John Deetz Houck

GEDCOM Note

[Berger.ged]

"HON. JOHN D. HOUCK, associate judge of Pike county, is one of its representative citizens, a nd for years has been prominent alike in business and in public life. Beginning his career wi th the prestige of a neme which was already made honorable by the enterprise and ability of h is ancestry, he has added new distinction to the family record.

Judge Houck was born September 28, 1842 in Bucks County, and was a lad of thirteen when he ca me to this section (Houcktown) with his parents. The country schools of that day did not sati sfy the demands of his active intellect, but with the exception of three months in Wyoming Se minary, when he was twenty-one years old, he was obliged to look to the local schools for ins truction. At an early age he began to display ability in business lines, and in 1871 he becam e a partner with his father and brother Charles under the firm name of N. Houck & Sons, conti nuing thus until the father's retirement on January 1, 1886; the business has since been cond ucted under the name of J. & C. Houck. He is still engaged in merchandising and manufacturin g at Houcktown, a pleasant little village, named after the mother, and containing seventeen f amilies, which are chiefly employed in his factory. He has always been interested in local af fairs, being an active member of the Democratic organization, and from 1883 to 1897 he serve d as schol director of his township. In the fall of 1891 he was elected assoiate judge of Pik e county for the term of five years. and his able and efficient service led to his being chos en again in 1896 for the same office. In 1886, through the influence of our subject, a post-o ffice was located at Houcktown, called LaAnna, after Mr. Houck's mother's first name, and th e town has been called that since, instead of Houcktown. Mr. Houck was appointed postmaster , and has held it since. Socially Mr. Houck and his family are prominent, and he is identifie d with the Masonic fraternity as a member of Salem Lodge, F. & A. M., at Salem, Wayne County , in which he is a Master Mason. Mr. Houck spent considerable time in travel in the East.

On May 3, 1871, Mr. Houck was married, at Houcktown, to Miss Mary L. Wallace, the ceremony be ing performed by Rev. G. H. Hornet, pastor of the M. E. Church at Salem. Three children hav e blessed this union; Nathan Ray, born February 3, 1880; Lulu, born March 25, 1884; and Joh n Earl, born February 25, 1887." (Source: "Commemorative Biographical Record of Northeaster n Pennsylvania", (J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago, 1900), pgs. 608-610)

In 1880 John Houck, age 37 a lumber manufacturer, was living in Greene Twp., Pike Co., PA, wi th his wife, Mary Houck age 36, and two children; daughter Laverne Houck age 7 and son Natha n R. Houck age 4 months. Also listed in their household was Caroline Beach, age 25 a domesti c servant. Mary Houck's parents were both born in Ireland. (1880 census, National Archives Fi lm T9-1165, Page 343A)