JOHN HOUCK

HOUCK

Posted By: Jake Tornholm (email)
Date: 4/20/2020 at 13:53:24

JOHN HOUCK, deceased, was one of the prominent early settlers of Adams county, Iowa. A biography of him will be found of interest to many, and is as follows:

John Houck was born in Germany, May 17, 1820, son of John and Anna Elizabeth (Neff) Houck. His father died when our subject was a small boy and his mother was subsequently married to Michael Doefenbaugh. He received a good German education. When he was seventeen years old the family came to America and settled in Dearborn county, Indiana. There some years later he was united in marriage with Ernestine Amdor, who was born in Germany, July 8, 1825, daughter of Michael and Mary Sophia (Nebergall) Amdor, both natives of Germany. At the age of twelve years she came with her parents to America, and in Dearborn county, Indiana, was reared and educated.

In 1849 Mr. Houck moved to Marion county, Iowa, where he improved a farm and resided until 1852. In that year he came with his family to Adams county and settled on a large farm in section 6, Quincy township. The years 1859 and 1860 he spent at Pike’s Peak. Returning to Adams county, he opened a store at Quincy which he successfully conducted for ten years. Failing health compelled him to retire from business, and the remaining years of his life were spent on his farm, where he died October 20, 1880. He left a widow and eight children, six of
whom are now living, viz.: John W., Henry, Joseph, Frank, George and Mary,wife of Frank Stewart. Five of their children are deceased: William, who was a soldier of the late war; Bennett, Albert, Orren and Ellen Powell. Before the war Mr. Houck was a Democrat, but after the organization of the Republican party he gave his earnest support to it. He was a most worthy citizen, honored and esteemed by all who knew him.