In 1850 he was a lead defense attorney for those accused of plotting the burning of the Michigan Central Depot in Detroit.

[1] In 1854, Howard was elected as an Opposition Party candidate to represent Michigan's 1st congressional district in the 34th Congress, and was re-elected two years later.

From 1869 to 1871, Howard served as land commissioner of the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railway.

In 1871, Howard ran unsuccessfully as a Republican candidate for the United States Senate.

In 1878, Howard was appointed as Governor of Dakota Territory by President Rutherford B. Hayes.