Evan Park Howell (1839 – 1905) was an American politician and early telegraph operator.

A native of Forsyth County, Georgia (that spot is now in North Fulton), he became a runner and pupil of Atlanta's first telegraph operator, D.U. Sloan, at the age of twelve. In 1855 he attended Georgia Military Institute in Marietta. He read law in Sandersville, GA, finished law school at University of Georgia in 1858 and briefly practiced law in Atlanta before the outbreak of war.

In May of 1862 he enlisted in Georgia's First Regiment and within 2 years was its first lieutenant. He fought under Stonewall Jackson in Virginia then was sent West where he fought in the Battle of Chickamauga and the Atlanta Campaign. He ended the war in Hardee's Corps as captain of Howell's Battery, Georgia Light Artillery.

Upon his return, he farmed for a few years then became city editor of Atlanta's Daily Intelligencer. In 1876 he purchased a controlling interest in the Atlanta Constitution and became its editor-in-chief.

With Richard Peters, Samuel Inman, Lemuel Grant and James W. English he purchased the buildings on the site of the International Cotton Exposition (1881) and made it the Exposition Cotton Mill which was successful for many years.

While editor of the Constitution in 1895, he sent out transcripts of Booker T. Washington's separate as the fingers speech across the country.

He served on the city council numerous times and served as mayor shortly before his death at age 66.

Evan Howell | Mayors of Atlanta | 1839 births | 1905 deaths | Evan Howell