Thanks for the references. I found the searchable Deadwood Library Historical Newspaper Index at http://dwdlib.sdln.net/newspaper_index.htm. In addition to the references that you've laid out, I also found the following reference.
Article Title Performed in children's entertainment
Subject Howe, Nellie
Source Journal: Black Hills Daily Times Dec 24 1881, p.1 , col.3
I believe that Nellie Howe is the same person as Ella Howe.
The first appearance I've found for Den Howe's "third" wife, Ella, was when they first appeared together on stage at Miller's Winter Garden in Philadelphia on February 9, 1878. She was billed as Nellie Kemp and called a sketch artist. In May they were together at the Arcade Garden. In March of 1879, they were at the National in Hartford, Connecticut. This is also the first reference I've found to their "feats of marksmanship" when they performed in the backwoods drama, "Chris the Blind Marksman" where he shot "eardrops from the lady's ears and an apple from her cheek while her head rested upon a table". The same month their infant daughter died. In May they headed to Baltimore where Nellie Kemp was also doing glass ball shooting. On May 24, 1879, Den Howe placed the following advertisement in the New York Clipper.
"A CHALLENGE TO SHOOTERS
First-I will wager from $100 to $500 that I can break as many glass balls out of a hundred at ten yards rise holding my gun upside down. OVER MY HEAD as Mr. Paine or Mr. Sagartum can in the usual way, at twenty one yards rise.
Second-I will wager from $100 to $500 that Miss Ella Kymp, the only female glass ball shot, can break as many glass balls out of a hundred as Mr. Paine or Sagartum. She to shoot at ten yards rise against twenty-one yards rise.
Third-I will wager from $100 to $500 that no man in the world can perform my feats of shooting objects from a lady's head backwards and forwards with my eyes blindfolded, using a forty-one calibre rifle.
DEN HOWE
The only Blindfolded Marksman."
In August of 1879, Den Howe and Ella Kemp appeared at the Vine Street Opera House in Cincinnati, Ohio. This was the last time she used her maiden name. In November of 1879, they appeared at the Milwaukee Theatre as Den Howe and Ella Howe, rifle experts. Finally, in December of 1879, at the Coliseum in Kansas City, Missouri, she was referred to as his wife. As you know Den and Ella Howe arrived in Deadwood on the December 28, 1879.
After the death of first wife Ella in 1883, Den F. Howe remarried to Anna Earle. The couple traveled to Texas and San Francisco where you can find them peforming in comical sketches in various opera houses.
Further investigation should be made into the relationship bewteen Den Howe and Edith Howe, possibly brother and sister and or other family member.
Deadwood Public Library may make a copy of these articles for you for a small fee.
24510 |a Variety troupe for Gem Theatre arrives today 690 |a Howe, Den 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Dec 28 1879, p.4 , col.3
24510 |a Variety troupe for Gem Theatre arrives today 690 |a Howe, Ella 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Dec 28 1879, p.4 , col.3
24510 |a Collected artists from N.Y., Cincinnati & Chicago 690 |a Howe, Den 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Dec 30 1879, p.4 , col.3
24510 |a Feats of marksmanship astonish all the crack shots 690 |a Howe, Ella 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Dec 30 1879, p.4 , col.3
24510 |a His solo was encored to the echo 690 |a Howe, Den 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Jan 14 1880, p.4 , col.3
24510 |a He and his wife in performance at the Gem Theatre 690 |a Howe, Den 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Jan 21 1880, p.4 , col.3
24510 |a Most remarkable performance in feats of markmanship 690 |a Howe, Dan 690 |a Howe, Ella 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Jan 03 1880, p.1 , col.1
24510 |a Beautiful and talented young lady, an immense card 690 |a Howe, Ella, Miss 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Jan 23 1880, p.1 , col.3
24510 |a Defeated in the glass ball shooting match 690 |a Howe, Den 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Feb 03 1880, p.4 , col.2
24510 |a In wonderful acts of marksmanship at Gem Theatre 690 |a Howe, Den 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Feb 05 1880, p.4 , col.3
24510 |a In wonderful acts of marksmanship at Gem Theatre 690 |a Howe, Ella 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Feb 05 1880, p.4 , col.3
24510 |a With guns, are becoming the greatest favorites 690 |a Howe, Den 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Feb 10 1880, p.4 , col.4
24510 |a What he doesn't know about theatre, not worth know 690 |a Howe, Den 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Feb 17 1880, p.1 , col.4
24510 |a Acquitted herself creditable, grand entertainment 690 |a Howe, Ella 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Feb 17 1880, p.1 , col.4
24510 |a Is a nice old man, a little excitable but... 690 |a Howe, Den 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Feb 18 1880, p.2 , col.2
24510 |a Society sketch of "No" was tip-top 690 |a Howe, Ella 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Feb 18 1880, p.2 , col.2
24510 |a Impersonates the character of Joshua 690 |a Howe, Den 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Feb 22 1880, p.1 , col.4
24510 |a Performers at the Gem take up donations for Sexton 690 |a Howe, Den 690 |a Howe, Ella 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Feb 24 1880, p.3 , col.3
24510 |a Love story of how he met his wife 690 |a Howe, Den 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Feb 25 1880, p.2 , col.3
24510 |a Den Howe & wife have taken rooms at Merchant 690 |a Howe, Den, Mrs. 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Apr 19 1882, p.4 , col.3
24510 |a Purchased Langrishe Theatre, athletic club put out 690 |a Howe, Den 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Apr 24 1880, p.1 , col.2
24510 |a Opening his new theatre tonight at Central 690 |a Howe, Den 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g May 01 1880, p.1 , col.4
24510 |a Howe and wife are both sick at Central 690 |a Howe, Den 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g May 18 1880, p.1 , col.2
24510 |a Skating rink in Central is well patronized nightly 690 |a Howe, Den 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g May 29 1880, p.4 , col.4
24510 |a Billy and Edith's benefit (Billy Mack comedian and wife Edith Valentine actress) 690 |a Howe, Den 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Jun 17 1880, p.4 , col.2
24510 |a Billy and Edith's benefit 690 |a Howe, Edith 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Jun 17 1880, p.4 , col.2
24510 |a Several shooting matches came off at Central 690 |a Howe, Den 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Jul 18 1880, p.1 , col.3
24510 |a Glass ball shoot at Central City for $100 690 |a Howe, Dan 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Jul 27 1880, p.1 , col.3
24510 |a Glass ball tournament came off at South Bend 690 |a Howe, Den 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Jul 28 1880, p.4 , col.3
24510 |a Leaves Deadwood 690 |a Howe, Den 690 |a Howe, Ella 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Jul 30 1880, p.4 , col.5
24510 |a Since his arrival everyone has shooting fever 690 |a Howe, Den 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Aug 01 1880, p.4 , col.3
24510 |a In Deadwood 690 |a Howe, Den 690 |a Howe, Ella 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Oct 13 1880, p.4 , col.5
24510 |a Writes that he may soon be back in the Hills 690 |a Howe, Den 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Mar 06 1882, p.4 , col.5
24510 |a Suffering with consumption, fears for survival 690 |a Howe, Den, Mrs. 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Mar 06 1882, p.4 , col.5
24510 |a In Deadwood 690 |a Howe, Den 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Apr 19 1882, p.4 , col.3
24510 |a Combination appeared to highly pleased house 690 |a Howe, Den 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g May 13 1882, p.4 , col.2
24510 |a Actress confined to room with severe indisposition 690 |a Howe, Ella, Mrs 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g May 13 1882, p.4 , col.4
24510 |a Merry makers showed to large & delighted audience 690 |a Howe, Den 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g May 17 1882, p.4 , col.2
24510 |a Merry Makers will open new Theatre Comique Sat. 690 |a Howe, Den 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g May 18 1882, p.4 , col.3
24510 |a New York Combination & "Budd & Annie" split 690 |a Howe, Den 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g May 18 1882, p.4 , col.3
24510 |a Howes are as popular as ever in their sketches 690 |a Howe, Den 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g May 23 1882, p.3 , col.3
24510 |a Unmitigated lie in Pioneer called by Howe 690 |a Howe, Den 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g May 28 1882, p.3 , col.4
24510 |a Howe & Merry Makers will show at Central tonight 690 |a Howe, Den 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Jun 07 1882, p.3 , col.2
24510 |a Death, favorite actress to appear here, at Kansas 690 |a Howe, Ella 7731 |t Black Hills Daily Times |g Jan 23 1883, p.3 , col.2
24510 |a Howe and wife sensational shooters. 590 |a Den Howe and wife (Anna Earle) are amusing Butteites with their sensational shooting. 690 |a Howe, Den. 690 |a Earle, Anna. 7730 |t Black Hills Daily Times, Oct. 23, 1885, p.3, col.3.
590 |a Harrison Crippen, uncle, and Miss Edith Howe, cousin of Judge S.P. Romans, are visiting the latter and Mrs. Romans. 690 |a Crippen, Harrison. 690 |a Howe, Edith. 7730 |t Black Hills Daily Times, May 17, 1887, p.4, col.3.
5100 |a Charles Sammis and Edith Howe, both of Rapid, married July 27. 690 |a Sammis, Charles. 690 |a Howe, Edith. 7730 |t Black Hills Daily Times, Aug. 1, 1893, p.2, col.4.
I am currently in contact via someone that knows her, a 101 year old granddaughter of Den. Howe who, she says, was a sharpshooter in Wild Bill's travelling show. So far I have been able to get very little information from her. He appears to be the same person as the Den. Howe who was married to Ella Howe found on the blog here: http://deadwoodstageactors2.blogspot.com. The source material posted there appears to have come from a newspaper. Can anyone tell me which newspaper these entries came from and is it possible to get copies either directly or through an online subscription service?
So far I have only been able to find Den Howe in the 1880 census for Central City, Lawrence, Dakota Territory as follows:
Den. F. Howe, age 38, born in Michigan, married to Ella Howe, age 20. His father's birthplace is listed as Canada and his mother's birthplace as New York. His occupation: Theatrical Manager.
