Howell L. Pickett
August 13, 1848 – July 21, 1914
Howell L. Pickett, after whom Pickett County was named, was born in Lebanon, Tennessee, in August 13, 1848, and was a member of the distinguished Southern family of Picketts, which produced many statesman, soldiers and men of letters, among whom were the famous Confederate General George B. Pickett and Albert James Pickett, the Alabama historian.
Howell Pickett’s literary education was acquired at Union University of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where in 1872, he received an A.B. Degree. He then entered the law department of Cumberland University at Lebanon, from which he graduated in 1876. He located in Lebanon for the practice of his profession and rapidly became recognized as one of the able young men of the state, achieving marked success as a lawyer and advocate, and served with distinction in the Tennessee General Assembly, for which he was rewarded by the naming of Pickett County in his honor.
In 1882, having acquired interests in mining property in Arizona and New Mexico, Mr. Pickett moved from his native state of Tennessee and thereafter practiced law in the Southwest. He was a resident of Tombstone, Arizona, for many years.
Throughout his long career, Mr. Pickett occupied a place in the front rank of his profession and enjoyed a very extensive practice. He appeared as council in some of the most important mining litigation in the Southwest, in which field of practice he took great interest and in which he achieved particular distinction, not only at the bar of his adoptive state, but in Utah and New Mexico, where he was frequently called as council. As a lawyer, his ability was of the highest order. He was learned in the law, eloquent in address, either before court or jury, and met with marked success.
Though courteous in address, he was an uncompromising adversary, a fearless advocate and often unsparing of his opponents. His influence in the profession was considerable and uniformly exerted for the very highest ideals.
In the development of Arizona, Mr. Pickett was deeply interested and was an active factor. In the strenuous years immediately proceeding statehood, he took an active and prominent part in political affairs, twice appearing in Washington as a member of the delegations chosen to oppose the joining of Arizona and New Mexico as a single state, in which connection his work was particularly effective. His career was honorable and distinguished. He was one of the foremost and ablest members of the bar of the southwest for more than 30 years.
It is said of Mr. Pickett that he had the reputation everywhere as a man of spiritual courage and inflexible integrity, that he believed in straight methods and the square deal. He was the first man in Arizona to advocate the popular election of senators when Arizona became state, and he stood for every phase and form of people’s rule in all things of the county, state and nation.
- He stood for the Arizona Constitution as written.
- He stood for the fundamentals of American democracy declared by Jefferson.
- He was opposed to graft, trusts, monopolies and special interest that seek to exploit and plunder the people.
- He stood for home rule, local self-government and the right of the people to elect and recall their public servants.
- He stood for just and fostering treatment by the general government of the rival interest of the state.
- Col. Pickett, as he was known throughout the Southwest, was among the most astute attorneys on the Pacific coast and amply capable of weighing and debating upon any public question that might come up.
- He was learned in his profession, and being the student that he was, conversant with state affairs that might affect the commonwealth.
- He was a gentleman of unquestioned probity and reflected a credit upon the state of Arizona.
- He stood on the doctrine of “Let the people rule.”
- He said of the people of his native state of Tennessee, that they stood by their state, right or wrong. If they were wrong, they would right themselves because they were honest.
Howell L. Pickett died July 21, 1914. He was buried in the city cemetery at Tombstone, Arizona. He was given full Masonic honors by King Solomon Lodge number 5, Free and Accepted Masons.
Our county was indeed honored to be named for such a just and idealistic man who dedicated his life to fair government by the people. Tennessee’s loss was Arizona’s gain.
This paper was compiled by David Hassler from many historical documents obtained in Arizona.