Wapello County IA Archives Biographies.....Houghland, J. E. 1844 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 July 5, 2013, 9:51 pm

Source: See Below
Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher

J. E. HOUGHLAND.

J. E. Houghland, who is one of the best esteemed and most venerated residents of
Eldon, is entitled to great credit for the service which he rendered his nation
in the Civil war, in which he made an excellent record, distinguishing himself
by gallantry and faithfulness to duty. He is now engaged in the real-estate
business and also acts as pension attorney, but for many years he was connected
with many commercial and industrial enterprises, some of which he successfully
managed and some of which he organized. He has taken an interest in material
development and in intellectual growth and has also taken an active part in the
church life of his city. Moreover, he has held public positions and in all his
connections has proven himself a manly man of high principles.

J. E. Houghland was born in Fort Madison, Iowa, July 12, 1844, and is a son of
Elza and Sarah (Adair) Houghland, the father born in Washington county, Ohio,
and the mother in Indiana. They came to Fort Madison in 1836, the father
following his trade of a contracting carpenter and builder. He died in that city
in 1856, his widow surviving him until 1882. In their family were eight
children, of whom only one, our subject, is now living.

J. E. Houghland began his independent career at the early age of fourteen,
having previously acquired such education as circumstances and pioneer
conditions permitted. His first position was as a clerk in a grocery store and
his remuneration was five dollars per month and board. He continued in that
capacity until July 14, 1862, when he enlisted in Company E, Nineteenth Iowa
Infantry, being then eighteen years of age. He served with his company for three
years and participated in seven battles. In fighting around near Morganza,
Louisiana, he was taken prisoner at Sterling Plantation, on September 29, 1863,
and for ten months was confined in Shreveport, Louisiana and in Camp Ford, near
Tyler, Texas. He then was exchanged, the transfer taking place at the mouth of
the Red river, July 20, 1864. During the last year of his service he was
promoted color guard. He was mustered out July 10, 1865, at Mobile, Alabama, and
then returned to Fort Madison, where for four years he filled the position of
guard and turnkey under Warden Heasey. At the end of that time he and his mother
removed to Washington, Iowa, and there he engaged in the wholesale grocery
business. There Mr. Houghland was married and remained until 1873, when he moved
to Brighton, Iowa, where he established himself in the hardware business,
handling stoves and also shelf hardware. He remained in that town until 1879,
when he moved to Eldon, where he established himself in partnership with his
brother, W. D. Houghland, in the contracting and building business. This
partnership was maintained until 1881, when he established the Eldon Brick &
Tile Company, which later became the Trott Brick Company. He was interested in
this concern for some time but later disposed of his interest and engaged in the
real-estate business, in which he is still active. He also loans money at a low
rate on city and farm properties. In addition to carrying on these lines of
business he acts as pension attorney. Mr. Houghland is a shrewd and able
business man and is considered one of the best judges of real estate in his
neighborhood. He has established a high reputation, for he sees to it that all
who employ his services are treated fairly and squarely.

On September 27, 1871, Mr. Houghland married Miss Emma McCoy, a daughter of
William and Esther (Whalen) McCoy, natives of Ohio, who in an early day in the
history of this state came to Iowa and who passed away in Brighton. In their
family were nine children, six boys and three girls, of whom six are living. Mr.
and Mrs. Houghland were the parents of three children: Ida Delia, of Cedar
Falls, Iowa; Thomas C., who succumbed to a hunting accident; and Nellie E., the
wife of George W. Roberts, of Eldon, a salesman for the Morrell company of
Ottumwa. To this last union two children were born, Violet and James Wallace.

Mr. Houghland has always taken an interest in the progress and growth of his
city and has contributed to its advancement in many ways. He organized and was
the first leader of the Eldon Cornet Band and remained a member of that
organization for a number of years. The stockyards of the Rock Island railroad
being offensive to many residents, he succeeded in having them removed out of
the city limits to their present location. He was also instrumental in the
building of the Congregational church, of which he is a member. He served his
city as assistant postmaster under E. P. Roland for four years and helped to
make the office one which is filled by presidential appointment. He also secured
the former postoffice building for the city. He was instrumental in having the
first postoffice boxes put in—a convenience which is greatly appreciated by the
people. He was a member of the Building & Loan Association until the enterprise
was discontinued and in that connection was often instrumental in rendering
needed help to those who desired to found their own homes. The large cannon—the
biggest in the state—which is now ornamenting the soldiers' monument, was
secured to the city through his efforts.

Mr. Houghland has always stood for improvement and progress, and it was largely
through his efforts that the concrete sidewalks were built from the city to the
cemetery. When the prohibition law went into effect he set himself to the task
of closing the saloons of Eldon and for three years succeeded in keeping the
retail liquor stores closed. Many times his life was in danger at this period,
and he had to constantly carry a revolver in his pocket. During the first year
of its organization he joined the Grand Army of the Republic and is still a
member of Vorhies Post, No. 73, at Eldon, having held all the offices in the
local organization. He was the last owner of the Grand Army hall, which was
built by the post, and in which he held his meetings while he was fighting the
saloon interests. He subsequently sold this property to the Baptist society,
transforming the interior for that purpose. He has always stood for the best
interests of the community, and there is none who can raise a word of reproach
against him. Politically he is a republican and has always been loyal to that
party which stood for the Union cause in the time of the nation's greatest
stress. Fraternally he is a member of New Hope Lodge, No. 480, A. F. & A. M.,
which he organized in 1887 and in which he has filled most of the chairs. He and
his wife also founded Eastern Star Chapter, No. 66, and are therefore both
charter members. He was for two terms patron of the organization. His daughter
Nellie is also a member. Mr. Houghland wrote the only history of the Nineteenth
Iowa Infantry, which is now a highly prized document, being of interest to all
those who served in its ranks and their descendants. For a number of years he
was correspondent for the Ottumwa Courier and now writes for the Des Moines
Capital. He has important property interests outside of the state, owning three
farms in southern Texas and valuable lands in California and Oklahoma, while in
Eldon he has also made judicious investments.

In earlier days he was one of the promoters and manager of the St. Louis, Iowa &
Northern Railroad Company, the land for which was surveyed from Eldon south to
Union, Missouri, and which would have been a success if it had not been defeated
bv the powerful influence of the Wabash and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
railroads, whose lines the new road had to cross. The two other railroad
companies vigorously fought the sale of bonds in Wall street and therefore made
the scheme at that time impossible. However, Mr. Houghland is quite convinced
that the line will be built some day by the Rock Island Railroad Company and
that it will be of the greatest importance to Eldon, for it will establish a
direct through route from this city to St. Louis. As is evidenced from his many
activities Mr. Houghland has been one of the most useful citizens of his
district. He is honored and respected for all he has done in behalf of the
public, and all those who personally know him appreciate him for his courtesy,
his kindly and obliging ways, his charitable views as regards the feelings of
others and that Christian spirit which is a most important quality of any man's
character.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY IOWA
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME II
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1914


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