Bio-Trout, AnnabelleHower

Anna Belle (Trout) Hower
(1872- ? )

At the age of 16, Annie married James H. Hower (1866- ? ), the son of Amanda Hower.

They had six children -- Elmer F. Hower, John "Calvin" Hower, James "Stanley" Hower, Bessie Irene "Rene" Coughenour, William B. Hower and Emma Frederickson Prettyman.

In 1900, when the federal census was taken, James and Annie resided in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, with their four children, James' invalid mother and Annie's sister Missouri Trout. James' occupation that year was listed as painter, with the family surname misspelled as "Howard."

The 1910 census shows the family in Hempfield Township, with James continuing to follow his trade as a house painter. They lived just a few doors away from Annie's brother, John Minard Trout.

Five generations, L-R: mother Emma Trout, grand- daughter Beatrice Hower, son Elmer Hower, Annie (standing) and grandmother Elizabeth (Livingston) Minerd

By about 1920, Annie had become a grandmother, and she posed for a five-generations photo seen on this page. The 1920 census shows the family in New Stanton, Hempfield Township, with James working as a house painter, and 17-year-old daughter Emma employed as a stenographer in a local office.

The 1930 census shows the family living on Culbertson Avenue in Greensburg, Hempfield Township. James was a laborer at odd jobs. Also residing in their home that year were 19-year-old granddaughter Beatrice M. Hower, 17-year-old grandson Stanley W. Hower, and infant great-grandson James E. Marvin. Beatrice worked as a clerk in a dry goods store.

The fates of the Howers are unknown. Many of their offspring have been active in the community, and have served the public in a variety of ways.

Son Elmer Franklin Hower (1889-1961) married Kelly Agnes Kirkwood on Feb. 28, 1918. They had two children, Beatrice Hower and Stanley Wayne Hower.

Circa 1920-1930, he may have been a patient in Kalamazoo Hospital in Kalamazoo, MI. The reason behind this is not yet known. In 1930, his teenage children made their home with his parents in New Stanton.

Later, after recovering from his malady, he moved to Canonsburg, Washington County. Later in life, he married Lucy Kerns.

He died at the age of 78 in Canonsburg on Feb. 16, 1961. A one-sentence obituary was published in the Connellsville Daily Courier.

Grandson Stanley Wayne Hower (1912-1960) was born in New Stanton. As a 17-year-old, he lived with his grandparents in New Stanton. He was married and had four children. Stanley was a glass plant laborer before moving to Washington, DC. After suffering a serious illness for seven months, he died at home at the age of 48 in late August or early September 1960. A brief obituary was printed in the Daily Courier.

Daughter Emma Hower (1904- ? ) was employed as an office stenographer in 1920, prior to marriage. In about 1924, when she was age 20, Emma wed Henry Frederickson (1900- ? ), seen here.

They had at least three children -- Rev. Charles H. Frederickson, Emma "Irene" Saxton and Jane Kuhns.

When the federal census was enumerated in 1930, Emma and Henry made their home in Greensburg, living next to her parents in the Culbertson Extension. Henry was employed that year as an electrician for a railroad company.

Henry served as an alderman in Greensburg circa 1950, a type of justice of the peace, and adjudicating many cases involving small crimes.

Grandson Rev. Charles H. Frederickson (1923-1999) married M. Beatrice "Bea" (?) in about 1944, and served with the US Navy during World War II. Afterward, he graduated from Johns Hopkins University and secured employment as an engineering draftsman at the Overly Manufacturing Company in Greensburg. He also taught Sunday School at Zion Lutheran Church in Greensburg. They had seven children -- Wendy Jane Frederickson, Dary Ann Frederickson, Charles H. Frederickson Jr., Maxine Shroyer, Marsha Williams, Darlene Frederickson and Dora Neighly. Circa 1960, feeling the call to ministry, he enrolled at Wittenburg University to begin college preparation studies. Then, in 1963, he entered the university's Hamma Divinity School in Springfield, OH. Said an October 1963 article in the Daily Courier, "It was three years ago that Frederickson decided to give up his draftsman occupation to enter the ministry. This mean, among other things, relinquishing a partnership in a Pittsburgh firm which he acquired after leaving Overly, and the family home was sold to help pay part of his college expenses. Mrs. Frederickson works in the Wittenburg Student Union during the evening, while he stays home with the couple's five children." After receiving his ordination, he went on to become a pastor at the Rupp Lutheran Church in Kittanning, Heilman Lutheran Church in Ford City and St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Trauger. He also was an interim pastor at several local churches. In November 1975, he was appointed to the Mount Pleasant Township Municipal Authority. Two months later, said the Courier, he "may have worked a miracle" at the "embattled" agency when he "brought Authority members and residents affected by the Shupes Run Sewer Project into a tentative and tenuous agreement at the group's quarterly meeting." Following that achievement, he was elected as vice chairman of the authority. Over time, he and Bea also hosted seven American Foreign Service (AFS) Exchange students. Charles died at the age of 77, at home in Jeannette, on Dec. 14, 1999. His funeral was led by Bishop Donald J. McCoid of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Daughter Emma Irene Frederickson (1926- ? ) married Harry Saxton. Circa 1999, they lived in Bellevue, OH.

Daughter Jane Frederickson married Donald Kuhns and in 1999 resided in Largo, FL.

Son James "Stanley" Hower (1891-1943) married Sarah A. "Sally" Hunker (1892- ? ) on March 18, 1911, when he was age 20, and she 19. They had nine children -- John L. Hower, Dr. Thomas H. Hower, Eugene K. Hower, Dorothy F. Derr, Norma J. Swartz, Anna P. Troupe, David K. Hower, Sara E. Bussard and Fay Kozer.

Stanley was a house painter, and operated his own shop in 1930. When the federal census was taken that year, he and the family made their home in New Stanton, Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County.

Stanley passed away at the age of 52 in Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg on April 29, 1943. The funeral was held at St. Mark's Lutheran Church at New Stanton, followed by burial in the church cemetery.

Grandson Thomas H. Hower ( ? -1984) became a physician, possibly a chiropractor. He was married twice, first to Maxine Eberley, on Dec. 7, 1938. They had two sons, Dr. Thomas A. Hower and Dr. Robert D. Hower. Later, in January 1982, Thomas married Evelyn Elizabeth (Wolfe) George (1915-2001), widow of Alva W. George, and she brought two adult children from a previous marriage -- A. Robert George and Barry L. George. Said the Greensburg Tribune-Review, Evelyn "was a member of Christ United Methodist Church, Youngwood, and retired from Joe Workman's Dept. Store, Irwin. She was a member of the Senior Serenaders of the McKenna Center, and member and former officer of the Degree of Honor, Irwin Chapter." Thomas passed away in 1984. Evelyn outlived him by 17 years. She died in Latrobe Hospital at the age of 86 on Dec. 9, 2001. Following a funeral at Christ United Methodist Church in Youngwood, her remains were interred in Union Cemetery in Greensburg.

Famed landmark -- the New Stanton viaduct on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the largest of the 300 structures and stream crossings along the high speed highway

Granddaughter Norma J. Hower (1924-1993) was born on Aug. 19, 1924 in New Stanton. She married Dorald F. Swartz. They had one son, Edward. T. Swartz. Norma was active in the local community. Said the Greensburg Tribune-Review, she "was an elected member of the Westmoreland County Democratic Committee and for many years served as the Democratic committeewoman for New Stanton Borough ... She was a member and past president of the former New Stanton Volunteer Firemen's Ladies Auxiliary. She was an estate appraiser and worked at Home Tag Sales." Sadly, the lost their only son to death sometime prior to 1993. Norma passed away at age 68, in Westmoreland Memorial Hospital, on March 23, 1993. She was laid to rest in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.

Granddaughter Dorothy F. Hower ( ? - ? ) married Jacob D. Derr (1914-1998), son of John Lewis and Della (Errett) Derr of West Newton, on April 4, 1941. They had three children -- Robert Derr, David Derr and Dorothy "Dotty" Cook. The Derrs resided in Madison, Westmoreland County, and were farmers. Jacob also was a school bus driver for the Yough School District and as a truck driver for Matlack Trucking Company of Adamsburg. He also was a member of the Madison Downtown United Methodist Church, Sewickley Grange No. 1897, and Teamsters Local No. 30 of Jeannette. Dorothy died sometime prior to 1993. Jacob passed away at the age of 84 on July 12, 1998, at Westmoreland Regional Hospital. Burial was in Madison Union Cemetery.

Granddaughter Sara E. Hower ( ? - ? ) married Wilbur C. Bussard on Oct. 26, 1951. They resided in New Stanton, and had three children -- John S. Bussard, Wilbur Bussard and Marlene Muchoney. Wilbur served as the Mayor of New Stanton Borough, and continues to be a member of Borough Council. In May 2007, he won the Democratic primary for reelection to council.

Granddaughter Ann Hower (1926-2000) married (?) Troupe. They resided in New Stanton and had two children -- Norman Troupe and Janice Keifer. Said the Tribune-Review, was "a member of the Robertshaw Controls Retirees Association, the Youngwood Railroad Historical Society, the Lobauch Literary Council and the Sewickley Watershed Association. Prior to retirement, she was employed as a secretary by the Robertshaw Controls of New Stanton, and later by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in the 26th Legislative District office."

Son John "Calvin" Hower (1894- ? ) was married to (?) in about 1913. They resided circa 1929 in Greensburg. Their children were Lucette Belle Hower, Wilde Hower and Emma "Babe" Barron.

When the federal census was taken in 1930, Calvin and his children lived on Broad Street in in South Greensburg, but his wife was not in the household that year. Calvin's employment was marked as automobile salesman. Also living in their home was housekeeper Lilian M. Hamilton and her sons Tommy and Robert.

Daughter Emma Hower ( ? - ? ) married Paul Barron, son of David Barron of Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland County. The nuptials took place in October 1939. Said the Connellsville Daily Courier, "The ceremony took place at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Frederickson of Greensburg, uncle and aunt of the bride, with Dr. L.D. Spaugy, pastor of the Methodist Church of Greensburg, officiating. Wedding music was played by Miss Eliza Rial who also sang two selections, 'I love You Truly' and 'O, Promise Me'." The nuptials took place "before and improvised altar of ferns, palms and autumn flowers."

Daughter Bessie Irene "Rene" Hower (1897-1991) (seen here) was born on Sept. 18, 1896 in Hempfield Township. On Oct. 28, 1914, when she was age 17, she married Don Erwin Coughenour.

They had four children -- Donald H. Coughenour, Walter R. Coughenour, George E. Coughenour and Ruth Ann Washabaugh.

They resided in Youngwood, at 8 South Fifth Street. Rene was employed for many years as a licensed practical nurse.

Rene died at the age of 94 on Sept. 15, 1991, in Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg. Her funeral was conducted by her nephew Rev. Charles H. Frederickson. She was laid to rest in Westmoreland County Memorial Park. At her death, said the Greensburg Tribune-Review, she was survived by 12 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren.