Oswald J. Houston

HOUSTON, BRIDGES, HUNTER, DISSMORE

Posted By: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs (email)
Date: 4/7/2009 at 15:38:32

OSWALD J. HOUSTON was born in Waynesboro, Wayne County, Tennessee, February 13, 1855. When he was three years old his parents removed to Iowa, settling at Hamlin's Grove, being among the earliest settlers in the county. He is the fourth of a family of ten children, and is a son of A. B. and Nancy (Bridges) Houston, both natives of the State of Georgia, who now reside in Exira, Audubon County, Iowa. O. J. grew to manhood in Audubon County, and attended the schools of Exira. He began his mercantile career at the age of eighteen, entering a dry goods store in Atlantic, Iowa, and remaining there nearly five years. Having returned to Exira, he purchased the drug stock of John Hunter, with a view of studying medicine; this plan was not carried out, but he took up the study of pharmacy, and continued the drug trade until 1880, when he sold the business and went to Fort Collins, intending to engage in business in that place. Not liking Colorado as well as Iowa, he returned to Audubon County, and formed a partnership with M. N. Graves, of Atlantic, Iowa. In 1881 the firm built a business house in Audubon, and put in a stock of drugs; this partnership continued until 1885, when Mr. Houston bought the interest of his partner, and has since controlled the business alone. Mr. Houston was married May 24, 1877, to Miss Mary Dissmore, of Oakfield; she is the second daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Dissmore. Mr. and Mrs. Houston have one daughter Lulu May. Mr. Houston is a member of Exodus Lodge, No. 342, at Exira, and of Amity Chapter, No. 93, and Godfrey Commandery, No. 44. In politics he is conservative.

1889 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES, IOWA
W. S. DUNBAR & CO., PUBLISHERS
113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO

pages 803-804