The Story of a Country Town: Analysis of Major Characters

Author: Edgar Watson Howe

First published: 1883

Genre: Novel

Locale: The Middle West

Plot: Social criticism

Time: Mid-nineteenth century

Abram Nedrow (Ned) Westlock, a Middle Border boy (and man), the narrator of the story. He is a farm helper for his father and later an apprentice in journalism. He becomes a successful editor of the paper his father leaves him. For years in love with Agnes, he marries her after his mother's death. A close observer of people, he is also a moralist on such matters as temperance and personal industry. As a critic of small-town temperament and mores, he anticipates Sinclair Lewis' Carol Kennicott.

The Reverend John Westlock, his father, a Methodist minister, a strong, capable, independent, and thrifty man. He also is a domestic tyrant, a hard worker, and strongly opinionated. Suffering from a gnawing discontent, he leaves the ministry, becomes the editor of a newspaper, and later deserts his family, informing Ned of a seven-year liaison with Mrs. Tremaine, who accompanies him in his flight.

Mrs. Westlock, the minister's weak, timid, and submissive wife. She dies just before her repentant husband returns.

Jo Erring, her younger brother, in early youth a member of the Westlock household and throughout his life a close friend of Ned. Stout, energetic, and ambitious but rather crude and uneducated, he works hard to prove himself worthy of Mateel. Having learned milling under Damon Barker, he builds a mill of his own and marries Mateel. Doomed from the beginning, the marriage is never happy, and it finally dis-integrates. After Mateel divorces him and marries Bragg, Jo murders his successor and later poisons himself in prison.

Mateel Shepherd, Jo Erring's sweetheart. Although she is in love with Bragg, she marries Jo, whom she later divorces to marry Bragg. Driven insane by Bragg's murder, she dies shortly afterward.

Clinton Bragg, Jo's rival for Mateel. He is boastful, sullen, insolent, lazy, an ostentatious drinker, educated, and scornful of others' ignorance. He is murdered by Jo.

Damon Barker (in reality Captain Deming), a former ship captain and now a miller, a friend of Ned and Jo. After his wife's death, he reveals his identity to his daughter Agnes, who goes to live with him.

Agnes Deming, his daughter, a young and pretty school-teacher. Popular in Fairview, she is a kindly friend and adviser to everyone. Although she is older than Ned, she accepts his love. They grow closer when she cares for his ailing mother, and at the end of the story she and Ned have been happily married for several years.

The Reverend Goode Shepherd, the father of Mateel and successor to Mr. Westlock at the Fairview church.

Mrs. Tremaine, the widowed half sister of Damon Barker, for whom she keeps house. She elopes with Mr. Westlock but leaves him when she learns he has left Ned his money and property.

Dad Erring, Jo's father, a shingle-maker. He is nonreligious, eccentric, and reticent, tending to his own business and ignoring that of others.

Mr. Lytle (Little) Biggs, Agnes' uncle, the father of eight children. A small, free-spoken man, he is critical of others' follies and faults as well as his own, such as his penchant for lying.

Big Adam, Mr. Biggs' hired man, a fat, bull-voiced country lout with a habit of drawing imaginary corks and pouring imaginary drinks. He becomes Barker's helper and later the mill operator.