Eli Houghton

GEDCOM Note

DNA evidence

Prior to Moving to Illinois Farmer per family story

1835-1837 - Oakland Co., MI He owned land in Oakland Co., Michigan per General Land Office Redords-1807-1907 Section NR 18, Township 2 N, Range 8 E, Total Acre = 40, L O = 2, Code Document 8159 signed 1835/10/09 and 18746 signed 1837/05/03. (of note -

1836 Oakland MI - baptised by Ornan Houghton

1837 Moved to Caldwell, Missouri with Mormons Imprisoned for faith in Missouri

1838 Forced to move out of the state of Missouri

1840 - - Eli and his family arrived in Nauvoo per Nauvoo Records around 1840 - Warsaw, Hancock Co., Illinois Marie Eccles - Caine Archive of Intermountain Americana register, Utah State Univerdity Libraries, Special Collections and Archives - http://library.usu.edu/specol/manuscript/caine19.html - "Mormon Affidavits and Petitions relating to the Missouri Persecutions" Collection 19 contains those petitions and affidavits relating to Mormon difficulties in Missouri from 1831 to 1839 that were submitted to the House Judiciary Committee seeking redress for damages done in Missouri. The Collection was obtained from the National Archives in the Spring of 1990. In filing the papers, original filing order has been preserved. Each affidavit or petition was handled separately, ad the following series of container lists and indices provide access to various names, geographical locations, and post-Missouri residences of the Mormon population. Though the affidavits and petitions were initially collected because of the Mormon expulsion from Caldwell and Daviess counties, a significant number also detail Mormon difficulties in other northern Missouri counties during the so-called Mormon War of 1838-1839. One of the surprising things about the affidavits, ostensibly sworn to elicit action from Congress for losses during the Mormon War is the number (and the detailed accounts within that number) of affidavits dealing with the Mormon expulsion from Jackson County in 1833 and again in 1834 after some Mormons returned to the County (see affidavits of Charles Hulet and James B.F. Page). A description of the collection and an analysis of the contents of it is to be found in Paul C. Richards, "Missouri Persecutions: Petitions for Redress," Brigham Young University Studies, XIII (Summer 1973), pp. 520-543.

Collection 19 - Box III: Document 11 - "Miscellaneous Subjects, Affidavits, & C" Fd 16: Eli Houghton, 1797- Affidavit re: losses in Caldwell County. Warsaw, Hancock, Illinois, January 6, 1840. 1840 - Jan 6 Eli in a petition signed January 6, 1840, wanted $1400 in damages. He was taken prisoner and marched to Richmond where he was kept two days to and released. He had property in Caldwel, Missouri. Source 'Missouri Pettitions of 1830s. Johnson, Clark

Nauvoo land - Kimball 1st, Block 3, Lot 13

1842 - Nauvoo, Illinois listed in the Nauvoo, Illinois Tax Index, 1842 page 228 Coordinate 6N8W (also listed is James Houghton and Ornan Houghton)

1843 - 12 April Eli Houghton, who lives in Hancock County, Illinois, Purchased Lot 13, Block 3, Kimball Plat, Town of Nauvoo, from Ethan Kimball who resides in Orange County, Vermont $130 source:Nauvoo Municipal court, book A page 143, entry #137

1843 - 6 May Eli Houghton, who lives in Hancock County, Illinois, sold his land to Brigham Young, who resides in Hancock County, Illinois, for $96 Lot 13, Block 3, Kimball Plat

1844 - Nauvoo, Illinois

January 13 - Eli's first wife, Deborah, died

February - Eli married second wife, Margaret (Margaret had been baptised in Nauvoo in 1849)

March 22 - Eli received patriarchal blessing from Hyam Smith, Patriarch of the Church of Jesus Christ (Gail Girard has the words of the blessing given to Eli)

April - Ordained a Seventy and assigned to the 7th Quarum by Officiator G.A. Smith

Served in the 6th Quarum of the Seventy - Seventies are called to serve as special witnesses of Christ, proclaim the gospel, and build up the Church throughout the world. They work under the direction of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

General Authority Seventies serve in the Presidency of the Seventy, in Area Presidencies, and in other headquarters administrative functions. Under the direction of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, they travel frequently to meet with and teach Church leaders, missionaries, and members of the Church in local congregations.

Signer of one of many appeals to U.S. Senate

Signed the Scroll Petition of the Missouri Redress - 3,419 names on a 50 foot scroll petition that was sent to U.S. Senate in 1844

1846 - March From the 'Time Book of the Temple in the City of Joseph Monday - Friday 2nd - 6th put in 9 1/2 hours each day as labor for the building of the Temple. It is the attendance book for carpenters, joiners, and painters. Term

1848 Per Book 'History of Wright County, MN' it states on pg.91 "Big Lake Township was settled in 1848 by James, Eli, and Newell Houghton, from Vermont."

1850 census - Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois - Eli is living there with all living children and married spouses. (per K Ostvig)

1851 - Eli and family moved to Battle Rapids, Sherburne Co, MN

1855 Eli on Springfield, Illinois census

1856 - Eli named First Treasurer of Sherburne Co.

1860 census - Sherburne Co., MN Sherburne Co., MN - living with 2nd wife Margaret and daughter Debra. Also living in house was Laura age 9 and Charles Thomson age 3? Spelling of family last name was Hoten.

1860 census - 14 June, 1860 Big Lake, MN Sherburne Co., MN (pg 17) Eli Hoton age 63 m born in Vermont Margaret Hoton age 52 f born in Pensylvania Debra Hoton age 16 f born in Illinois Laura Hoton age 9 f born in Illinois Charles Thompson age 3? m

1865 - Big Lake, Sherburne Co., MN Lived in Big Lake, County of Sherburne, MN (per will

1865 Will - 6 November Copy of Will, dated 6 November, 1865 of Eli Houghton. Gail Girard has full copy. In it it states: "I give to my beloved wife one thousand dollars ($1,000) in money, one bed and bedding and three sheep."

"I will also give to my son Eli Newell's children Eli N. houghton, Eliza Houghton and Carlos Houghton two houses and harnesses, two wagons, one plow, one harrow, two cows, three yearlings, five sheep, two stoves and all the beds and bedding and household furniture and farming utensils except what I have given to my wife and daughter Laura W. Houghton."

"My wife is to have a home on the old farm with Eli, Eliza and Carlos Houghton if she wants to stay with them, and they are to provide for her all the necessaries of life except clothing, and to give her a quiet and peaceful home with them."

1865 - December 21 Eli died

1880 census - Oak Grove, Anoka Co., MN Born in Vermont per Oak Grove, Anoka Co., MN.

Baptized by brother, Ornan Houghton

Family Story: Per letter from K Ostvig: Eli Houghton and his first wife, Deborah Dwinnell, joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Oakland Co., Michigan. At that point they sold their property and left for Missouri. Soon after their arrival, the Saints were kicked out of Missouri and left to found Nauvoo, Hancock Illinois. Eli left to go visit his 3 sons, James, Newell, and George in Minnesota on his way out west and then stayed in Minnesota rather than go out west. The three sons were settling up in Big Lake Township. Information of the sons at that time was this: Captain George Houghton, a steamboat captain on the Mississippi and Minesota Rivers, Newell ended up in Battle Lake by following his wives band of Winnebago from Iowa and Prairie Du Chein, WI area, and James ended up in Carver Co. Eli liked Minnesota and as a result never travelled west with the Mormons to Utah. His daughter, Deborah housed many Morman Missionaries in Minnesota and the first Branch of the church was organized in her home in Monticello. There is a 'Church Records Office' in Nauvoo that has some records.

Occupation: Farmer in New York until 1840, then emigrated to Illinois. In 1851 he moved to Minnesota.

Newspaper clipping (no date) Letter to the Editor regarding Eli Newell Houghton (Eli's son, Newell). He had a trading post established in 1849. He supplied deer meat for Fort Snelling that he had traded from the Indians. He was first grave in cemetery. Indians revered and respected him. He was killed during an uprising in New Ulm in 1862. At least 17 other graves are on the knoll but markers have been destroyed by vandals. Eli Houghton, Sr. is also buried there. He was first Sherburne County treasurer and lived in the settlement at that location. Letter written by Marion Jameson, Box 581, Monticello. 295-2950 or 682-3900

Newspaper clipping (no date) The pioneers of the town (Big Lake) were James, Eli and Newell Houghton. They settled there in 1848, having made a difficult journey from their native state of Vermont.

Biography Index - 1891 History of Harrison County Iowa http://iagenweb.org/harrison/bio/geneal39.htm#houghton HOUGHTON - Edward HOUGHTON ranks among the early settlers of Harrison County, having been here two years prior to the organization of the county, the date of his coming being June, 1851, when he was in the pride his young manhood, but upon whose face and form time has left her inevitable marks. A man who has been a resident of this goodly county for a period of forty years, most naturally finds a place among the sketches of representative men.

Concerning his earlier career it may be stated that he was born in the state of New York, July 3, 1831, and is a son of Eli and Deborah (DWENELL) HOUGHTON. The father was a farmer, which avocation he followed in the Empire State until about 1840, when he emigrated to Illinois, which was the wild prairie land of the West. After eleven years, and in the autumn of 1851, he removed to Minnesota, where he spent the remainder of his days, sinking into that dreamless sleep know as death, December 21, 1865, aged sixty-eight years. His good wife, the mother of our subject, died in Illinois in 1842.

Our subject remained in Minnesota until his coming to this county in 1851. He was united in marriage April 8, 1856, to Mary A. ELLISON, a native of Missouri, born August 28, 1838. Their home has been blessed by four children---Isaac Eli, James C., Mary R. and Nellie. Nellie and James are deceased. Eli is married and lives at Portsmouth, Shelby County, where he is engaged in the grain and agricultural implement business.

Mary married George SHREEVES, and they are residents of Harrison County, on section 15 of Cass Township.

When Mr. HOUGHTON came to the county there was no one living in Cass Township except John and Lewis BARNEY, Bryant and William JOLLY and Uriah HAWKINS, and the first assessment Mr. HOUGHTON says was made by a man named GREENE, who at the same time collected the taxes.

The first four years of our subject's residence in Harrison County he lived with his brother-in-law, Samuel FULLER, who came to the county during the month of April, 1851, taking a claim of about seventy acres of timber land on section 17, in what is now known as Six-mile Grove. In October, 1855, these two gentlemen went to Wright County, Minn., FULLER dying in Minnesota in 1876. Mr. HOUGHTON returned to Harrison County, having been absent less than two months, and settled on the site of his present home, which is section 16, of Cass Township, where he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land to which he has added, until he now has four hundred and eighteen acres. Of this two hundred and thirty-five acres are under the plow, while the remainder is in excellent timber and pasture land.

Success has marked the honest industry of this pioneer who came to the county (which was then scarcely within the pale of civilized life,) possessing only the magnificent sum of fifty cents, and a pair of hands not afraid to work. While living with his brother-in-law he managed to get hold of some calves, and to enter a hundred and twenty acres of land, but having to borrow money of Judge Stephen KING, with which to purchase a yoke of oxen for a breaking team, with which he broke six acres of his own land, and fifteen of an eighty-acre tract which he and FULLER owned together. After returning from Minnesota, he bought another yoke of oxen and commenced opening up a home in what was then the wilds of Harrison County, which was then within the limits of the "far West." In the spring of 1856, he erected a log house 16x18 feet, under the roof of which he lived for fourteen years, then built his present commodious farm house, the main part of which is 16x26 feet, two stories in height, together with an addition 16x36, and one story high.

Politically, our subject affiliates with the Republican party, and during his residence in this county has held the offices of member of Board of Supervisors four years, and Township Trustee and School Treasurer for a period of over twenty-five years.

Mr. and Mrs. HOUGHTON are professors of religion and believers in the faith and teachings of the Latter Day Saints Church.

To the younger man of today, this brief story of one man's life, with its co-incident toil and changes gone through with, by a youth reared amid the culture and beautiful surroundings of a farm home within the Empire State, on down through the attending hardships, found in opening up a country upon which the Red Man of the forests had but just bid a long farewell to, and subsequent labors in putting a large tract of land into a perfect state of cultivation, should teach a lasting moral which is this: That in this country, and with our form of government, under ordinary circumstances, a crown of success, both socially and financially, awaits the young man who starts in life with the determination to win by hard work and honesty.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 747-748-749 Family Researcher: NA

1936 - August 14 Endowed by Temple Ordinance

1937 - March 24 Temple Ordinance - Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah - Sealing-to-Parents (this links family eternally)

From Book 'Minnesota Mormans - A History of the Minneapolis Minnesota Stake' by Fayone B. Willes page 22-23 Eli Houghton and 2nd wife Margaret McMean http://files.lib.byu.edu/mormonmigration/articles/MinnesotaMormonsA...

Pg 21 Early Mormons in Minnesota A fourth category of Minnesota Mormons were faithful members who had no differences of theology with the Utah Church but who, for various reasons (usually economic), did not accompany the pioneers west. One of these families, that of Eli Houghton and his second wife, Margaret McMean Houghton, has aided the growth of the Minnesota Mormon community to the present. Baptized in 1836, Eli and Margaret were living in Nauvoo when the Saints were expelled in 1846. They came to Minnesota to visit their sons,James, New!, and George, before making the trek west but were persuaded by the boys to stay in Monticello. Eli died in December 1865; but in the summer of1877, Margaret, still staunch in the faith, welcomed Elder Bengt Wulffenstein and subsequent missionaries, supported them, and became the nucleus of a branch in Monticello that included her daughter Deborah, Deborah's nonmember husband, Ashley C. Riggs, and

Pg 22 MINNESOTA MORMONS Ashley's older brother, George Riggs, and his wife, who is not named. Margaret and her younger daughter, Laura, im· migrated to Utah in 1878 where Margaret married Josiah Fleming Martin and raised a second family. But Deborah and her family stayed in Minnesota; and today their descendants, surnamed Ostvig and Holker, continue to help build local congregations.