Harry A Houghton

HOUGHTON

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/20/2009 at 00:34:20

Harry A Houghton, Every legitimate business enterprise contributes to the welfare, progress and upholding of the community and the men who control business affairs are the real promoters of a town. Harry A Houghton has been actively connected with commercial interests for some time, and is now engaged in the real estate, loan, collection and insurance business in Boone. He is a young man, enterprising and progressive and carries forward to a successful completion whatever he undertakes. He was born in this county, September 3, 1874, and is a son of Orvil Houghton whose birth occurred in New York city, June 18, 1842. His paternal grandfather Elijah Houghton, took up his abode in the eastern metropolis at an early day. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Zella B Smullin, and was a native of Pennsylvania, born May 8, 1845. She represented one of the old families of the Keystone state, her parents having located there at an early epoch of its history. Orvil Houghton and Zella Smullin were married in Boone county August 22, 1871, both having resided in this county, however, from 1864. They became the parents of six children: Alla, the wife of G W Sutherin, of Topeka, Kansa, Harry A, Ralph L who is a fireman in the employ of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company and makes his home at Boone, Claude L who is engaged in the cultivation of fruit in California, Calvert a commission merchant of San Francisco, California and Wilbur who is still pursuing his studies in Boone. The parents are respected and worthy citizens of this county, the father now living a retired life.
To the district school system of Boone county Harry A Houghton is indebted for the early educational privileges which he enjoyed. He afterward continued his studies in the high school of Boone and in 1894 he entered upon his business career as a bookkeeper in the employ of Boggs & Wheelock, continuing with them until the fall of 1897.He then accepted a position with a shoe company and in the spring of 1898 he turned his attention to the insurance business, also dealing in real estate and placing loans. He has handled much valuable property and makes loans on farms and city real estate. He makes a specialty of buying and selling northern lands, especially in Iowa, Minnesota and North and South Dakota. He also writes fire and life insurance and his policies have represented a large amount annually.
On June 11, 1901, was celebrated the marriage of Harry A Houghton and Miss Martha B Mass of Des Moines, who was born in Pennsylvania July 17, 1874, and is a daughter of D W Mass of the Keystone state. Her father died in 1895. Mrs Houghton as one of six children and was the first in order of birth the others being Pearl, Mabel, Catherine, Margaret and Durwood. Our subject and his wife hold membership in the First Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr Houghton exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is a worthy representative of the society. His enterprising and progressive spirit has made him a typical western man in every sense of the word and he well deserves mention in the history of his county. He started upon his business career with nothing but his own energy and willing hands to aid him, and by constant exertion associated with good judgment he has raised himself to the prominent position he now holds, having the friendship of many and the respect of all.

1902 Boone County History Book