Amos William Howard was born in Hertfordshire England in 1848, arriving in Australia in 1876 where in 1889, he settled in Blakiston in the Adelaide Hills, establishing a nursery producing daffodils, tulips, roses and garden shrubs. On a pleasant summer day in 1889 serendipity occurred. Amos wandered down to see his neighbour Mr Michael Daley to buy a cow. It is rural legend that Mr Daley was delayed so Amos took a walk along the local creek and was attracted by a plant growing along the local creek ‘exhibiting unusual’ habit including growth and prolific nature of reproduction.’ Recognising its potential for Australian ‘Mediterranean’ agriculture Amos commenced a breeding program.

Amos became a strong advocate for subterranean clover releasing his first variety in 1906 (Mt Barker).