William Thompson Howell was an American jurist and politician. Born and educated in New York, the majority of his career was spent in Michigan where he held a variety of state offices. Howell also served as a judge in the newly formed Arizona Territory where he was a principal author of the territory's first legal code, the "Howell Code".
Background
Howell was born on July 8, 1810 in Goshen, New York to parents of moderate means. He was educated in public schools and was teaching by the age of 16 and editing a newspaper by the time he was 19. He changed professions at the age of 24, becoming an attorney and began practicing in Angelica, New York before moving to Jonesville, Michigan in 1837. Howell married his first wife, Sophia Brink, on May 24, 1828 and the couple had four children. Sophia died in January 1845, with one of the couple's daughters dying several months later. His second marriage was to Susan M. Hartwell on April 29, 1847. In 1853, the couple moved to Jackson, Michigan. Susan died August 27, 1856 and was survived by four children. Howell wed his third wife, Sarah Maria Jones in 1857. The third marriage produced two children.
Following the creation of Arizona Territory, President Abraham Lincoln nominated Howell to become a judge for the new territory. His commission as Associate Justice to the Arizona Territorial Supreme Court passed on March 10, 1863. Howell then traveled with Governor John N. Goodwin's party to new territory. Howell was assigned to Arizona's first judicial district, an area encompassing all of Arizona south of the Gila River and east of the 114th meridian west, and left the temporary capital at Fort Whipple for Tucson on February 3, 1864. Upon his arrival in Tucson, Howell was unhappy to find "two out of every three people in the area were barefooted" in his new district. His first court session began on May 31, 1864 and lasted for six days. A second session was scheduled to begin on last Tuesday in October. To simplify the administration of justice within the new territory, Howell saw the need for a coherent legal code and began the research needed to create one. With the assistance of his friend Coles Bashford, the judge consulted with local residents and explored the laws of several states. After 90 days effort, a 400-page tentative code was ready. In April 1864, Howell received word his wife was ill. Bashford requested Howell be given three months leave to see to his wife's needs and to look after his seven surviving children. The leave was granted and Howell left Tucson for Michigan on June 11, 1864.
Howell Code
In his address to the 1st Arizona Territorial Legislature, Governor Goodwin called for the creation of a new legal code to replace the laws Arizona had inherited from New Mexico Territory. The legislature authorized the Governor to appoint a commissioner to create a possible code, and Goodwin selected Howell as the commissioner. Despite the fact the judge had already left the territory, his code was submitted to the legislature for consideration two days after his appointment as commissioner. The "Howell Code" was approved by the legislative session following considerable debate and some modifications. Territorial Secretary Richard C. McCormick observed the code was heavily influenced by the California and New York legal codes.
Later life
Howell returned to Newaygo, Michigan on July 22, 1864 to find his wife "very feeble". After requesting an extension to his leave of absence, he decided not to return to Arizona in early 1865 and instead requested appointment as an Indian Agent in Michigan. The nomination was delayed by President Lincoln and his successor, President Andrew Johnson, chose to nominate a different person. Newaygo remained Howell's residence until his death on April 3, 1870. His third wife, whose illness prompted his return from Arizona Territory, survived until January 5, 1882. Both were buried in the Newaygo Village Cemetery.
