping a steer
Amarillo, Texas, 23 Jan -- While roping a steer in this counry Will Howren, a young civil engineer, residing hee, got a finger of his right hand caught in the rope. Thesudden stop of his horse pulled the finger out of the hand. Blood poisoning set in, and the arm had to be amputated.
The Weekly Herald (Amarillo, Texas) 7 Feb 1907
Will Howren, who was the victim of such a serious accident two weeks ago, is now able to be down town to visit his friends. The pluck which enabled him to stand the ordeal of the wound and the operation has never failed him, and has greatly hastened his recovery.
The Weekly Herald (Amarillo, Texas) 21 May 1908
Hotel arrivals at "The Amarillo"
W D Howren
The Weekly Herald (Amarillo, Texas) 9 Jul 1908
Will Howren was down from Dalhart to spend the Fourth with Amarillo Friends
13 May 1909 Bisbee Daily Review, (Bisbee, Arizona)
Refund to WD Howren, Courtland, $2.50 poll tax paid for the year 1909. ground of disability
29 Jul 1909
The following is a list of the names of those who subscribed to the fund for Mrs R G Stinson, whose husband was killed in an explosion which occurred in the early part of the month at Nacozari, Sonora...W D Howren $1.00.
ElPase Herald, 13 Apr 1914
W H Howren [Correct to W D Howren] entertained Miss Maude Akers, Miss A Akers, Miss Alleine Howren and C A Storer at dinner Sunday night at the Valley Inn in Ysleeta.
11 Mar 1918 Wichita Beacon (Wichita, Kansas)
Amarillo, Texas, Mar 11 - City engineer Will Howren left Amarillo today for Clovis, New Mexico, where he goes to take charge of the preliminaries of the paving of four sections of the business district with brick. Clovis has enjoyed a banner year since January 1917 and this is one of the outcomes of her prosperity.
Good Roads, By League of American Wheelmen, Published by S Elliott, 1918
Page 250, 1918
W D Howren has resigned as City Engineer of Amarillo, Texas to accept a position with the Hawkeye Copper Co at Scholle, New Mexico. Mr Howren has been City
Amarillo Daily News (Amarillo, Texas) 4 Apr 1918
For sale or trade - One four cylinder Oldsmobile roadster, first class condition. See Bill Howren, Phone 180, City Hall
The Mountainair Independent (Mountainair, New Mexico) 26 Sep 1918
William D Howren, manager of the Hawkeye Mining & Development Company, was in Mountainair today, to make affidavit to his Questionnaire. Although handicapped by the loss of one arm, he is doing his best to break into the service of Uncle Sam, and with his education, would be a valuable man in various places. He claims that having made his living with one arm for 20 years, he ought to be worth something to Uncle Sam.
23 Sep 1920, The Herford Brand (Herford, Texas)
The matter of macadamizing Third or Fourth street, or possibly both of them, through town from east to west, is rapidly coming to a head. The property owners on the two streets will soon have an opportunity of saying whether or not they want this much needed improvement. William Howren, representig the Henry Exall Elrod Engineering Company of Dallas the man who recently reconstructed the Hereford Sewerage disposal plant, arrived in town this week and, in conjunction with the Civic Committee of the new Chamber of Commerce, took the necessary levels and made the investigations from which to determine the cost of the proposed improvements. After thouroughly working out the local conditions Mr Howren returned to his office in Dallas, where he will prepare the plans and estimates, from which each property owner will know exactly what the road will cost him, and will submit them for final action to the local committee. Mr Howren was non-commital when asked which street would make the most acceptable thoroughfare, but intimated that either of them would answer the purpose acceptably and economically. In working out the plans he will figure it so that the native material to be used as a foundation on the road can later on, in years to come, be re-rolled and used as the base for a heavier roadbed, should traffic grow to the extent where that step would be advisable. Meanwhile, residents on both streets are beginning to wake up to the value of the prpoposed road to their property and numbers of them are coming to the committee with assurances that when the time comes, they stand ready to sign up for the road.
23 Sep 1920 The Hereford Brand
W J Howren [correct to W D Howren} and wife and little daughter [correct to son] returned Tuesday to their home in Weatherford, Texas. Mr Howren has charge of the paving repairing proposition.
Dallas Morning News, 28 Sep 1920
Hereford preparing to improve streets
Hereford, Texas, Sept 27
The matter of macadamizing Third or Fourth street, or possibly both of them, throught town from east to west, is rapidly coming to a head. The property owners on the twe streets will soon have an opportunity of saying whether or not they want this much needed improvment. William Howren, representing the Henry Exall Elrod Engineering Company of Dallas, the man who recenty reconstructed the Hereford sewage disposal plant, arrived here last week and, in conjunction with the civic committee of the new chamber of Commerce, took the necessary levels and made the investigations from which to determine the cost of the proposed improvements. After thoroughly working out the local conditions, Mr Howren returned to the office in Dallas, where he will prepare the plans and estimates, from which each property owner will know exactly what the road will cost him. and will submit them for final action to the local committee.
20 Mar 1921, Amarillo Daily News (Amarillo, Texas)
Hereford Streets to be Graded and Paved
Hereford, Texas, Mar 19 - The city commission hopes to be able to do some street improvement work the coming summer, if financial conditions permit and, with that in view, have been secure reliable engineering data that will enable them to figure costs, etc. W D Howren of the Elrod Engineering Co, has spent several days in Hereford, establishing bench marks, grades and levels, making profiles, and establishing old corners. He has given the commission a verbal report and will file a written one a little later. Without this information the city could not proceed intelligently in street improvement work. The city is especially desirous to construct at least one through macadamized highway running east and west and one north and south , and of fixing up First street, opposite the depot, so that it will present a more slightly and desirable view to passengers on the Santa Fe trains. The commission is studying the entire subject of street improvement this year that will come in with the limited money available, and will determine upon a definite course of action shortly.
6 May 1921, The hereford Brand (Hereford, Texas
The city of Hereford is engaged at present in completing the work on the sewerate disposal plant, started last year and left partially unfinished on account of the extremely high cost of materials and labor. W D Howren, field man for the Henry Exall Elrod Engineering Co of Dallas, who contracted for the work, is here on the job. Mrs Howren and children have also arrived for the summer. .. In this connection, it may be that Mr Howren will do a lot of street workd for the city if the Commission can find a way to float its warrants.
27 May 1921, The Hereford Brand
Have your lot surveyed by W D Howren, work guaranteed. Leave notice with J Frank Potts
28 Oct 1921, The Hereford Brand
W D Howren, engineer, Doc Butler, tree surgeon, and John Mooney with a team of four horses started the Park Board's work on the old lake near the Christian Church Thursday morning. Mr Howren gave the grades and levels and Messrs Butler and Mooney began to plow up and level off the slope for the future civic beauty spot. The Board is busy talking trees with experts and hopes to actually plant a number on this location in the spring.
14 Nov 1921 The Abilene Daily Reporter (Abilene, Texas)
Stamford Texas, Nov 14: Dalhart has awarded the contract for $25,000 to be expended in a sewerage disposal plant, and the extention of the sanitary sewer system of that city to the Gordon Construction Company of Denver and the pipe incident to the improvement has been contracted from the San Antonio Sewer Pipe Works, according to advices received today by the West Texas Chamber of Commerce, the construction on the job to be under the superintendency of W D Howren, engineer of Amarillo. E G Gordon, representing the contractors in charge of the work, was in Amarillo Wednesday evening, accompanied by R B Hunter of the pipe concern, with Engineer Howren. It was stated that the Dalhart bonds sold at par and the constructin work is to begin within the shortest possible time.
Proceedings of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Vol 48, Part 1, January to Dec 1922
Howren, William Davis -- Elected an Associate Member, 323
Amarillo, Texas
Austin American Statesman (Austin, Texas) 21 apr 1922
Hotel registration, Driskell - W D Howren, Amarillo
2 Feb 1923 The Tulia Herald (Tulia, Texas)
Sealed bids addressed to C R Walters, City Manager, will be received by the City Commission of the City of Tulia for the furnishing of all material and labor to complete one power house, one water reservoir, one well pit, and one water well. Plans and specifications may be seen at the office of the City manager in the Court house in the City of Tulia, or can be obtained from W D Howren, the engineer, room 22 Massey building, Amarillo, Texas.
Dallas Morning News, 23 Jul 1923
Canyon, Randall Co, Texas July 22
Plans have been completed for extensive paving around the grounds of the West Texas State Teachers College here, according to R A Terrill, resident architect of the college. Ten blocks of brick paving will be laid through the campus and adjoining it. W D Howren of Amarillo is the engineer in charge, and the contract has been let to a Lubbock concern.
Amarillo Globe (Amarillo, Texas) > 1924 > April > 27
Pan Tex oil line laying Job awarded
W D Howren, a local engineer, has been associated with Mr Irick on several big contracts in the past, and he made the estimates for the Pan-Tex contract.
18 May 1924 Amaillo Globe Times (Amarillo, Texas)
For sale - Seven passenger Chandler $300 cash - W D Howren, phone 1944.
[Chandler is a 1920's maker of automibiles in Cleveland, Ohio. New cars ranging from $1995 to $3595. Mid level range.
Amarillo Globe (Amarillo, Texas) > 1925 > February > 3
Advetisement
W D Howren, General consulting engineer, Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo Globe (Amarillo, Texas) > 1925 > February > 16
McKnight gets contract for Moore County road.
The new highway will make Dumas 10 miles closer to Amarillo. W D Howren of Amarillo, is the engineer in charge of the work in Moore County.
Amarillo Globe (Amarillo, Texas) > 1925 > September > 18
Specification and quantities can be obtained from the secretary at City Drug store, or from W D Howren, engineer, corner Fifth and Florida street.
Amarillo Globe (Amarillo, Texas) > 1925 > November > 13
San Jacinto Methodists Report Rapid and Healthy Growth of Congregation
Member - W D Howren
Amarillo Globe (Amarillo, Texas) > 1925 > November > 23
James Anderson, formerly a school teacher here and a singer in the Polk Street Methodist church choir, is to broadcast from Los Angeles Station KFI, and 1 oclock tonight our time. He is a brother in law of W D Howren, 311 Florida avenue.
8 Sep 1927, The Tulia Herald (Tulia Texas)
Realty transfers
W D Howren sold to B B Huckabee, Lot 11, Block 47 for $10.00
16 Sep 1927 The Crosbyton Review (Crosbyton, Texas)
W D Howren has been employed as city engineer to look after the city's interests during the laying of the sewer pipes. Mr Howren, with his assistant engineers, W L Hurd and Gene Read, began surveying the City Monday. As soon as the surveys are completed, more will be known about the approximate cost of the entire system, and definite information can be released.
Amarillo Globe (Amarillo, Texas) > 1930 > August > 26
Frank Farwell of Dalhart has accepted a position with Will Howren in Amarillo.
25 Mar 1936 The Amarillo Globe times
Eight Aces, contract bridge club. Mrs W D Howren, 800 Florida Street, 3:30.
Amarillo Globe (Amarillo, Texas) > 1938 > May > 31
Personel of Amarillo Fire Company
Hose company
William Howren
Amarillo Globe (Amarillo, Texas) > 1938 > June > 20
Candidates for county office
W D Howren, canditate for county surveyor are unopposed. Office is on 3rd floor of courthouse.
W D Howren a newcomer to county politics who will succeed Morris Browning.
Amarillo Globe (Amarillo, Texas) > 1938 > November > 2
Mr and Mrs W D Howren, 800 Florida Street, returned Monday from Austin. On the way down they visited with his uncle and aunt, Mr and Mrs Tank Spivey at Belleview. They returned by way of Fort Worth where they visited friends..
Amarillo Globe (Amarillo, Texas) > 1939 > January > 5
Other business to come before the club was a report by a committee named to draw up a proposed WPA project for improvement of fishing and recreatinal facilities at City Lake. Bill Howren is chairman of this committee.
Amarillo Globe (Amarillo, Texas) > 1939 > May > 30
39 Ford sedan to W D Howren (Car registration)
Amarillo Globe (Amarillo, Texas) > 1939 > October > 30
In addition, the county employee, an engineer, Bill Howren, he also holds the elective office of county surveyor, an office that does not carry a salary from the county. As engineer, he receives $1200 annually.
Amarillo Globe (Amarillo, Texas) > 1939 > November > 17
Bill Howren, Potter county's new road engineer, started this morning the work of developing a county wide WPA project. In the order authorizing the employment of an engineer, commissioner's court directed the engineer to start immediate plans on a county wide project. Ten men had applied for the job of engineer. Mr Howren is the elected county surveyor. The office has few duties and pays no salary. Mr Howren will receive $250 and fuel for his car in the new office. He will be in charge of road construction and maintenance and will be responsible to commissioners court.
Amarillo Globe (Amarillo, Texas) > 1940 > June > 17
Other officers, Bill Howren County surveyor is without opponents.
Amarillo Globe (Amarillo, Texas) > 1940 > July > 26
W D Bill Howren - present county engineer requests that you write in his name in the blank on the ballot for Counthy Surveyor.
Paid Adv
Amarillo Globe (Amarillo, Texas) > 1940 > December > 16
Jesse L Adams will succeed Bill Howren as county surveyor, a position wihout a salary. For almost a year Howren has been the appointed county engineer. Election to the office of surveyor is no requirement for the engineers job. Appointment of an engineer will be up to the county commissioners court, should it decide to continue with the county wide engineer plan.
For the first time swince folk around the courthouse can remember, there will be a runoff in a write in campaign, Jess L Adams and W D Howren went into the second primary in the race for county surveyor. Boh were write ins. Howren is the incoumbent. He declined to pay the assessment necessary to get his name on the ticket and conducted a write in campaign.
Count Surveyor
Jess L Adams 291 votes
W D Howren 272 votes
Howard Trigg 22 votes.
Amarillo Globe (Amarillo, Texas) > 1941 > March > 7
Car registration, Mercury Sedan WD Howren 1941
Amarillo Globe (Amarillo, Texas) > 1941 > October > 6
W D Howren, president of the Panhandle Ourdoor Sportsmans Association.
Amarillo Daily News (Amarillo, Texas) > 1941 > December > 13
Bill Howren is President of Sportsmen
Bill Howren, popular and well known sportsman, was elected head of the Panhandle Outdoor Sportsmen's club and plans for a gala rally here Jan 7 were completed at the groups regular meeting.
Dallas Morning News, 3 Mar 1946
15 directors of state Sportsman Club, one is W D Howren of Amarillo
Tulia Herald, Vol 38 No 13, 27 Mar 1947
W D Howren, of Amarillo, director of the Texas Wildlife Federation, was in Tulia Tuesday urging all sportsmen to attend Apr 12 and 13. He said that vital legislation is now before the legislature and support of all sportsmen is needed.
Amarillo Globe (Amarillo, Texas) > 1948 > August > 19
Possibilities of the proposed Canadian Rivger Dam project will be laid before 30000 delgates to the Texas Wild Life Federation conventin in Austin this week end. D W Britain Sr, Bill Howren, and Floyd V Studer of Amarillo will fly to Austin as guests of Dr Roy Webb, Pampa, president of the federation. Representing the Panhandle outdoor Sportsmen's club, of which Mr Britain is president, and the Tierra Blanca Game Preserve, the Amarillo men will outline the advantages of the dam as a recreational facility.
Amarillo Daily News (Amarillo, Texas) > 1948 > October > 19
W D Howren, representative of the Panhandle Outdoor Sportsmen's Club on the Texas State Wildlife Federation, and David W Britain Sr, president of thelocal sprotsmen's club, are combining pleasure with business in connectin with their attendance at the Wildlife Federation's semi-annual fall meeting to be held in Austin next Sunday. The two men, with their wives are leaving a day early, on Saturday, in order to pay a visit to their respective son and daughter-in law, Howren's son, Bob, an honor student at Texas A&M College Station, is married to Britain's daughter. So Mr and Mrs Howren are going to visit his son and daughter in law, and Mr and Mrs Britain are going to visit their daughter and son in law.
Amarillo Globe-Times (Amarillo, Texas) > 1957 > June > 21
New cars, W D Howren, 800 Florida, Pontiac
Amarillo Globe-Times (Amarillo, Texas) > 1963 > September > 16
The annual meeting of the Panhandle Old Settlers Association will be held in the YWCA gymnasium, Wednesday. The association has been holding annual meetings since 1914. W D Howren, president of the assciation, announced that the attendance is not restricted to association members. Anyone who has lived in the Panhandle 25 years or longer is urged to attend.
Amarillo Globe-Times (Amarillo, Texas) > 1969 > August > 18
No Age Limit for Surveyor, by Vivian Robinson
William Davis (Bill) Howren of 800 Florida, civil engineer and surveyor, now 87, still tramps the Panhandle, surveying ranches, subdivisions, and oil leases, as he has done for the past 66 years. Clients continue to demand Howren's services because, as rancher-banker Bob Brandenburg says, "That ole booger knows more about the Panhandle than anyone alive." Howren, a tall, lean man, with a tanned, weather beaten face, and an iron grey thatch of hair, has a steel claw attached to his right arm below the elbow. He lost the arm at 1904, the year after he came to the Panhandle. Since he was right handed, this called for a great adjustment. However, that adjustment was made. Don Taylor, Chief of the Engineering Division of the Helium Activity, who worked for Howren surveying the Shelton Ranch during the 20's says, "Bill Howren can set a transit quicker with one left hand than any other two men with both hands."
Bill's father, Capt Aaron Howren (rank courtesy of his experience as a sea captain and bay pilot) was also a civil engineer. He took to surveying when he came to Texas. In 1901, Capt Howren got a commission from the State of Texas to re-survey the 3.5 million acre XIT Ranch. The State had deeded the XIT to the Capitol Syndicate as payment for the capitol building in Austin. When Capt Howren began the XIT survey, Bill was studying engineering at Southwestern University in Georgetown. As soon as he got his degree, he joined his father's crew. [Not accurate - he never graduated from Southwestern - he went 1.5 years and quit.]
In surveying the XIT, as in all big ranch jobs, it was impossible in those days for the crew to stay in town and commute to the work site. Instead, the surveyors pitched camp near a windmill or stream close to the job and moved when feasible. The number of men in a crew varied, depending on the size of the job. On the XIT survey, two chainmen, two flagmen, a cook, swamper, horse wrangler, and buckboard driver made up the team. Men, camped in isolated areas, were at the mercy of the elements: sudden violent storms, merciless summer sun, winds, blistering hot in summer, and freezing cold in winter. Cattle rustlers or outlaws, who frequented the ranges, did not hesitate to rob or kill. Wolves, wildcats, and rattlesnakes abounded. Gopher holes, a deadly threat to horse and rider, pockmarked the prairies. During cattle drives, and roundups, stampedes were frequent.
"But the wost thing was those grass fires," said Howren. Ranchers and farmers plowed wide fire breaks around their houses and barns, which often proved ineffective. "I've seen high winds carry flamng grass for mor'n a quarter of a mile." said Howren. Surveyors kept a sharp lookout for tell-tale smoke on the horizons. At the first glimpse, everyone dropped what he was doing and began igniting grass to burn a fire break. With blankets, jackets, or whatever was available, they fanned their own blaze against the wind toward the approaching fire. Howren hated such fires. He knew well the damage they did. As his own contribution to fire prevention, he joined Amarillo's Volunteer Fire Department when he first came to town. He broke in as a rookie fireman on the Harding house blaze in 1903. Howren and four other surviving members of Amarillo's Volunteer Fire Department were honored at a reunion dinner last April 14 at the Silver Grill. The next year, on a day in early February, Howren and his men were surveying the townsite of Romero. In the early afternoon, Bill saw the angry, blue black clouds on the horizon and felt the wind freshen and chill as it shifted to the north. "Better head fro camp," Bill yelled at his crew. "We're in for a blizzard, sure." Back at camp, cattle had moved in and were eating hay and making a general shambles. the crew began to "roll" them to chase them out. Somehow, Bill's right arm got tangled in his rope, as he lassoed a steer. The steer loaped forward and look Bill's arm with him. Simultaneously, the blizzard struck, bringing a blinding snowstorm in its wake. The accident occurred on Friday afternoon, but because of the blizzard, bill did not see a doctor in Amarillo until Saturday night.
As soon as possible, Howren was back surveying the XIT. In all, it took the Howrens more than 5 years to make the survey. "When it was over," said Bill,"we found those XIT surveyors had some mighty long chains. Capitol Syndicate had 65,000 acres more than they should have had." Th state sued Capitol Syndicate and recovered the extra acreage.
After the XIT survey, Howren surveyed and laid out Farwell, Friona, and Coldwater. Coldwater failed to materialize as a town but a hotel was maintianed there for some years.
Adventure beckoned and Howren went to Mexico. He surveyed for a railroad company there and later became chief engineer for the Madeira Lumber company. During the revolution which overthrew President Diaz, two of the revolutionaries, Alberto Romero, and Garibaldi confiscated some 12 inch shay engine axles from Howren's company. They made cannons of them. However, they bored the barrels too wide and the cannons blew up the first time they were fired. Howren returned to Amarilo and was City Engineer from 1916 through 1918, the year he and Fay Doris Blair married. [Actually none of this sentence is true.] The couple celebrated their golden wedding anniverary last year. Six years after their marriage, the Howrens moved into their present home at 800 Florida. When they moved in, Howren, planted three black walnut saplings [actually he planted 4 saplings]. Today, the trees, now huge, shade the Howren children, Margaret Miller of Wichita Falls, and Robert Conrad Howren, airplane designer, of New York, as well as the eight grandchildren, when they come visiting. Another daughter, Mary, is deceased. "You have to love the outdoors to be a surveyor." says Howren. On one job, Bill camped out with his crew for more than two years. The men worked from dawn to dusk, six days a week. Sometimes they worked Sundays, too. But usually the men washed their clothes.
When Howren is not surveying, he goes fishing. He used to go hunting. When he first came to Amarillo, he shot ducks, on a pond where 7th & Polk intersect today. Although Bill enjoyed hunting, he has never carried a gun on the job. Every now and then, an irate rancher, armed with a gun or a rifle, would ride up to dispute a boundary change with Howren. "But we always ended up just cussing back and forth," he said. Howren was surveying for the Whittenburgs and Phillips Petroleum Co, on the present site of Bunavista, during the turbulent early years of Borger's boom. Hijackings and murder were rampant and nearly everyone carried a gun, but Howren went unarmed. "Never was sorry I didn't have one, either," said Bill. When original Texas land grants were made, government engineers marked off section lines in the Spanish vara (33.33 inches). Corners were marked either by digging a pit or piling up rocks. With the passage of time, the pits filled in and grass and shrubbery overgrew the rock iles. However, when the engineers of the Bureau of Reclamation moved into the Panhandle to survey the Lake Meredith area, Howren helped them find the corners. He knew where they were from having tramped the area for so many years.
Howren is proudest of job he did for free. He was a longtime friend of Cal Farley, and when Farley started Boys Ranch, Howren did all the surveying and engineering work for the utilities, at no charge. He also surveyed the land Boys Ranch acquired from the Turner family. For this, Cal Farley gave Howren a Certificate of Appreciation. This Certificate, approprietely framed, hangs on the wall in Howren's office. Also hanging there are his Certificate of Life Membership in the American Society of Civil Engneers and his license as State Land surveyor. Tom Curtis, Amarilo district attorney, whose family are lifelong friends of Howren, once worked for him. "Uncle Bill still has eyes like an eagle," says Tom. "He still reads those finely graduated degrees on the vernier scales of his transit without glasses." When Howren first started surveying, he used horses. In 1918, he bought an Oldsmobile and began to use it on some of the more accessible jobs. Last year, whicle doing some surveying for a petroleum company, he was airlifted to the work site in a helicopter. "I've seen progress," said Bill. "But it would be nice to survey the moon."
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Amarillo Globe-Times (Amarillo, Texas) > 1976 > March > 3
Mrs Mac Jones, P O Box 1424, Amarillo, sent in a newspaper clipping and picture of one of Amarillo's first baseball teams. During the 1904 season, the team made a tour of Kansas and Oklahoma. the team won more than 90 percent of its games. Among the players were Bill Simms, Red Yokely, Davis Tudor, Dick Morgan, Bill Howren, H H Trolinger, Jim Long, John Trolinger and Bill Davis.
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Transcript of Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas
W D Howren
1899-1900
English, 78/82/87/70
Math, 79/75/-/70
Latin, 80/75/-/-
Greek, 72/40/58/52
Logic, -/83/80/70
1900-1901
English, 87/85/ dropped out
Math, 68/95
Latin, 60/50
Greek, 52/40
Politics, 80/70
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Marriage License, No 2885
State of Texas, County of Potteer
To any regularly licensed or ordained minister of the gospel, Jewish Rabbi, Judge of the district or county court, or a justice of the peace in the state of Texas
You are hereby authorized to solemnize the rites of matrimony between Mr William D Howren and Miss Fay Doris Blair and make due return to the clerk of the county court of said county within 60 days
Witness my official signature and seal of office at office in Amarillo, Texas, 28 Apr 1919, E M Pittman, clerk of the county court of Potter county, Texas, by A B Jones, Deputy
I, R C Johnson certify that on the 28 Apr 1919, united in marriage Mr William D Howren and Miss Fay Doris Blair, the parties above named.
witness my hand 28 Apr 1919, R C Johnson, County Judge, Potter County, Texas
Returned and filed for record the 30 Apr 1919 and recorded 30 Apr 1919.
By A B Jones, Deputy E M Pittmon, County Clerk
Recorded in Book 5, Page 35 of Marriage Records
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Hartley, Texas
6 Mar 1904
I am now sitting in the door of a little 14 x 10 room house on the bald flats of Texas and about 3 ½ miles west of the old deserted town of Hartley. My closest neighbors are 3 white men and one Mexican whose home is about a mile and half from here. Their yard fence is a full 20 feet square and their room are both 6 x 3 x 2 and 6 feet under the ground.
Yes, that’s where they live, I guess as such and all even bad men their hearts are still with them. They were killed in Hartley several years ago and being un-churched and unclaimed were buried on a little hill some distance from town. Hartley will be my P O as long as I stay here. I guess so send my mail there. It’s quite a lonesome looking old town. There are not too many xxxx houses deserted but out of xxx sss a big hotel, 2 saloons, a big school house, and court house and jail. Only one little store is still in business. The proprietor of this store is an old Irishman who holds firmly to the idea that Hartley will again, some day be the most flourishing town in all these parts. My work sure is to feed cattle and ride fence. Jimmie the tough one of the older boys xxx the fraxxx is since fxxx of the time. Pretty lonesome here. Tell papa to get me another job soon as surveying opens up. In Surry though, for I think this is pretty good place to save money. Well, guess I’d better get supper. I see some visitors coming in pursuit of two coyotes. I have good many of those heard.
So long, Hope all’s well
Son [William Davis Howren]
Did you get the $5 I sent.
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[Letter William Davis Howren to Mother after he lost half of his right arm.]
Amarillo, Texas, 26 Jan 1909
Dear mother,
Your letter came this morning and I see you are in a terrible state of mind. Now dear mother, I am coming along fine, ate all my meals at the table with the rest of the folks and the doctor says all danger is past. So do not grieve any more. If there had been any way in the world of my getting treatment without telling you and papa I would never have breathed a word about it until it was all past. For I know you were both going to take it a great deal harder than I did. If I could only see you and give you a good cheering up as I can. Papa, I know you would feel much better about it. As for my being put out of the race, why I haven’t given it that a thought, except that I shall succeed just as though I had two hands instead of one. Now cheer up mother and try to remember that all things are for the best in the long run. With lots of love and a big kiss,
Your son, William
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Birth Certificate
Filed for record, 27 Feb 1942, c/o Deaver Co Clerk, by Gertrude Bohac, Deputy
County of Williamson, City of Georgetown
Full name of child - William Davis Howren
Sex - male
Legitimate - yes
Date of birth - 28 Jul 1882
Father:
Full name - Aaron Sharpe Howren
Residence at time of birth - Georgetown, Texas
Color or race - white
Age at time of this birth - 43 years
Birthplace - Florida
Trade or occupation - Surveyor
Mother
Full maiden name - Martha Alleine Spivey
Residence at time of birth - Georgetown, Texas
Color or race - white
Age at time of this birth - 30 years
Birthplace - Alabama
Trade or occupation - Housewife
Number of children born to this mother - 12
Number of children born to this mother now living - 7
I certify to the birth of this child who was born alive at --- on the date stated above - Mary H Howren, Clarendon Texas
Military Ex-service of father
Not stated
Affidavit A
State of Texas, County of Donley, before me on this day appeared Mary H Howren, known to me to be the person who signed the certificate attached hereto, who on oath deposed and says that the facts stated in the foregoing birth certificate of William Davis Howren are true and correct to the best of her knowledge and belief and that she was acquainted with the facts of the time of the event.
Signature: Mary H Howren
Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 7th day of February 1942
Helen Wiedman, Notary Public in and for Donley County, Texas
Affidavit B
State of Texas, County of Potter, before me on this day appeared Cora Avery, known to me to be the person who signed the certificate attached hereto, who on oath deposed and says that the facts stated in the foregoing birth certificate of William Davis Howren are true and correct to the best of her knowledge and belief and that she was acquainted with the facts and that she is not related to the individual by blood or marriage.
Signature: Cora Avery
Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 21st day of February 1942
A B Jones, Notary Public in and for Potter County, Texas
State of Texas, County of Williamson
The birth certificate of William Davis Howren attached hereto, was submitted to this court, … by the state registrar for filing in the state bureau of vital statistics. Date Feb 27 1942, Signature Sam V Stone of Williamson co, Judge.
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Texas State Board of Registration for Professional engineers
PO Box 23, Austin Texas
Application for Registration to practice Professional engineering
Date - Not dated
1 General information
1 Name in full - William Davis Howren
2. Normal written signature - W D Howren
3. Residence address - 800 Florida St, Amarillo, Texas
4. Business address - same
5. Present position - none
6. Place of birth - Georgetown, Texas
7. Date of birth - 28 Jul 1888. Citizenship - U S
8. Are you a resident of Texas - yes
9. If so, when did you become a resident - at birth
10. Are you applying for registration under section 12 of the Act? - yes
11. If so, what subsection? - Not legible
12. Are you applying for registration under section 18 of the Act? - yes
13. skipped
14. In what branch of engineering are you proficient and in what branch do you propose to practice - Civil
2. Registration in other states
Skipped
3. Membership in societies, Associations or Institutes
Name of organization - American Society of Civil Engineers
Location - New York
Grade of membership - Associate member
Date - 1922 to about 1928
Withdrew, being unable to pay the dues
4. References of character and qualifications
Name PO Address Relation Known
John B Hawley Ft Worth, Texas none 25 years
Henry B Elrod Houston, Texas none 18 years
Bob Dunham Ft Worth, Texas none 15 years
James D Hamlin Farwell, Texas none 34 years
R O Thompson Austin, Texas none 30 years
Geo. Grant 2746 Hemphill Ave, Ft Worth, Texas -- --
E A Eaton c/o Mineral Wells Brick Co, Mineral Wells, Texas
Geo. Veeder c/o Rose Hill Cemetery, Akron, Ohio
Roscoe Farmer Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
L W Kemp c/o The Texas Co, Houston, Texas
L A White Resident Engineer, Texas Highway Dept, El Paso, Texas
Primary education in Grammar High and Private schools
Grade and high school, Georgetown, Texas, From 188901899, Graduated Jun 1899
Engineering Education
1890 to date, My father, A S Howren, was an engineer, attending Georgetown University at Georgetown, South Carolina 1848.
College or University work other than Engineering
Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas from 1899-1900. Did not graduate
Professional Experience
See attachment
Supplemental sheet
2: The E P & SWRR has been sold to the SPRR and I have lost track of Mr Campbell, the chief engineer for EP&SW. Epps Randolf, General Manager of SP lines in Arizona has been dead 10 years.
3&4: Roy Hoard is now, or was at last report, General Manager of the Madera Lumber Co, with offices at the El Paso Milling Co plant in El Paso, Texas
5,6,7&8: 21 to 25 years is a pretty long time an I have had no communication with any of the principals with whom I then worked. Tom Englehart was the designing engineer at Marshfield Co, and he and Mr Weber, the original Weber Chimney Co, were the owners of the Delta Construction Co at Sacramento. All work around El Paso in 15 & 16 was of a general nature and since that was at least 21 years ago, I feel sure that my memory or any memory of me has long since ceased to exist.
11. 1918 to 1921: with the Elrod Engineering Co, Dave Drennan, Office Engineer (deceased) as soliciting engineer, supervising engineer and general utility engineer
12. to date
Have been operating as W D Howren, Engineer, with office in Amarillo, Texas, doing a general engineering practice, Municipal and oil field practice.
Sewer systems at Crosbyton, Texas, Tulia, Texas, Clarendon, Texas, Dalhart, Texas, Canyon, Texas, Hereford, Texas, and others.
Water Works systems, same as above
Paving, do.
City planning and sub-division development, cemeteries, and landscaping, small dams and irrigation projects from wells, gas systems and main lines. (Hawley, Frease, and Nichols, as ref.
Also, Shamrock Oil and Gas Corp, Amarillo, Texas; Panhandle Eastern Pipeline Co, Kansas City, Mo.
16 years actual total time, 16 years responsible charge, 3 years design.
I shall be only too glad to furnish any additional information required.
This sheet is an integral part of, and is attached to, the regular application blank.
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Statement of Personal Record
W D Howren, 800 Florida Street, Amarillo, Texas
Born at Georgetown, Texas, July 18th 1882
Education, High School and one year at Southwestern University
Associate member, American Society of Civil Engineers, 1922 to 1928
Aug 1903 to Nov 1908, Surveyor for Capitol Freehold Land and Investment Co Ltd, Chicago. Ill. Work in Panhandle of Texas
Dec 1908 to Jun 1909, Instrumentman, E P S W RR Co, Arizona
Jul 1909 to Jun 1910, Revision Engineer, Mexico Northwestern Ry, Old Mexico
Jul 1910 to Oct 1911, Engineer in charge of railroad construction in woods, for Madera Lumber co, Madera, Old Mexico
Nov 1911 to May 1912, Construction engineer, Delores Mining Co
Jun 1912 to Jun 1913, Construction engineer, Smith Lumber and Mfg Co, Oregon
Jun 1913 to Aug 1913, Construction engineer Delta Construction Co, Sacramento, California
Aug 1913 to Dec 1913, Associate Res Engineer State Highway Dept, California
Jan 1914 to Mar 1916, Private engineering practice, El Paso & Amarillo
Mar 1916 to Apr 1918, City Engineer of Amarillo, Texas
May 1918 to Dec 1918, Chief engineer and superintendent, Mohak Mining Co, Scholle, New Mexico
Jan 1919 to May 1919, Nothing special
May 1919 to Jun 1921, Construction Engineer for Elrod Engineering Co, Dalhart
Jun 1921 to date, Private engineering practice, at Amarillo, Texas.
List of some various projects completed:
Sewer systems for cities of Dalhart, Hereford, Crosbyton, Dumas, Tulia, Plainview, Pampa, Claude, Stinatto, & Clarendon
Water works for Hereford, Dalhart, Amarillo, Tulia, Clarendon, Crosbyton
Electric light plant at Tulia
Street Paving of all types in various towns and counties.
Highway and road work in nearly every county in the Panhandle
Oil and Gas pipelines in and out of the Panhandle,
Pan-Tex pipeline Co, Amarillo, Texas
Texas Interstate Pipe Line Co, Amarillo, Texas
Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Co, Kansas City, Missouri
Nacy, Harrington & Marsh, Pipe lines and refinery, Amarillo, Texas
Plains Pipe Line Co, Amarillo, Texas
Shamrock Gas and oil Corp, Amarillo, Texas
Whittington & Rubin Pipe Line Co, Amarillo, Texas
American Telephone & Telegraph Co, St Louis, Missouri
Southwestern Bell Tele Co
W D Howren, Personal record, attached to application
Born - July 28 1882
In school until 1901
1901 to 1903, clerked in bookstore at Georgetown, Texas
1902 to 1908, Surveyor for Capitol Freehold Land & Investment Co LTD with headquarters at Channing, Texas
1908 to 1909, Instrumentman for H P & S W RR in Arizona
1910, Resident engineer for Mexico Northwestern Ry in Republic of Mexico
1911 to 1912, Chief engineer for Madera Lumber Co, (a sub of Mexico Northwestern RR) Railroad construction and logging
1912, (6 months) Location and construction engineer for Delores Mining Co. Republic of Mexico work stopped on account of revolution
1912 to 1913, C A Smith Lumber & Mfg Co at Marshfield, same work as for Madera Lumber Co, with the addition of massive concrete construction
1913, supt of construction fro Delta Construction Co, at Sacramento, Calif.
1913, 3 months with the highway dept of Calif
Since 1913 have been practicing a general engineering under my own name with the exception as follows:
1916-1918, City engineer for Amarillo, Texas
1920-1921, Special work for the Elrod Engineering Co of Dallas, Texas
Have surveyed and am familiar with Texas lands, especially in the Panhandle of Texas, also with land surveying in New Mexico and Colorado
From 1922 to 1928 was an associate member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Resigned in 1928.
At present I have authority to practice as a professional Engineer of the State of Texas.
I am a licensed State Land surveyor of Texas
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Panhandle Plains Society, Biographical sheet
Items in [ -- ] are by Robert Burlingame
Name and Address - William Davis Howren, 800 Florida Street, Amarillo, Texas
Occupation - Civil engineer and surveyor
Hobby - Fishing
Father - A S Howren (died 1918), born 1839 in Florida
Mother - Alleine Spivey (died 1908), born 1852, Dresden, Texas
Spouse - Doris Blair, born 16 Mar 1898, Graford, Texas
Date married - 18 Sep 1918 [Actually 28 Apr 1919]
Children
Robert Conrad, resides Grand Prairie, Texas - age 33
Mary Doris, born, resides, Wichita Falls, Texas - age 31
Margaret Alleine. Resides, Panhandle, Texas - age 29
Brief history of family, including if possible names of grandparents, etc
Windsmore Howren, 1739 - 1834 [actually 1759-1834] g grandfather. Windsmore was a ship owner and fought in 2 wars [correct spelling to Winsmore]
James Campbell [Howren] 1765-1857 [actually 1787-1876]. James Campbell was a Methodist missionary to Indians in Florida and was also a ship captain.
A S Howren, moved his family to Panhandle in 1903, however he was surveying lands for the Snyders as early as 1880 in what is now Lubbock County.
I re-surveyed almost all of the old XIT ranch, 1903 to1908.
List
(1) Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas
(2) None
(3) None
(4) Elks, American Society of Civil engineers, national Professional Engineers
(5) City Engineer for Amarillo, Canyon, Claude, Crosbyton, Dalhart, Dumas.
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Ballot for Potter County, Unknown date
For county surveyor of Potter county
W D Howren
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W D Howren
Certificate of registration for Professional Engineer
Number 1439
Mar 12 1935
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Transcription of letter to William Dennis Howren 15 Oct 1884
On letterhead of Page & Howren, Real Estate Agents, Williamson County
A M Page - Surveyor and A S Howren - County Surveyor
Dear William
Yours of the 8th, including $2 bill to be changed into nickels and dimes to buy candy and nuts for W D Jr, received yesterday. Accept thanks for them. Last night at supper his Ma said, "Who sent you the money to buy candy?". "Uncle William", he replied. It was the first time I ever heard say "Uncle William". He is somewhat backward about talking, but has taken a start lately to connect words and try to form sentences. I brought him downtown with me the morning and invested a nickel in candy for him, but his Ma says it won't near do for him to spend all that two dollars that way. He loves to ride in the buggy, and every time he sees me harnessing the horse, he comes running out the gate saying "Papa, Up bug, up bug!" which means to put him up in the buggy. I am confident that "Old Snooks" is the gentlest old horse that ever wore a collar. He has more sense than most people. I rarely even hitch him with halter or bridle at home, in town, on the farm or in the woods. I think he knows children as well as I do. Not long ago, I left him harnessed to the buggy in the street close the house, and went in for something, and when I looked out, Millie and Lenie [Alleine Spivey Howren] (Lenie isn't four yet) were right in the buggy, one with the lines and the other the whip trying to make old Snooks go, but not one inch would he move. He evidently recognized their voices and knew that they had no business driving a horse. It looks like the bottom has dropped out of surveying. Scarcely anything at all to do. Think it will revive when the cotton crop is about gathered.
A S Howren
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Letter from Frances Marion Howren to William Davis Howren
Burnet, Texas,
24 Feb 1894 (or maybe 1892)
Dear Brother [William Davis Howren],
I just received mama's letter today that was written on the 20th. It reached here on the 21st, but the post master gave it to the Hoover's (who live in the country), through mistake and they just brought it back today. I have been fussing all the week because I didn't get a letter.
I guess you won't want to ride the calf again soon, will you. I'm awful sorry you broke your arm. I was about half homesick anyhow today and when I read that I nearly cried. If I'd been by myself, I guess I would, but Mrs D and Myrtle were in the room, so I couldn't. It is getting well very fast: How long before you can go back to school: How are you getting along at school. Poor Sharpe [Aaron Sharpe Howren]! I feel sorry for him. Does he fuss much about the work: But it is lots for one little fellow to do!
I'm prouder of you and Sharpe since I've been over here than I ever was. I never saw as many mean little boys in my life, as are in Burnet. They play marbles for keeps, and they don't make Sunday any different from week days. Why last Sunday the little boys here, Fred and Jessie, were on the streets playing for keeps. After they got tired, they came home and went to sawing, and whittling, making windmills. Fred is a right bad boy, but Jessie is good where he don't have Fred to bad him. Fred is 13 and Jessie is 9.
Mrs Manuel keeps Tom all the time. You must write to me. By the way, is it just your right or left arm? I must stop as my fire is going out and its bedtime. It snowed here last night, though not much. 'Twas all melted this morning
Lovingly, Fannie [Frances Marion Howren]
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From letter from Nita Blair Martgan- 1977
Remind Bill [Howren] that he has always been my favorite brother in law. Little does he know how I have thought of him thruout the years, and what an influence he was on my life. It was he who taught me to love good books. How I admired him, watching him thru those glass doors playing chess. My admiration diminished though when I'd see him eat those raw oysters. I have never been able to eat them cooked! Each time I hear of Dangerous Dan McGrew, I think of him.
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Obituary for William Davis Howren
Pioneer Surveyor dies at age 95
William Davis “Bill Howren, 95, of 800 Florida, well-known Panhandle pioneer surveyor, died yesterday. Services are pending with N S Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors. Mr Howren was born in Georgetown. He moved to Amarillo in 1903, after he received his degree from Southwestern University, and helped his father survey 3.5 million acres of XIT ranch land than encompassed nine counties along the New Mexico line. Mr Howren surveyed and laid out the cities of Farwell, Friona, and Coldwater. He was city engineer from 1916 through 1918. Mr Howren was a charter member of the Panhandle-Plains Historical Society and the XIT Reunion. He was a member of Professional Engineers Society, the Panhandle Old Settlers Association and the Outdoor Society. He was a former directory and vice president of the Texas Wildlife Federation. He and Doris Blair were married in 1918 it Amarillo. Survivors include
His wife
Son R C “Bob” Howren of Fort Pierce, Florida
Daughter, Mrs Margaret H Miller of Wichita Falls
Sister, Bess H Anderson of Los Angeles, California
7 grandchildren
3 great-grandchildren
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The Old Timers News (Guymon, Oklahoma), Jun 1975
W.D. "Bill” Howren will be 93 in July He now resides in Amarillo. He was born in Georgetown, Texas, July 28, 1882. Bill is an old time surveyor of the Texas Panhandle. When he was ten his father took him to Austin for the corner-stone laying of Texas’ pink granite Capitol for which the legislature traded ten counties of the Panhandle land. This tract became the XIT Ranch. Texas is the only state in the Union to have received $10 million for a portion of her land. Today many home owners in the New Mexico towns of Clovis, Carlsbad, Roswell, Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Las Vegas do not realize their land was once in Texas. The southern part of Wyoming, an area twice the size of Potter County, that now has the towns of Saratoga and Encampment, was Texas land, as were eight counties of southwest Kansas land where Elkhart, Hugoton and Liberal are now located. The Oklahoma Panhandle, with Guymon, Hooker, Forgan and Boise City, can also claim Texas by its land pedigree. Texas' title to this land dates back to 1836, when the Republic of Texas was established. The eastern boundary of the Republic of Texas matched the lines of the
Adams-Onis Treaty, worked out by John Quincy Adams, President of the U S, and the Spanish Minister, Mr Onis. The boundary line placed about 1,800 square miles of Wyoming in Texas. Also included were one-third of Colorado, more than half of New Mexico, three counties in Oklahoma and eight counties in Southwestern Kansas. In 1903, most of the towns which came in with the railroads were still in the Texas Panhandle, going strong Old Tascosa was still alive and Mobeetie and Canadian were still here. There wasn't any Miami or Pampa. Panhandle, Texas was here.
According to Bill, Tascosa and Dalhart were saloon towns but they weren't disorderly. It got a little disorderly down around the "Bowery" on the Fort Worth and Denver (railroads) in Amarillo then. The town was pretty well moved up to Polk Street by 1903. The people still were mostly ranchers in 1903. There were "damn few farms in this country in 1903 and '04", Bill recalls. "I knew Boss Neff, Bud Turner and Jim East. In 1942 I went to Port Neches. Texas as chief engineer of construction on the synthetic rubber plant. It cost $36,000,000 and took three years to build." Bill said.
"Uncle Bill," as he is sometimes called, is a life member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. He has certifications and citations from Boys Ranch where he built the waterworks and sewer system and surveyed the land free of charge. "In 1909, I worked for the Southern Pacific, then in December, 1909, I got a job with the Mexico Northwestern Railroad in Old Mexico. 1 was resident engineer. In September 1910, I was transferred to Mederia Lumber Co, which was a subsidiary of the North-western Railroad. Then I acted as chief engineer of that company for three years. Then I went to Marshfield, Oregon as assistant superintendent of construction and chief engineer in the construction of a pulp mill. In 1915, after several engineering jobs in Oregon and California, I returned to Amarillo. Amarillo has been my home since 1903. I was city engineer of Amarillo from 1916 to 1918, paving streets, putting in sewer lines and water works, etc. Then I went to work during the war for a copper company in New Mexico, which proved very disastrous. Then I joined the Elrod Engineering Co of Dallas and worked about a year. Then I opened up my own office. From 1920 to 1942 I worked in the Panhandle. Back in 1920, brick pavement was put down with cement mortar. Then I talked the Texas Co into trying asphalt, which proved so successful that all brick pavement since then has been made with asphalt filler or binder.
In February 1907, 1 was roping a cow, caught my hand in the rope and jerked it off. She [actually it was a steer] was probably a 700 pound animal."
William Davis (Uncle Bill) Howren has been walking all over the Texas Panhandle since 1903--surveying it. Bill Howren was 21 and fresh out of Southwestern University when his father, Capt Aaron Howren of Georgetown, got a commission from the state to make a fresh survey of the monster XIT Ranch. Except for a few years off adventuring, such as engineering work in Mexico, Uncle Bill has been surveying the Panhandle ever since. At 93, Mr Howren is retired at home with his wife, Fay Doris. “I finally got to where I couldn't negotiate these canyons and hills and help was so hard to get, I just quit."
Mr Howren's father was called “Captain" because he'd once been a sea captain and bay pilot. He had an engineering degree and turned to surveying after he came to Texas. On the 1903 survey of the XIT Ranch, the Howrens found that the ranch owners, called the Capitol Syndicate, had received more than the 3,500,000 acres they were supposed to get for building the present Texas State Capitol. "The XIT's surveyors had some long chains." said Uncle Bill. "We found they'd gotten 65,000 too much. And the ranch gave the 65,000 acres back to the state in 1916 after a lawsuit. They didn't actually give it back. The state took it away from them. It was common in the early days of the Panhandle, though, to give more land than was in the contract”.
In 1907 there wasn't much engineering and Howren became a cowboy for the XIT Ranch. [This statement is not correct, he was never a cowboy for the XIT. The accident occurred while he was on a surveying project.] In a roping accident, he lost part of his right arm, below the elbow. He now uses a hook on his right arm. Uncle Bill was a friend of the late Cal Farley who established Boys Ranch for unwanted boys and Uncle Bill did the surveying on the ranch free of charge. Uncle Bill has had engineering work in about every town in the Texas Panhandle. Uncle Bill did municipal engineering and paving.
"In Nov 1908 I finished up the survey for XIT and got a job with the El Paso Southwestern Railroad. I worked with them until August when we finished our job, and then I went to work for the Southern Pacific. While I was on that El Paso job the chief engineer came out to where we were working and had me run a transient line for him on the location of a spur. He came back and examined my transient at one set up. That night he told my boss, 'Where'd you get that man? He's the fastest instrument man I ever saw. And apparently he's very accurate.' Bill says that "just havin' one hand, evidently they thought I was to be looked down upon.” But Uncle Bill Howren, at age 93, is certainly not someone that a person would look down upon.
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Roster, Registered Professional Engineers JULY 1939-1941.
Page 47
W D Howren
Address, 800 Florida Street, Amarillo, [Texas]
Section = 18
Major Branch = Civil
Serial number = 1439
Page 101
Practicing in Potter Co, Texas
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End of notes on 11 Sep 2020
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