Anna
Belle (Trout) Hower
(1872- ? )
Anna
Belle "Annie" (Trout) Hower was born in February 1872 in Westmoreland County,
PA, the
daughter of Isaac F. and Emma (Minerd) Trout.
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.
By about 1920, Annie had become a grandmother, and she posed for a five-generations photo. The faces are, left to right: mother Emma (Minerd) Trout, granddaughter Beatrice Hower, son Elmer Hower, Annie (standing) and grandmother Elizabeth (Livingston) Minerd. 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.
Anna Belle, standing, in a five-generation photo
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.
The story of son Elmer F. Hower (1889- ? ) will be reported here when learned. He was a house painter circa 1910.
Daughter
Emma Hower (1904- ? ) married Henry Frederickson, seen here. Their son, Rev. Charles H. Frederickson, was a
longtime Lutheran minister. He was 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. During World War II, he served with the US Navy.
Son Stanley Hower (1891- ? ) was a house painter. The details of his life are unknown.
Son Calvin Hower (1894- ? ) was married and resided circa 1929 in Greensburg. Their children were Lucette Belle Hower, Wilde Hower and Babe Hower;
Daughter Rene
Hower (1897- ? ) (seen here) married Don E. Coughenour. They resided in
Youngwood, and she was a licensed practical nurse. When she died at age 94 in
1991, her funeral was conducted by her nephew Charles.
Granddaughter Norma Swartz 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."
Granddaughter Anne Troupe, 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."
Grandson in law Wilbur Bussard has served as the Mayor of New Stanton Borough, and continues to be a member of Borough Council. In May 2007, he was the Democratic primary for reelection to council.
Copyright © 2002, 2007, 2008 Mark A. Miner