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File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
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Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County
Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890

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The Biography of W. A. HOWAT 

Pages 822-823, transcribed in full by Karen CRANE Goggin 

[Surnames: HORSTEIN, HOWAT, LEARY, RAYMOND, SLOCUM] 

    
W. A. HOWAT is a business man of high standing in Canton, being the proprietor of a large meat market and carrying on an additional business in stock dealing. He at all times considers the interest of his patrons, thereby laying a foundation for still further business, and still greater success in the line which he pursues cannot but be his just reward. Although it is but a few years since he began his present enterprise, he already ranks among the prominent and influential business men of the place. 
    
The parents of our subject were John and Grace (Raymond) Howat, the former of whom was born in Scotland and soon after his arrival in the United States settled in Peoria, Ill. He was a well-known architect, who built the fist distillery in Peoria and a large number of the residences and business houses of that city. He died when our subject was scarcely more than an infant, about 1864. The mother was born in London, England, about 1833, and brought to America during her infancy, her parents locating on a farm near Peoria and later making their home in the city. Our subject is one of seven children born to his parents, two of whom died in infancy. His eldest brother, Charles, is engaged with his stepfather in the manufacture of brick. Richard is operating a stock ranch in Kansas; James lives in Peoria and is a conductor on the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw Railroad; John is a farmer and stock-raiser in Kansas; W. A., the youngest, is the gentleman whose life history claims our attention. 
    
The gentleman of whom we write was born in Peoria, December 17, 1860. He was cared for by his mother during the years that intervened between the death of his father and his mother's second marriage, which occurred when he was twelve years old. For a long time he worked in a distillery owned by his stepfather, but in 1883 he went to Atlantic, Iowa, where he engaged in the crockery business with a partner. A year later he returned to this State and for twelve months ran a flouring-mill in Yates City, after which he engaged in the sale of meat in Canton. He has continued this business, which has increased with wonderful rapidity and has justified him in opening a second market. In connection with the meat markets and stock-buying, Mr. Howat operates a stock farm in Canton Township, a mile west of the city. 
    
The subject of this sketch was married October 3, 1888, to Miss Ida M. Slocum, the ceremony taking place at the residence of the bride's parents, Leonard and Eliza (Leary) Slocum, one mile west of Canton. The bride was born here and is well known in this vicinity, where she has made many friends. Mr. And Mrs. Howat reside at No. 102 Northwest Second Street, where they pass life most happily together, surrounded by all of its comforts, and blest by the infantile graces of a son, Walter L., whose birth occurred May 13, 1890. Mr. Howat is a member of the Knights of Pythias. He is an intelligent and well-educated young man and one well calculated to win the esteem of all whom he encounters in business or social circles.