Howell settled on a sizeable tract between the Cedar Springs and McKinney Roads, planting vineyards and orchards and opening a commercial greenhouse at McKinney and Pearl. After attending the Philadelphia Exposition in 1876, the "father of Dallas horticulture" returned home and began planning an addition to the city on his own land that would reflect the graciousness and beauty he saw in Philadelp
hia. Streets were named for his father-in-law (Rev. Jacob Routh), and after Fairmount Park, the site of the Philadelphia Exposition. John Howell named the streets of Routh (after his wife's family), Howell (after his own family), Fairmount and Maple. Other streets named for his family are Coit Road, Campbell Road and Thomas Street.
