Nelson Arthur Howard Sr.
b: 09 OCT 1874
d: 21 SEP 1940
Biography
1891 Census Canada-Chatham, Quebec
Living with father A.L. Howard, listed as male, 18 years old, single,born US, parents born US

Listed as a chemical engineer in father's obituary. He graduated fromYale in 1899 from the Sheffield School of Science. He was VicePresident of Union Oil of California in the early 1920's. He was oneof the founders of Santa Anita Turf Club and Race Track in Arcadia,CA. He went to Hopkins Grammar School in New Haven, CT (his reportcard is attached). He and his second wife, Natalie lived out theirlater years at the Huntington Hotel in Pasadena. They built one ofthe first "cottages" on the grounds. He was a great outdoorsman,actively hunting (member of La Grilla Hunt Club in Mexico), fishingand yachting (member of Tuna Club in Avalon, Catalina, California andholds the record for catching the largest black sea bass in theworld). He loved flying his planes and owning race horses in Del Marand Santa Anita. He was devastated by his first wife's early deathand his sister, Sarah, came to care for the children for two years.He sent his first son, Arthur, to boarding school at six years oldright after his wife's death and he came home only on vacationsthereafter. His second wife, Natalie Rand, was a wonderful woman andthe boys grew up knowing her as their mother. They never had childrenof their own.

His grand daughter, Joanie Sammis, remembers him as a gruff, seriousman who loved routine. I think his bark was worse than his bite,however, because she also remembers that she and her sister, Natalie,used to spend the night in his room with him on the big divan. Theyboth remember being picked up by his car and driver for lunches onSundays. They used to hide in wait for him behind his big chair anddesk and tickle him on the neck. Any man who would allow thatcouldn't have been too unapproachable.

He was a real man's man and they remember him always going off on hissports trips, fishing or hunting. He was also a bit of a rebel, Ithink, because there are several references in letters his fatherwrote home from the Boer War about Nelson not writing him. There musthave been some conflict with his father before he left for the war,possibly because his father left the running of the family business inCanada to his brother George, instead of him, the oldest child. Hetold everyone that he would retire at age 50 and he did just that,making his fortune in the day's before taxes. He was rather miffed atthe fact that his son, Nelson, Jr., was moving to Texas and taking hisgrandaughters away from him in 1939. He was a very controling anddominating personality, although his grandaughters and most who knewhim remember him very affectionately. He died at the age of 66,having lived a very full, active, fascinating life.

1924 Traveled to Europe with wife Natalie aboard the SS New Amsterdam,listed as living at Maryland Hotel in Pasadena, CA

Death Record #8915 Los Angeles County, CA
Nelson Arthur Howard
Male, white, birth October 9, 1874 New Haven, CT
Death September 21, 1940 Huntington Memorial Hospital Pasadena, CA at65 yo
Cause of death coronary occlusion and coronary sclerosis
Cremated Mt. View Crematory, Turner & Steves, Pasadena, CA
Last occupation vice president of a chemical company
Lived in Pasadena last 20 years at 1401 South Oak Knoll Avenue,Pasadena, CA at on the grounds of the Huntington Hotel
Informant son Nelson A. Howard, Jr. at 2717 Monterey Road, San Marino,CA

Obituary in LA Times 9/21/1940
Popular Sportsman Dies Suddenly with large photograph
N.A. Howard, Turf Figure Succumbs
Heart Attack Fatal to Leading Sportsman
Resided 15 Years at Huntington
Financier Was Action in Oil Concerns
Nelson A. Howard, Prominent Pasadena sportsman and financier, strickenat noon yesterday with a heart attack, passed away at a local hospitaltoday at 5am, his death coming as a shock to his family and manyfriends. One of the men responsible for bringing horse racing back toCalifornia, Mr. howard was a familiar and beloved figure in racingcircles. His active participation in racing in Southern Californiadates back to 1933. He was a director and chairman of the executivecommittee of the Los Angeels Turf Club, operator of Santa Anita racetrack.
Sportsmanship Acclaimed
Those who knew his high ideals and his championing of cleansportsmanship often remarked that if all men in racing were likeNelson Howard there would be no scandals or cause for criticism. Mr.Howard was born in New Haven, CT October 9, 1874. He attended HopkinsGrammar School in that city and was a graduate of the SheffieldScientific School at Yale University. Following his graduation hewent to Chicago and became associated with the General ChemicalCompany, advancing ot the position of vice-president and chairman ofthe executive committee of that organization.
Lived at Huntington
Coming to the Pacific Coast in 1910, Mr. Howard and his family residedin Piedmont, CA. It was in 1920 that he moved to Southern California,becoming a director and chairman of the executive committee of theUnion Oil Company. for the past 15 years the Howards have made thierhome at the Huntington, occupying one of the residences on the groundsof the hotel. Mr. Howard was a director of the Hotel HuntingtonCorporation and a popular memeber of the hotel colony. Since comingto Southern California he has held directorships of numberous oil andindustrial concerns and was a member of leading clubs in San Franciscoand this vicinity. Mr. Howard's father, Major AL Howard, killed inthe Boer War, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order by LordKitchener for outfitting his own Canadian contingent.
Devoted to Thoroughbreds
Mr. Howard in recent yeas had devoted most of his time to histhoroughbred horses and dogs. He was the owner of Gosum, which ranfourth in the Santa Anita Handicap in 1938, the year Stagehand won.Another of his favorite horses, Harrogate, succumbed at Tanforan inMarch 1937, a victim of car fever. He never had many horses at a timeand racing was purely a hobby with him, providing the thrill of seeinghis colors and following the careers of the horses he loved. Personsin many walks of life will be saddened by Mr. Howard's sudden death.Sitting in his box at the track with him one would find a constantstream of persons of all types, dropping by to chat with this popularracing figure. Big names mingled with trainers and jockeys, but nomatter who they were they harbored a great fondness for Mr. Howard.
Wife, Children Survive
Surviving Mr. Howard are his wife, Mrs. Natalie Cameron Howard; twosons, Nelson A. Howard, Jr. who recently moved from San Marino toHouston, Tex., and Arthur L. Howard of Los Alamos, CA; twograndchildren Natalie Anne and Joan Agnes; three brothers, HoraceHoward, Alberta, Canada, George M. Howard, Halifax, NS and BenjaminHoward, now living in France, and a sister, Mrs. Sarah Buller,Vancouver, BC.
Funeral arranmgements int he charge of Turner & Stevens will beannounced later. Interment will be private. The family has askedthat friends omit flowers. It was Mr. Howard's own request before hisdeath that friends so disposed should remember their favorite charity.
Facts
  • 09 OCT 1874 - Birth - ; New Haven, CT
  • 21 SEP 1940 - Death - ; Pasadena, CA
  • 1910 - Residence - Age: 35; Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Head ; Chicago Ward 6, Cook, Illinois, USA
  • 1935 - Residence - ; Pasadena, Los Angeles, California
  • 01 APR 1940 - Residence - Age: 66; Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Head ; Pasadena, Los Angeles, California, United States
  • 1920 - Residence - Age: 47; Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Head ; Piedmont, Alameda, California, USA
  • 1880 - Residence - Age: 5; Marital Status: Single; Relation to Head of House: Son ; New Haven, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
  • 1891 - Residence - Age: 18; Marital Status: Single; Relation to Head-of-house: Son ; Chatham, Argenteuil, Quebec, Canada
  • 1930 - Residence - ; Pasadena, California
  • 24 APR 1937 - Departure - ; Honolulu, Hawaii
  • 10 JUN 1897 - Civil - Age: 22
  • 1916 - Event 2 - ; VP General Chemical Co. of New York
  • 1920 - Event 3 - ; Union Oil
  • Comment 4 - along w ; his father
  • 01 MAY 1937 - Arrival - ; San Pedro, Wilmington and Los Angeles, California, United States
  • 04 OCT 1924 - Arrival - Age: 50 ; New York, New York
  • 01 MAY 1923 - Arrival - Age: 48 ; New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Occupation - Engineer, Chairman Union Oil Co. of Calif.
  • 1910 - Residence - Age: 35; Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Head ; Chicago Ward 6, Cook, Illinois, USA
  • 1935 - Residence - ; Pasadena, Los Angeles, California
  • 01 APR 1940 - Residence - Age: 66; Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Head ; Pasadena, Los Angeles, California, United States
  • 1920 - Residence - Age: 47; Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Head ; Piedmont, Alameda, California, USA
  • 1880 - Residence - Age: 5; Marital Status: Single; Relation to Head of House: Son ; New Haven, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
  • 1891 - Residence - Age: 18; Marital Status: Single; Relation to Head-of-house: Son ; Chatham, Argenteuil, Quebec, Canada
  • 1930 - Residence - ; Pasadena, California
Ancestors
   
Lockhart Wright Howard
09 NOV 1823 - 30 AUG 1900
 
 
Arthur Lockhart "Gat"" Howard
16 FEB 1846 - 14 FEB 1901
  
  
  
Susan Jeannette "Jane" Fuller
30 SEP 1824 - 03 SEP 1886
 
Nelson Arthur Howard Sr.
09 OCT 1874 - 21 SEP 1940
  
 
  
Nelson C. Newgeon
1832 - 27 MAR 1874
 
 
Sarah E. "Sadie" Newgeon
18 JAN 1856 - 19 FEB 1897
  
  
  
Frances S. Adams
1833 - 09 NOV 1883
 
Family Group Sheet - Child
PARENT (M) Arthur Lockhart "Gat"" Howard
Birth16 FEB 1846Hinsdale, NH
Death14 FEB 1901 Boer War, Rustplaate in South Africa
Marriage10 JAN 1895to Margaret Green at New Haven, CT
Marriage25 DEC 1873to Sarah E. "Sadie" Newgeon at New Haven, Connecticut
FatherLockhart Wright Howard
MotherSusan Jeannette "Jane" Fuller
PARENT (F) Sarah E. "Sadie" Newgeon
Birth18 JAN 1856New Haven, CT
Death19 FEB 1897 New Haven, CT
MarriageDEC 1889to Charles Higgins Jr.
Marriage25 DEC 1873to Arthur Lockhart "Gat"" Howard at New Haven, Connecticut
FatherNelson C. Newgeon
MotherFrances S. Adams
CHILDREN
FFlora May Howard
Birth18 JAN 1879New Haven, Connecticut
DeathJUL 1967Fairfield, CT
MarriageABT 1919to Sewell Haggard
Marriageto Kidder
Marriage03 SEP 1898to Albert Moyer at New York City, NY
MGeorge Melville Howard
Birth17 JAN 1877New Haven, CT
Death26 AUG 1959Halifax, NS, Canada
Marriage05 JUN 1901to Mabel Rose Pyke at Halifax, NS, Canada
FSarah Jeanette Howard
Birth14 JUN 1884New Haven, CT
Death17 APR 1975Vancouver, CAN
Marriage24 AUG 1910to Frederick James Buller Dr. at Chemainus, British Columbia, Canada
MHorace Hubbard Howard
Birth17 MAY 1882New Haven, Connecticut
Death1967Alberta, Canada
Marriageto Martha
Marriage25 DEC 1904to Kathryn Edith Mayor at Manhattan, NY
MNelson Arthur Howard Sr.
Birth09 OCT 1874New Haven, CT
Death21 SEP 1940Pasadena, CA
Marriage28 APR 1909to Natalie Cameron Rand at Tippecanoe Co. IN
Marriage08 FEB 1900to Anna Holmes Galpin at West Presbyt. Church, NY City
MVan Straubenzie (Ben) Howard
Birth04 JUL 1886New Haven, CT
DeathJUN 1949Honiton, Devon, England
MarriageBET 1910 AND 1917to ?
Family Group Sheet - Spouse
PARENT (M) Nelson Arthur Howard Sr.
Birth09 OCT 1874New Haven, CT
Death21 SEP 1940 Pasadena, CA
Marriage28 APR 1909to Natalie Cameron Rand at Tippecanoe Co. IN
Marriage08 FEB 1900to Anna Holmes Galpin at West Presbyt. Church, NY City
FatherArthur Lockhart "Gat"" Howard
MotherSarah E. "Sadie" Newgeon
PARENT (F) Natalie Cameron Rand
Birth02 OCT 1873Illinois
Death14 FEB 1955 Pasadena, California
Marriage28 APR 1909to Nelson Arthur Howard Sr. at Tippecanoe Co. IN
Father?
Mother?
CHILDREN
Family Group Sheet - Spouse
PARENT (M) Nelson Arthur Howard Sr.
Birth09 OCT 1874New Haven, CT
Death21 SEP 1940 Pasadena, CA
Marriage28 APR 1909to Natalie Cameron Rand at Tippecanoe Co. IN
Marriage08 FEB 1900to Anna Holmes Galpin at West Presbyt. Church, NY City
FatherArthur Lockhart "Gat"" Howard
MotherSarah E. "Sadie" Newgeon
PARENT (F) Anna Holmes Galpin
Birth18 OCT 1873Derby, Connecticut
Death24 NOV 1906 Chicago, Illinois
Marriage08 FEB 1900to Nelson Arthur Howard Sr. at West Presbyt. Church, NY City
FatherWilliam Dwight Galpin
MotherEllen "Ella" Fox Little
CHILDREN
MArthur Lockhart Reginald Howard
Birth1901Baltimore, MD
Death22 JUN 1958Santa Maria, CA
Marriageto Alma Tognazzi
MNelson Arthur Howard
Birth28 SEP 1906Chicago, Illinois
Death12 NOV 2005Santa Barbara, California
Picture Gallery
 
Evidence
[S105] Indiana, Marriage Collection, 1800-1941
[S38] wft976vol3.FTW
[S59] 1880 United States Federal Census
[S58] 1910 United States Federal Census
[S226] 1891 Census of Canada
[S96] U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925
[S53] 1940 United States Federal Census
[S181] New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957
[S233] New Orleans, Passenger Lists, 1813-1945
[S97] California, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1882-1957
[S56] California, Death Index, 1940-1997
[S126] U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
[S258] Honolulu, Hawaii, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1900-1959
[S43] World Family Tree Vol. 3, Ed. 1
[S64] 1920 United States Federal Census
Descendancy Chart
Nelson Arthur Howard Sr. b: 09 OCT 1874 d: 21 SEP 1940
Natalie Cameron Rand b: 02 OCT 1873 d: 14 FEB 1955
Anna Holmes Galpin b: 18 OCT 1873 d: 24 NOV 1906
Arthur Lockhart Reginald Howard b: 1901 d: 22 JUN 1958
Nelson Arthur Howard b: 28 SEP 1906 d: 12 NOV 2005