Robert Howat
The United States is the most cosmopolitan nation of the earth. Its citizens are drawn from every country and clime, and for this reason this country is frequently known as the "melting pot" of the world. No nation has furnished better or more substantial citizens for this country than Scotland, and those who have come from that country have become highly respected citizens of the various communities where they have settled. The United States census of 1910 credits Fayette county with four native-born Scotchmen, and of these Robert Howat, the cashier of the Fayette County Bank, is one. Coming to this country as a young man and with no resources, he has achieved success by close application to his business and the utilization of his innate ability.
Robert Howat, the son of Robert and Janet ( Howat) Howat. was born in Ayrshire district, Scotland, in October, 1851. He was one of nine children and the only one of the family who ever came to Ainerica. His father was a dry goods merchant in Scotland and died there at the age of sixty-six. Robert Howat, Jr., received a good common school education in his native land and when a young man came to America and settled in Detroit, where he entered the employ of C. R. Mabley, a clothing merchant of that city. He remained with him two years, and in 1879 came to Washington C. H., where he has since resided. He followed the merchant tailoring business for several years after locating in this city and then entered the banking business as the cashier of the People's and Drovers' Bank. He remained with this bank from 1895 to 1908, when he became connected with the Fayette County Bank as cashier. This bank was organized December 2. 1899, with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars, which has since been increased to one hundred thousand dollars. Mr. Howat is thoroughly acquainted with every detail of the banking business and is regarded as one of the most efficient and conservative bankers of the city.
Politically, Mr. Howat is a member of the Republican party and takes an intelligent interest in his party's welfare. At the present time he is a member of the board of education of his home city, and is active in promoting every measure which will increase the efficiency of the public schools of the city. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and has attained to the degree of Knight Templar. He is a man who is recognized as one of the city's ablest business men, and has always been active in every public-spirited measure which was proposed for the benefit of the city.
From History of Fayette County Ohio - Her People, Industries and Institutions by Frank M. Allen (1914, R. F. Bowen & Company, Inc.)