BIO: Samuel HOUCK, formerly of Luzerne County, PA

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Author: Biographical Publishing Co.

SAMUEL HOUCK is one of the enterprising and successful farmers of Briarcreek
township, Columbia County, Pa., who makes a specialty of raising poultry. He was
born in Easton, Northampton County, Pa., June 6, 1838, and is a son of John and
Julia (Stair) Houck, and a grandson of John Houck.

  John Houck, grandfather of our subject, was of German descent and was one of
the well-to-do agriculturists of Northampton County. He was the progenitor of a
large family of children and two of his sons, Samuel and Jeremiah, were veterans
of the Rebellion. John Houck, the father of our subject, was born in Northampton
County, Pa., and during his younger days learned the trade of a carpenter. Among
his first efforts at his trade was the erection of a Methodist church which he,
in conjunction with six others, undertook to build without resources other than
their own hands and a determination to succeed. Attaining his majority he moved
to Luzerne County, Pa., and in addition to following his trade, he successfully
carried on farming. In 1872 he moved to Briarcreek township, Columbia County,
where he spent the remainder of his life, passing away July 1, 1885, at the age
of seventy-six years. In politics he was formerly a Whig, but being a strong
Abolitionist, when the Whig party was abandoned, he joined the ranks of the
Republican party. He was an ardent supporter of the free school system, and
secured the appointment, by the court of Luzerne County, of a school board in
his township. He himself served on this board, which forced the levy of a school
tax against a then common prejudice. Mr. Houck was joined in the bonds of
wedlock to Julia Stair, a daughter of George Stair, who was a stone-mason and
farmer residing in Northampton County, Pa. To this happy union the following
children were born: Mary Ann, who died at the age of fifteen years; Julia; our
subject, Samuel; Sarah, a resident of Wilkesbarre, Pa.; Florence Elizabeth,
deceased, who taught school twenty-one years and at the age of thirty-seven
years passed from this life; and John W., who is in the employ of The Jackson &
Woodin Manufacturing Company of Berwick.

  Samuel Houck was brought up on his father's farm and received his early
schooling in his native town. He has been engaged in farming and lumbering all
his life and for some years was engaged in merchandising and huckstering in
Slocum township, Luzerne County. In 1874 our subject came to Briarcreek township
where he purchased a fine and productive farm consisting of one hundred acres.
He has made many improvements since it came into his possession, and it now
ranks among the best farms in the township. Mr. Houck makes a specialty of
raising poultry, small fruit growing, and dairying, and is considered to be one
of the leading farmers of his community.

  Our subject takes an active part in local politics and is a firm supporter of
the Republican party; he was the first Republican judge of elections of
Briarcreek township and also served as a school director in Luzerne and also in
Columbia counties, for many years. On July 12, 1862, Mr. Houck was wedded to
Jane J. Lutsey, a daughter of the late William Lutsey, who was one of the
leading farmers and business men of Slocum township, Luzerne County. To Mr. and
Mrs. Houck was born a family of four children, as follows: Ulysses Grant,
William Lutsey, John Wesley, and Harry M. Ulysses was graduated from the
Dickinson Seminary and, entering upon his life's work, was engaged as a school
teacher for four years. He then took a course in the Veterinary Department of
the University of Pennsylvania, and since 1895 has been a government meat
inspector, now located at Sioux City, Iowa. William L. is a graduate from the
Berwick High School and from the Dickinson Seminary, class of '93; he is now
vice-principal of the Berwick High School. John Wesley and Harry M. are both
graduates of the Berwick High School, and are teachers and also students of
dentistry in the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Houck has won an excellent
reputation for square dealing, unswerving, integrity, and for the many qualities
which are component parts of true manhood. His neighbors testify to his
reputation and he is thoroughly respected and liked by all of them. His
excellent judgment and his sound common sense have made him prominent in the
community in which he resides.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District
Published by 
Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899)

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