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S. Herbert Howe
Simon Herbert Howe[1] (December 21, 1835 – May 11, 1911) was a Massachusetts businessman and politician who was the first mayor of Marlborough, Massachusetts, and a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He also served as a member of Marlborough's Board of Selectmen, chairman of Marlborough's School Committee, and as a member of the Massachusetts Governor's Council. Early life and familyHowe was born in Marlborough, Massachusetts,[1][4] to Samuel (1800–1864) and Charlotte Howe (1800–1839).[1][4] Howe was a direct descendant of John Howe (1602-1680) who arrived in Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630 from Brinklow, Warwickshire, England, and settled in Sudbury, Massachusetts. Howe was also a descendant of Edmund Rice another early immigrant to Massachusetts Bay Colony[6][nb 1] He first learned to make shoes while working for a manufacturer named John W. Stevens. In 1855, Howe graduated from Marlborough High School.[8] Howe married Harriett A. Brigham[1][5] on January 1, 1857.[3] They had four children[3] including a son, Louis P. Howe.[3][5] Business careerHowe was president of the S.H. Howe Shoe Company[1] and the president of the Marlborough Savings Bank.[1] When Marlborough became a city in 1890, Howe had an image of his own factory incorporated into the city seal, where it remains to this day. In 1855, Howe began to manufacture shoes in a shop in Marlborough with his brother, Lewis A. Howe. He subsequently purchased his brother's share of the business and moved locations within the City of Marlborough.[8] On March 12, 1878, he purchased the "Diamond F" shop on Pleasant Street in Marlborough from James Tucker. On June 4, 1889, he purchased the "Diamond O" shop from C. L. & L. T. Frye and added it to his shoe manufacturing plant.[9] As of 1892, the S. H. Howe Shoe Company consisted of three factories producing 10,000 pairs of shoes per day.[8][9] Howe was elected trustee of the Marlborough Savings Bank in 1875, and in 1882 was chosen president of the institution.[8] In 1879, Howe was one of the original incorporators of People's National Bank, and was a member of the institutions Board of Directors.[8][9] Political career Throughout his life, Howe was regularly called upon to represent Marlborough at both the local and state political level. He held office as a member of Marlborough's Board of Selectmen in 1866, 1873, 1875 and 1877.[9] He also served as chairman of Marlborough's school committee for a number of years.[9] On November 6, 1877, Howe was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He took office on January 2, 1878 as a member of the 99th Massachusetts General Court.[8] In his first and only legislation session as a member of the General Court, Howe served as the chairman of the Committee on Manufactures.[8] In 1890, Howe was elected the first mayor of Marlborough following the town's incorporation as a City.[8] Upon his election, he was praised for having a "most admirable administration".[8] Following just one year as mayor, Howe retired. A decade later, Howe was elected to the Massachusetts Governor's Council in 1901, 1902, 1903 and 1904.[8] He served on the Council during the administrations of Governors Roger Wolcott and Winthrop Murray Crane.[8] Later life and deathHowe died in Southborough, Massachusetts on May 11, 1911.[10] Notes
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