Clipping from Stevens Point Daily Journal 30 December 1908 Submitted by Rick Campen DEATH OF F.R. HOUSTON One of Stevens Point's First Residents Passes Peacefully Away in Sleep, Tuesday Evening One of Stevens Point’s oldest residents and earliest pioneers passed peacefully into the last long sleep that known no earthly waking at 10 o’clock Tuesday evening. The sands of life had run their course. There was no disease. It was only a, weakness incident to age that laid him low. He walked down town on his birthday, Dec. 11, and had been about the house and yard up to a week ago. He had, however, been showing his age quite noticeably since last September and his near friends had felt that the end was not far away. Mr. Houston was born at Bowling Green, Ky., on Dec. 11, 1824, and when quite young was taken by his parents to Missouri. He was married in that state in 1842, his bride being Miss Mary Barbee. They came to Stevens Point in 1849, when the settlement comprised only a few rude cabins. They settled here permanently and watched the little hamlet grow gradually to the proportions of a city. Mr. Houston followed the life of a riverman for many years and enjoyed a wide acquaintance as a successful raftsman and reliable pilot, all up and down the river from Merrill to St. Louis, His later years have. been spent very quietly and happily. For, more than 20 years he has lived in comparative retirement. Mrs. Houston passed away in 1892, and their daughter, Mrs. Sarah Gardiner, with whom they lived for a time, died about a year later. Since shortly after the latter's death he has made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Mary Redfield. The latter is the only survivor of a family of five children. Behind a rather gruff exterior Mr. Houston harbored a kind, heart and a very sympathetic nature. Before advancing, age made it, Impossible, he delighted to visit the sick and to minister to their needs, taking especial pleasure In assisting old time friends, whose last days were spent in unpleasant surroundings. He was a thoroughly honorable and reliable man and enjoyed the full confidence of his business and social associates. In early days he served the people as a member of the common council and board of supervisors. The funeral will be held from the residence of Mrs. Redfield, at 604 Division Street, Thursday at 2 o'clock, Rev. J. A. Stemen of the Presbyterian church officiating. The service at the house and grave will be conducted under the auspices of Evergreen lodge of the Masonic order, of which the deceased had been, for many years an esteemed member, the interment following in Forest cemetery. In accordance with the oft-expressed wish of the deceased, the funeral arrangements will be carried out, very simply and the friends will pleased omit flowers. Stevens Point Daily Journal 30 December 1908 Funeral of Frank Houston The funeral of Frank Houston was held from the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Mary Redfield, 604 Division Street at 2 o’clock this afternoon, Rev. Stemen officiating. The service was in charge of the Evergreen lodge of the Masonic order, and was attended by a considerable delegation of that body. The pallbearers were C.E. Hill, F.M. Millberry, N.A. Week, F.K. Sechrist, E.L. Martin, and John McPhail. Stevens Point Daily Journal 31 December 1908 OLDEST PIONEER DEAD Frank R. Houston, Who Came to Stevens Point in 1849, Passes Peacefully to His Eternal Rest. Frank R. Houston, who had the distinction of being the oldest continuous resident of Stevens Point, died at 10 o'clock last evening at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Mary Redfield, with whom he had made his home for the past seventeen years. Until the first part of last September Mr. Houston had been remarkably bright and active, but since that time he failed quite rapidly, and was up town for the last time on his birthday anniversary, Dec. 11th., He was able to be about the house until a week ago yesterday and for a couple of days was more or less delirious at times. Mr. Houston was born at Bowling Green, Ky., Dec. 11, 1824, making him over 84 years of age. He was married in Missouri in 1842 to Miss Mary Barbee and the family came to Stevens Point seven years later. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Houston, but Mrs. Redfield is the only one now living. Mrs. Houston died in this city Feb. 12, 1892. For several years after Stevens Point was incorporated as a city, Mr. Houston served as a member of the council and also represented one of the city wards on the board of, supervisors. In his younger days he frequently made trips down the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers with fleets of lumbers, and later engaged in the general merchandise business, the bulk of his trade being with lumbermen, whom he supplied, with nearly, everything used in a logging camp. This, was long before the, days of railroads through this section and the supplies were hauled here by team from Berlin or Gill's Landing. Numerous tribes of Indians inhabited this section at that time and Mr. Houston enjoyed a large trade with the original Americans, giving them provisions in exchange for hides and furs. He was a "handy" man in every sense of the word, and in pioneer days frequently performed the duties of undertaker, and often acted as a nurse. This latter calling he followed more or less until very recent years. Of a large hearted, generous disposition, Frank Houston had many good friends, and all will be sorry to learn that he has passed from among us. He lived a long life, a useful, busy, industrious life, an the world is better for his having been. Funeral services will be conducted at the Redfield home on ' Division Street at .2 'o'clock, Thursday afternoon by Rev. John A. Stemen of the, Presbyterian church, and there will also be ritualistic service by officers of the Blue Lodge of Masons, of which order Mr. Houston had been a member for many years. The Masonic body will also be in charge -of the burial in Forest cemetery. Among the relatives expected here to attend the funeral are Miss Winnie Gardiner and Mrs. Lydia Houston of Grand Rapids and Mrs. C. H. Alley of Eland. Friends are requested to omit flowers. Stevens Point Gazette 30 December 1908 (c) 2004 All Rights Reserved - Rick Campen ========================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, or the legal representative of the contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Rick Campen ==========================================================================