History of Oxford, (Lafayette County) Mississippi United States of America

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Biographies:

The Biography of Charles Bowen Howry

Charles Bowen Howry, jurist, was born at Oxford, Miss., May 14, 1844; son of Judge James M. and Narcissa(Bowen) Howry; grandson of the Rev. Daniel Howry and of Charles Bowen, and a descendant of Virginia and South Carolina families of Revolutionary stock. His first ancestors in America came to Pennsylvania and South Carolina, and the Bowens bore a conspicuous part in the battle of King's Mountain. He entered the University of Mississippi, leaving his studies at the outbreak of the civil war to enlist as a private in the 29th Mississippi infantry of the Confederate army. He was promoted 1st lieutenant before the close of the war. He served in the battles of Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, New Hope Church, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro and Franklin, and was severely wounded at the last-named. He was graduated from the law department of the University of Mississippi in 1867 with the degree of LL.B. and began the practice of law. He declined the appointment of state attorney of Mississippi, offered him by Governor Alcorn in 1870; was a representative in the Mississippi state legislature in 1880-84: was U.S. district attorney, 1885-89; a member of the Democratic national committee, 1891-96; assistant attorney-general of the United States, 1893-96, and associate justice of the U.S. court of claims from 1896. He was elected a member of the American Bar association and of the Mississippi Historical society. He was a member of the board of trustees of the University of Mississippi, 1882-94, and received the degree of LL.D. from the university in 1896.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor