Yolo County CA Archives Biographies.....Houx, Daniel Franklin 1845 - 
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Author: Tom Gregory (1913)

DANIEL FRANKLIN HOUX

    The high character of the citizenship is a noteworthy feature in the history
of Yolo county and perhaps none of the residents has a wider circle of
acquaintances, while certainly none stands higher for integrity and manly worth,
than "Frank" Houx, a resident of this region since very early childhood and
identified for more than one-half century with the material development of his
locality. The arrival of the family in the county when he was scarcely six years
of age remains one of the lasting memories of his early life. He recalls the
vast stretches of unoccupied territory, the wilderness untouched by the hand of
the white man and the lonely frontier region waiting for the plastic touch of
civilization and settlement. Cross-roads stores stood on the sites later
occupied by flourishing villages. Railroads had not yet spanned the country with
their vivifying systems nor had telegraph and telephone lines entered the
imagination of the most prophetic pioneer.

    A history of the Houx family indicates their Teutonic origin and their long
association with the material upbuilding of Germany, whence John came to the new
world and settled in Kentucky. Later he became one of the very earliest settlers
of Cooper county, Mo., removing there at a period so early that few claims had
been taken up by home-seekers and scarcely any attempt had been made at
cultivation of the land. His son, Leonard, a native of Kentucky, grew to manhood
in Missouri and there married Miss Sarah L. Tebbs, likewise a Kentuckian by
birth. After some years on a farm in Cooper county they removed to Johnson
county, Mo., where a son, Daniel Franklin, was born December 7, 1845. Disposing
of all interests in Johnson county the family came to California, crossing the
plains with ox-teams, in 1852, and shortly after arriving at Sacramento in July
of that year they proceeded to Yolo county, where Leonard Houx took up one
hundred and sixty acres of government land. More than twenty busy years were
given to the improvement of the farm, which under the capable oversight and
diligent labor was transformed from virgin soil into productive areas, and there
he remained until his death in August of 1874. His wife passed away in 1897, at
the age of seventy-five years.

    Of the sons and daughters comprising the parental family D. F. Houx was the
first-born, the others being C. C., J. L., E. M., Miranda J., George E. and W.
L. The only daughter is the wife of Watson Barnes, a well-known farmer of Yolo
county. George R., a prosperous business man residing at Blacks Station, was
accidentally killed May 4, 1911. The youngest of the brothers, W. L., is now
engaged in business at Blacks Station. Primarily educated in the common schools,
Daniel F. Houx later attended the Vacaville College for one term and also had
the advantage of a complete commercial course in Pacific Business College, San
Francisco. Upon starting out for himself he rented land and engaged in general
farming. After some years as a renter he succeeded by inheritance to a portion
of the old homestead and purchased the interest of the other heirs, so that he
is now the owner of the farm originally taken up by his father. Here he raises
grain and hay and also keeps on the farm some fine horses and mules, cattle and
hogs. In addition to the cultivation of the home place he has leased and
operated other farms.

    The marriage of D. F. Houx took place at Arbuckle, Cal., in August, 1878,
and united him with Miss Lucinda Frances Maupin, who was born in Humboldt
county, Cal., but passed her girlhood days principally in Shasta county. The
eldest child of this marriage, Lulu May, died in infancy. The surviving
daughter, Minnie Myrtle, is the wife of Alexander Leiter, Jr., a merchant at
Modesto, this state. The only son, Roy Reed, assists his father in the
management of the old homestead. In national elections Mr. Houx votes the
Democratic ticket, but locally he supports the candidate whom he considers to be
the best man for the position in question. In early manhood he served one term
as constable. Frequently he has been a delegate to county and state conventions.
In 1889 he was elected supervisor of district No. 3 and four years later he was
re-elected, serving eight consecutive years. During the first term he served as
a member of the finance committee, while during the last four years he was
chairman of the county board for a full term. On several occasions he has been
chosen to serve on petit and grand juries. For twenty-six years he officiated as
trustee of his school district and for the past five years he has acted as
secretary of the board, meanwhile accomplishing much in behalf of the
educational interests of his district. Fraternally a member of Yolo Lodge No.
81, F. & A. M., he has passed through the chairs and is now past master, besides
having represented the local organization in the grand lodge of the state. The
Independent Order of Odd Fellows also number him among the leading members of
the subordinate lodge at Blacks Station. Besides having, held the offices of
this lodge up to and including that of past grand, he has represented the body
in the grand lodge on five different occasions. In addition he and his wife hold
prominent identification with the lodge of Rebekahs at Woodland.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from

HISTORY OF YOLO COUNTY CALIFORNIA
WITH
Biographical Sketches
OF
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified With Its Growth
and Development From the Early Days to the Present

HISTORY BY
TOM GREGORY
AND OTHER WELL KNOWN WRITERS
ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME

HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA [1913]


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