BIO:  William J. HOUCK, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/york/
_______________________________________________ 

History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
_______________________________________________ 

Part II, Biographical Sketches, Wrightsville Borough and Hellam Township, Pg 78

WILLIAM J. HOUCK, justice of the peace, was born in York City, April 20, 1855.  
His parents were John and Genevieve Houck, of Germany, who had seven children, 
of whom William J. is the youngest.  He remained in York with his parents until 
1866, when he went with them to Baltimore, where he attended the Catholic 
schools.  In 1869 he returned to York, and began learning the trade of shoe-
making with Philip H. Amig, served an apprenticeship three years and six months, 
and then worked for himself for three years.  He was married February 5, 1875, 
to Mary A. Cramer, daughter of Charles Cramer, of York, and to this union three 
children have been born:  William J., Charles E. and Fannie L.  In March, 1876, 
he removed to Des Moines, Iowa, where he followed his trade but a short time, 
returning again to Hellam Township, where he opened a shoe store, in which 
business he is at present engaged.  In the spring of 1878 he was elected justice 
of the peace of Hellam Township, and was re-elected in 1883.  The family belong 
to the United Brethren Church, and are now co-operating in the construction of a 
new church edifice for that denomination in the village of Hellam.