The Howell is a quaint old cabin that features a king sized bed and a log bunk bed in the sleeping area. The bunk bed consists of a double on the bottom and twin on top. The kitchen has a long wooden table and for modern convenience it is equipped with a stove, microwave, refrigerator, dishwasher, and sink. We have also provided pots, pans, dishes, and utensils. The bathroom has a walk in shower.
In 1939, Silas Vail Howell, from Fairview, Utah, purchased the old 14 X 16 timber home from Albert Madsen. Silas put it on skids and with teams of horses was able to move it from 1st South and 1st East to his land several Blocks East. He and his new bride, Alice Irene Jensen, made their home out of it. Four of her six sons and a daughter were born in this small one-room cabin. Silas and Alice both had ancestors from Nauvoo that knew and loved Joseph Smith the Mormon Prophet.
Elias Willis Howell was the son of Edmund Wheeler Howell, who died from Cholera, on the pioneer trail near Council Bluffs. Elias married Mary Jane Sanderson. Mary's parents were Henry Weeks Sanderson and Rebecca Ann Sanders. Rebecca's Father was Moses Martin Sanders.
Silas's was the son of Chancey Vail Howell and Mary Keziah Allred. Mary's Father was John Franklin Allred, who is the son of John Franklin L. Allred of Nauvoo.
Silas's wife, Alice Irene Jensen, is a descendent of Warren Foote of Kirtland, MO and Nauvoo.
The Howell Cabin at Nauvoo Log Cabins LLC contains the Autobiography's of Warren Foote and Henry Weeks Sanderson, and other life histories of the Howell ancestry!
Sarah Vail Howell Terry History
Sarah Vail Howell Terry, born June 29th, 1818, at River Head, Long Island, New York. Her father, Captain John Vail, owned a sailing vessel and earned his living by transporting people from long Island to New York for many years. Sarah was one of nine children, her Mother Elisabeth Edwards, died at the birth of twins. Her father married several years later. At the age of Eighteen, she was married to Edmond Wheeler Howell of River Head, October 5th, 1836, he was a shoemaker by trade. About Five years later she first heard of Elders of the "Mormon" Church preach the Gospel in her country, and a year later, after her husband had joined the Church, she became a convert.
At this time she had been suffering for a month with neuralgia in her head, which had pained her severely, but when she was going to be baptized the Elder told her to throw off the bandages from her head. She did so and traveled about 7 1/2 miles in the wind and was baptized in the ocean water at Long Island Sound by Elder Bisbee, and from that very hour the neuralgia left her and she never had another touch of it. This was a great testimony to her.
Three children were born to them at River Head, and one in New York. Before leaving New York they buried their son George Edward. They had many adversities in acquiring means to come west. They left New York in 1846 and traveled to St. Louis where they stayed about two years. While they were there her husband worked and earned a yoke of oxen, a yoke of cows, a wagon and provisions with which to continue their journey across the plains.
In May 1852 they left Council Bluffs and started on with the company led by William Miles, later by Captain Woods. They had only gone a short distance to the Platte River when this company was attacked with Cholera, and her husband died, and her 13 year old daughter. (She always had a feeling that the daughter was not completely dead as they only stopped the company for one hour to make a burial of those who died with this dreaded disease.) The company continued on and in the fall of the same year landed in Salt Lake Valley.
After reaching there she met a friend Otis Lysander Terry, whom she married January 27th, 1853, she being his fourth wife. They lived at Little Cottonwood a year then on account of famine caused by crickets, moved to Ogden to obtain employment. In the summer of 1860, they moved to Fairview, Sanpete County, Utah. On December 28th, 1860, Celestia Melissa was born, she being the eleventh child of Sarah, six by her first husband and five by her second husband.
During her life, Sarah endured many hardships. She lived to see seven children buried, and her second husband who died in November 1899. She died, July 14th, 1917, at the age of 99 years and 15 days. The last fifteen years she lived with her daughter Celestia and her husband Peter Peterson and family. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson being the longest wed couple in Utah, probably in the nation, and very likely in the world. They lived together happily for 82 years and both lived to be over 100 years old.
