Mr. Howland is of English extraction, and the grandson of Elisha Howland, who was a native of Rhode Island, and when seventeen years of age emigrated to Saratoga County, N. Y. He married Miss Powell and had six children, all of whom survive with the exception of Powell, who was born Oct. 16, 1799, n Saratoga County, and removed to Indiana in 1839. He married, in 1818, Miss Tamma Morris, of Saratoga County, and in 1823, Miss Mahala Thurber. To the first marriage were born two children, and to the second five, among whom was Elisha J., whose birth occurred in Saratoga County, Nov. 30, 1826, where he remained until thirteen years of age. He then with his father removed to Indiana, and was until eighteen years of age a pupil of the public school, after which for two years he enjoyed the advantages of the Marion County Seminary, in Indianapolis. His attention was then turned to the cultivation of the homestead farm, a part of which became his by division on attaining his majority. He has since that time continued farming of a general character combined with stock-raising, and has met with success in his vocation. He shares his father's love of horticultural pursuits, and has devoted much time and attention to the subject. He is a member of both the State and County Horticultural Societies. In politics Mr. Howland is an ardent Democrat, and was in 18872 elected to the State Legislature, where he served on the committees on Reformatory Institutions and Fees and Salaries, and was chairman of the former. He has ever manifested much public spirit, been active in the furtherance of all public improvements, and the promoter of various schemes for the welfare of the county of his residence and the good of the public. Mr. Howland was married, in 1851, to Miss Margaret E., daughter of Nineveh Berry, one of the earliest settlers in the State, who was born in Clark County, and removed to Anderson, Madison Co., before the government survey was made. He held many prominent office, and was one of the original surveyors ho laid out the land of the State in behalf of the government. His death occurred Aug. 17, 1883, in his eightieth year. Mr. and Mrs. Howland have children,—Charles B., Elizabeth M., James E., Margaret M., Julia H., and one who died in childhood. He was a member of the Ebenezer English Lutheran Church, in which he has been both an elder and a deacon. Mr. Howland is also a member of the same church.

Sulgrove, B. R., History of Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana; Philadelphia: L.H. Everts & Co., 1884, 785 pgs., p. 505.