Referring to the Howell boys, he said they reminded him of a cement block composed of sand, grit and marl but unlike the cement  block they never "take water" and are impervious to the weather. But they had the somewhat poor characteristic of not remaining at home. Many of the Howell boys are to be found along shore, where they went at an early date in the development of that territory and soon the shore became full of little Howells. Another characteristic was that as soon as they got there, they became first citizens, and landed political jobs all the way from policemen to mayors. And reaching out beyond the local field they became Judges, Senators, Assemblymen, and had even been mentioned for Governor and Congressmen. They not only captured position but property as well, all the way from Toms River to Atlantic Highlands. It has been their business to distribute the products of their brain and blood all over the newly developed territory of Monmouth and Ocean counties, aiding very greatly in their building up.

 

   But while they were sorry that so many of the Howell boys had been obliged to go to other fields of labor, and glad that so many of them had succeeded so well, yet it was a matter or regret that they did not come back oftener. Those who had remained behind were lonely, it had occurred to him that it would be a good thing to have as many of the old boys as possible return on Saturday to break bread together and renew old acquaintances. And it was the further object of the meeting to form an organization to be known as the Howell Society, which would have a similar meeting once a year for the purpose of good fellowship and in order that the members  should not forget the place of their birth. Mr. Johnston next, read a list of Howell boys who had made their marks in the professions and  in banking, as follows:

 

   PHYSICIANS: Samuel Johnson, Asbury Park;  Harry B. Shaw and Walter Tilton, Long Branch;  James B, Wainwright, Manasquan;     

S. A. Disbrow, Asbury Park;  V. M. Disbrow, Lakewood;  Lefferts Disbrow and E. Clarence Disbrow, Toms River;  Dewitt C. Donahay, Philadelphia;  George Franklin, Hightstown;  A. H. Patterson, Georgetown, N. J.;  C. H. Howland, New Haven, Conn.

 

   MINISTERS: Thomas O'Hanlon, Ocean Grove;  William H. Lawrence, Southold, N. Y.;  James D. Bills. Camden;  Steadman Applegate, Asbury Park;  Charles W. Heisley, Cranbury;  Eugene Vannote,  Glen Moore, Pa.;  Richard Bayles, East Orange, N. J.;  James S. Yard, China;  Fred S. Voorhees, Long Island;  Arthur Flandreau, Long Island;  Augustus Heisley, Texas;  George Vannote, Maryland;  John Hulsehart, Manasquan;  Samuel Marks, Farmingdale; and  Lincoln Shear.

 

   LAWYERS: Harry E. Newman and R. TenBroeck Stout, Lakewood;  Halsted Wainwright, Manasquan;  Aaron E, Johnston, Asbury Park; W. B. Parker,  Wilbur A. Heisley and  Clarence G. Vannote, Long Branch;  N. Henry Schutts, New York;  Acton C. Hartshorne, Freehold; Samuel A. Patterson, Asbury Park.

 

   BANKERS: Dr. Charles E. Hall, president Freehold Banking company;  Henry C. Winsor, president Asbury Park and Ocean Grove  bank;  Oliver H. Brown, president First National bank, Spring Lake;  Nathan J. Taylor, president First National bank, Ocean Grove; William J. Couse, president Asbury Park Trust Co.

 

   He also read letters and telegrams from some who had been invited but who were unable to be present.

 

   Dr. Thomas O'Hanlon was down on the list of speakers to speak on "Milestones." He was unable to be present and Rev. John Handley, D.D., responded for him. At the outset he said he had attended school at Pennington with Aaron Johnston, who had intended being a minister, and that he was one of the "whitest" men he had ever known. He next took a shy at Former Senator Francis, remarking that he had captured practically every office worth having, he had had everything going, and that he proposes to nominate him on the Prohibition ticket next year. Speaking for Dr. O'Hanlon, he said that the Doctor always has a good word to say for old Howell township. He believed the rising generation could well get their inspiration for greater and better things from the Howell men who have become successful and great in the various fields of activity.

​

   Judge Wilbur A. Heisley had "Grit" for his topic. He commenced by saying that he has learned why there were so many round-shouldered men in Howell, a thing which he had often wondered at. Mr. Johnston had made it all clear. It was because they had been carrying so many bushels of marl for three cents worth of rum. He said a man might have intelligence, education and wealth, but without grit they would avail him nothing. He believed in always making a fight the best one possible in any good cause. He quoted Josh Billings saying that the secret of good card playing was not in managing to get a winning hand, but in playing a poor hand well. Grit is the quality which enables a man to persevere against all odds to the very end. He closed with a poem by Miller, apropos of the subject, entitled "Sail on: Sail on."

 

   A little break occurred here in the speeches when Thomas Jackson of Ocean Grove, stood up. He said he was a boy of 87 and wanted to know if there was any other older. Rev. Charles A. Heisley of Cranbury remarked that he was 86 and created a laugh by inviting the other boy ''out into the road", which invitation was not accepted. But Stephen A. Morris of Hightstown, and lively as a cricket, felt he was entitled to travel in the eighty class, announcing that he was 81. There was applause for all three. There was doubtless a 60 and a 70 class, as well as a 50 class and some others, but then man never mentions his age until he has reached four score, and most of the Howell men are modest fellows anyway.

 

    Henry C. Winsor of Asbury Park, spoke of "Old Memories." He quoted Whittier's poem on the "Barefoot Boy'.' and waxed really eloquent over the joys of boyhood when there were no collars to vex or shoes to grow corns. Referring to 1865, he said that perhaps 25 families enumerating them would have comprised the census of the township. He referred to the regiments who went

to the front, and to those who entered the war never to return. He gave a brief sketch of the oldest bank in Monmouth, 81 years

old, The Farmers and Merchants Bank of Middletown Point. Getting back again to early days, he said he had caught many a beautiful golden sucker in the Metedeconk, but that since that day, he had learned that there are several different kinds of suckers. In closing, he expressed the hope that all might so conduct themselves that they would receive the plaudit “well done.”

 

   R. TenBroeck Stout of Lakewood, was on the list to talk about "Mistakes." He said there were lots of people who seemed to be

in the wrong place in life "square plugs in round holes." He also remarked that when he was younger, he had thought that he knew something, but of late years, he had discovered that he knew very little. He was like the leaves in autumn, "blushing because they had been so very green in the spring." Mr. Stout had quite a fund of stories which he told with good effect and closed by saying

that those who had gone before were beckoning them to come to them.

 

   Senator Brown spoke on "Opportunity and the Man." Many present had had very little opportunity in early life, but a few months of schooling each year, and but few books, and they had been obliged to make the most of these". He closed with a few kind

words for Mr. Johnston, wishing him long life and continued prosperity.

 

   Halsted H. Wainright of Manasquan, spoke upon "Home." He said success was largely due to early environment. He saw

genuine smiling in the faces of those before him, which he said proved how untrue was the saying that "genius never smiles near home." It was certainly not true of the Howell brand of genius. He next referred to the religious life of the community, the constant, faithful teaching, and the consistent living of the ministers and heads of families, and the work of the Yankee schoolmasters who came to Howell to teach the young idea how to shoot. He closed with the sentiment: "To the township of Howell, our home, whose sons have made things move; may her posterity, both her sons and daughters, with the blessing of Almighty God, shine out throughout all eternity."

 

    W. S. B. Parker of Long Branch, was also on the list, and his topic was "Bubbles." He said he had brought a basket full of bubbles, but the time was so short that he could not exhibit very many of them. He remarked in passing that, the "barefoot boys" who had preceded him in the speaking, had nothing on him because he "was born barefooted." There were also some which he had brought with him to sing, but they too must be laid aside, and in place of them, he read an original poem, composed on the spur of the moment, which follows;