James Henderson Howe was born on 4 March 1839 at Forfar, Angus, Scotland, son of James H. Howe and his wife Elizabeth. He migrated to South Australia when he was 17, and joined the mounted police. Following some incidents with the Aboriginal people on Angipena station in the Flinders Ranges, a police station was opened on the property and Howe was stationed there. In 1864 he married and settled in Gawler where he owned an hotel and became a member of the Gawler Municipal Council. He later owned a property Mambray Park in the Baroota district where he bred Clydesdale horses. Here he helped to form the Farmers Mutual Association and subsequently stood for parliament as its representative. He served as a commissioner of crown lands on a number of occasions and was noted for his strong work ethic.

He was a delegate to 1897-98 Australasian Federal Convention which led to the formation of the Commonwealth of Australia. Here he was an advocate for the old age and invalid pensions. He retired from the Legislative Council in 1918, and died at his home at St Peters 5 February 1920.

The Hon. J.H. Howe, Commissioner of Crown Lands Quiz and the lantern, 16 December 1892, p. 3 (Letters to public men)

The House of Assembly - some of its new members : Hon. J.H. Howe Pictorial Australian, January 1891, p. 1, 3

Coombe, E. H. History of Gawler, 1837 to 1908 Gawler [S. Aust.]: Gawler Institute, 1910 (Adelaide: Vardon & Sons, printers) p. 159, 279

Late Hon. J.H. Howe Observer, 14 February 1920, p. 45, col. b-d