CULPEPER COUNTY VIRGINIA USGENWEB ARCHIVES BIOGRAPHIES.....HOUCK, T. L. ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Donna Eldridge DonnaEldrid@aol.com June 20, 2004, 1:11 pm Author: Alexander Lee Miller Moderator of Bethel Baptist Association T. L. HOUCK 1830 - 1882 Again we record the history of one who is a pioneer among pioneers, that man was T. L. Houck, and whose work was highly appreciated by the Bethel Association for on his death at the session in 1882 the Bethel Association said: "Rev. T. L. Houck was born November 3rd, 1830, in Culpepper County, Va. On the 25th day of October, 1849, he was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry at Zoar Church, Culpepper County, by a council, of which R. A. Waller was Moderator, and Samuel Fleming, Clerk. After preaching for a few years in his native State, and being impressed that it was his duty to preach to the Indians, he went West. Not finding any board to sustain him at that time, he determined to carry the red men the gospel anyhow, and so became agent of the North American Fur Company. this work led him direct among the Indians, to whom he preached the unsearchable riches of the gospel of Christ. This work he had to abandon after a few years, on account of the loss of his sight, which was occasioned by his coming in contact with poisonous vines in the wilds of Missouri. Nothing daunted by this sore affliction, Bro. Houck continued preaching, sometimes as missionary of an association or convention, and sometimes as missionary or an independent evangelist. Coming home from a tour of preaching in Middle Georgia , on account of bad health, he rested but a few days and started off to fill a list of appointments in North east Georgia. To his wife's remonstrances, who urged him to stay a while longer and get stronger, urging upon him the probabilityof his dying away from home, if he went off as feeble as he was, he replied: "I made these appointments some time ago, and I feel that I ought to go and fill them. If I die, I want to die at my post." Leaving home, he went directly to Habersham County, and while in the pulpit of one of the churches near Mt. Airy, on Sunday morning, was taken violently ill, and continued to grow worse until he died -- his death occurring on October 17th, 1882. We are glad to know that, though away from home, he was ministered to by loving hands, and that all was done for him that human kindness could suggest. Bro. Houck was twice married, and leaves a wife and four children to mourn their loss. Bro. Houck was a good man. In mental gifts he was much above the average. We grieve over the loss of such a christian, but are comforted with the reflection that our loss is his everlasting gain. (page 294) "History of Bethel Association - Including Centennial Meeting" Centennial meeting held with Baptist church at Edison, Georgia, October 25, 26, 27, 1932 A. L. Miller, Edison, Ga., Moderator. W. H. Joyner, Coleman, Ga., Clerk Complied and Edited by Alexander Lee Miller Moderator of Association 1909 -- 1934 This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/vafiles/ File size: 3.5 Kb