Houck, James W.

HOUCK, ORENDORF

Posted By: mjv (email)
Date: 5/26/2021 at 10:44:01

James W. Houck, farmer and stock-raiser on section 11, Franklin Township, is a native of that township, born in 1857, and is a son of A. M. and Margaret (Orendorf) Houck, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. He was reared upon his father’s farm and educated in the public schools of Washington. When fifteen years of age he left home, going to Minneapolis, Minn., where he remained one year, employed in a shingle factory. From there he went to Missouri, where he engaged in driving a stage from Princeton to Bethany for about six months; thence he went to Austin, Tex., and remained three months, coming upon the trail with cattle to Colorado. He next went to Wichita, Kan., where he engaged in running a restaurant about one year. He then returned to Franklin Township, and remained two years, engaged in farming. Having a desire to see a little more of the West, he went to Salt Lake, Utah, and from there went to Carson City, where he engaged in trading for more than a year. Denver, Col., was his next objective point, from which place he returned home, rented a farm of his father, and has since continued to reside here. In addition to general farming, he is engaged somewhat in shipping stock.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa (1887). Excerpt from Biographical Sketch of James W. Houck, page 315.