William Houston

HOUSTON

Posted By: Rebecca Foster (email)
Date: 8/20/2015 at 15:27:58

WILLIAM HOUSTON CLAIMED BY DEATH.

Long-Time Resident of Paradise Township and Dow City Passes to the Great Beyond.

DECEASED BORN IN SCOTLAND.

Came to This Country About Three Years Later Than Mr. Rae Who Died Friday.

Word comes to the Review office on the eve of this week's publication that William Houston, one of the pioneer settlers of this county, died at his home at Dow City on yesterday afternoon at 1 o'clock.

The deceased like Thomas Rae, whose obituary appears in this issue of this paper, and an old neighbor of his, was born in Scotland on November 26, 1837, about four years before the birth of Thomas Rae. In other respects the lives of these two men seem to run parallel to each other. The deceased came to the United States in 1866, bringing with him a young wife, and instead of settling in Main as Thomas Rae who preceded him two or three years, he settled in South Adams, Mass., and also worked in the cotton mills of that place as a wheelwright for several years.

He afterwards came to Crawford county and for some time lived with George Rae. Afterwards he located on a farm in Paradise township, where he lived until about thirteen years ago when he moved to Dow City.

This family was blessed with five children: David, who resides in Phoenix, Ariz.; William and Elizabeth, who died at South Adams, Mass.; Mrs. Margaret Hare who lives at Portland, Ore., and Robert; who now lives at Dow City. Two brothers of the deceased are living, David, in Scotland, and James, in Colorado Springs, Colo. Mr. Houston was one of a family of ten children.

When a boy he united with the Presbyterian church. For several years he has been afflicted with diabetes. About two weeks ago he was taken to his bed and his death for several days had been anticipated.

It is expected that his children from the west will arrive by Saturday, where funeral services will be held at the Methodist church at Dow City. The Masons will have charge of the services at the cemtery. It is siad that he was the oldest Mason in this part of the country.

Mr. Houston was an upright man, respected by his neighbors for his good life. Dow City and community will feel the loss of these two sturdy Scotchmen who have fallen victims of disease within a few days.

We are unable to give any of the details concerning the funeral services nor to say positively just when the funeral will be held.

Source: The Denison Review, Denison, Crawford, IA., 29 Nov 1911.