George W. Howard, a shoe and belt maker, was born in South Carolina. Details recorded in connection with the Census of 1850 make it appear that the family moved to Murray County around 1849. The youngest son, then age 2, had been born in South Carolina.

The 1850 Census listed the family living in Murray County as follows: George W., age 35; Tiney, age 35; William W., age 16; Samuel I, age 12; James T., age 10; George R, age 7; Zachariah H., age 5; and John T. Howard, age 2.

The family had moved to Dalton before the 1860 Census was taken. That Census recorded the family as: Geo. W. Howard, age 49; Jennie Howard, age 43; James T. Howard, age 21; Geo. R. Howard, age 19; Ezekiel H. Howard, age 16; J. R. T. Toward, age 12; Mary J. Howard, age 7; Sarah H. Howard, age 5; and Franklin Howard, age 2.

The father and four of his sons served in the Confederate Army. The father served in Company A., 37th Georgia Volunteer Infantry Regiment after his original 3rd Confederate Regiment became part of the 37th through a reorganization.

The sons all served in Company B, 36th Georgia Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

Ezekiel H. Howard was captured by Union soldiers near Adairsville, Georgia, May 18, 1864. Was sent to a prisoner-of-war camp at Rock Island, Illinois.

James T. Howard died at Knoxville, Tennessee in (July?) 1862. Although no details of his death can be found, the family managed to have his body returned to Murray and he was buried in Spring Place Cemetery. Speculation is that, since many of the family were railroad men, they arranged to have the body brought to Dalton by train.

Stephen J. Howard made the rank of corporal May 1, 1863. He was captured at Adairsville, Georgia, May 18, 1864. He suffered the same fate as his brother Ezekiel; both were sent to the prisoner-of-war camp at Rock Island, Illinois.

William W. Howard was captured at Vicksburg, Mississippi on July 4, 1863. He was paroled there July 9, 1863.

George Washington Howard, the father, Stephen John Howard, and James Howard are all buried in Spring Place Cemetery.

Three of the sons moved to Texas in the 1870s and 1880s.

Murray County Families