Aquilla Howard
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Aquilla Howard (October 24, 1835 - February 20, 1923) was a respected African American citizen in York, Pennsylvania. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland to Lewis and Nancy Howard, who were former slaves. Aquilla arrived in Wrightsville, Pennsylvania in 1856 with his parents and 10 siblings. His father decided to bring the family north, so they left Maryland on a schooner which took the family to a canal around Peach Bottom, Pennsylvania, where they embarked on a Wrightsville lime boat. The captain remarked to his father, “Now, my man, you’re in Pennsylvania and on free soil.” Aquilla grabbed a pike from the boat, vaulted to the bank and grabbed a handful of the soil, kissing it again and again.[1]
Howard left Wrightsville and went to Marietta, Pennsylvania for a couple years. There, he married Mary E. Howard. In 1861, Aquilla moved to York, Pennsylvania once he was secured a job as a servant for Attorney John Evans of the law firm Evans & Mayer. He replaced a German servant who was in fear of being drafted and made preparations to leave. [1] As for Aquilla, he was on the York County Civil War draft record from June 1863 for the 15th Congressional District at age 26, working as a waiter and married, though he never served.
There are no records of Aquilla and Mary having any children of their own; however there are two occasions where it was noted that they had children living with them. In 1870, a 10-year-old girl by the name of Laura Johnston[2] and in 1889, a 4-year-old boy. Aquilla was employed by the Small family for around 47 years at their home, which later became the home of the notorious Lafayette Club and now is occupied by the York College Center for Community Engagement. Because of his loyalty and devotion to the members of the Small family, they pensioned him for the period of his life.[3]
On April 21, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln's funeral train arrived in York at 6:40 p.m. A delegation of women lead by Isabel Small carried a beautiful wreath, three feet in diameter, with an outer ring of white roses and inner circles alternating between the “choicest” red and white fragrant flowers, including camellias. Inside the wreath was a flag or shield with blue violets as the field, white violets as stars and stripes, and red geraniums for the red stripes. Symbolically, free black Aquilla Howard quietly placed the wreath on Lincoln’s ornate coffin.[4]
He was stated to be one of the founders of the AME Zion church when it located on East King Street and commonly referred to as “King Street church”. At the AME Zion 81st anniversary in 1901, he was noted to be one of the oldest members of the congregation[5]. He was the superintendent of the Sunday School for nearly 40 years. In 1915, he was introduced to the Sunday School (S.S.) Convention after 37 years as superintendent at the age of 80[6]. He served on the committee in its discussions with the school board of York Borough about having a new school erected for colored children in 1873 and the use of the church as the current school[7]. In 1909, AME Zion held a special program to honor his 74th birthday. He was apparently a poet, as a poem he wrote was shared at this event[8], as well as at the 1911 AME Zion district conference in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania[9].
Aquilla Howard was an involved citizen; drawn to be a grand juror in 1882, serving on the Republican County Committee for 2nd ward, serving as juror for a corner’s inquest at the death of William Washington, serving as trustee of the Hand-in-Hand Lodge No 3118 G.U.O. of O.F. and serving as the Master of Ceremonies for Memorial Day at Lebanon Cemetery in 1911. In 1872, he worked with a committee [10] to bring lecturer Prof. William Howard Day to Washington Hall. He served on the committee for the resolution [11] at the death of Roscoe Conkling.
At his death in 1923, he was survived by 5 of his siblings; his brothers Edwin (Canada), Lewis (Steelton) and John (Marietta); sisters Mrs. Nellie Bennett (Canada) and Mrs. Maria Wicks (Baltimore). Aquilla Howard was known as “Old Daddy Howard” and was likened to a “walking encyclopedia of negro history in York County”[12]. He had written his will himself at the age of 86[13].
in January of 1931, plans were made to build a segregated elementary school and name it after Aquilla Howard[14] and on October 12, 1931, the Aquilla Howard School opened[15]; one of two segregated elementary schools in York, Pennsylvania. The school served the African American children for over two decades. It was sold at auction in 1962 to Gus Rose [16] and demolished later.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "William Butler's Age Is Not Known; May Have Been More Than 100 Years". The Gazette. August 15, 1905. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- ↑ "The Lost One Found". The Gazette. March 18, 1889. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- ↑ "Aquilla Howard, Prominent Negro Citizen, Is Dead". York Daily Record. February 21, 1923. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- ↑ Mingus, Scott (April 21, 2020). "155 years ago today: the Lincoln Funeral Train". The York Daily Record. USA Today. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- ↑ "Sunday In The Churches". The York Dispatch. November 23, 1901. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- ↑ "700 Delegates Enrolled First Day at S.S. Meeting". The Gazette. September 17, 1915. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- ↑ "School Board". The York Dispatch. August 15, 1879. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- ↑ "Is S.S. Superintendent For 29 Years". The Gazette. October 26, 1909. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- ↑ "1911 Conference in Chambersburg". The York Dispatch. September 1, 1910. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- ↑ "Local Intelligence". The York Daily. January 4, 1872. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- ↑ "Roscoe Conkling". The York Dispatch. April 21, 1888. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- ↑ "First Lunch Wagon Owned by J.C. Reeves". York Daily Record. October 29, 1923. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- ↑ "Probate Quaint Will". The York Dispatch. February 27, 1923. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- ↑ "Final Building Units Planned for Schools". The York Dispatch. January 9, 1931. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- ↑ "Aquilla Howard School Opened". The York Daily Record. October 13, 1931. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- ↑ "Auctioneer Gets Howard Building". York Daily Record. October 26, 1962. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
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