Houck Burials

Charles G. | John P. | Livonia (Houck) Cross | Susie E. (Helphrey) Houck | William

Charles Gilbert Houck

Born: January 11, 1859 in Sherman Twp., Jasper Co., Iowa1
Died: September 21, 1933 in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho1
Buried: Lot 179, plot 1
Married: Susannah E. Helphrey on December 8, 1881 in Jasper Co., Iowa
Parents: John and Eleanor Berry Houck

Charles and Susie Helphry Houck tombstone

Metz News

A message was received stating that Charles Houck had passed away at Cour de Lene, Idaho, last Thursday. Mr. Houck had lived in Des Moines for a number of years and moved to this vicinity and was well known by the older people here. He is survived by his wife who was formerly Susie Helphrey. The body arrived in Newton Monday morning and the funeral was held in Newton Tuesday afternoon. The body was laid to rest in the Sugar Grove cemetery. ~ The Colfax Tribune, Colfax Iowa, September 28, 1933

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Charles G. Houck

Charles G. Houck, son of John and Ellen Houck, was born four miles west of Newton on Jan. 11, 1859, and died Sept. 21, 1933, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

He was united in marriage to Susie E. Helphrey on Dec. 8, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Houck lived in Des Moines for more than 40 years before moving to Coeur d'Alene last April. Mr. Houck was assistant Polk county clerk for 12 years, serving until last spring.

He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, Mac, Henry, John and William and two sisters Lavonia Cross and Izora Shipley.

Surviving relatives include his widow; four nieces, Mrs. Mae Poulson and Mrs. Stella Jontz of Baxter, Mrs. Ella Jackson of Rose, Kan., and Mrs. Elizabeth Errett Davis of Cincinnati, O., and one nephew, William Cross of Long Beach, Calif.

Active Odd Fellow.

Mr. Houck was a member of the Methodist church, the Des Moines Lodge No. 25, I.O.O.F. of Des Moines and the Woodmen of the World lodge. He was active in the Odd Fellow organization, filling all offices of the three branches in the order.

Funeral rites were conducted Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 26, at 3:00 o'clock from the Morgan Funeral home in Newton, with Rev. A. J. Biel, associate pastor of the St. John's Lutheran church of Des Moines, in charge. Rev. W. S. Kight of Des Moines was the honorary minister. L. W. Smith and Mr. Hollingsworth of Des Moines conducted the Odd Fellow service.

Interment was in the Sugar Grove cemetery at Metz, with the following serving as pallbearers: W. L. Aillaud, Laurel; Dr. H. C. Aillaud, Des Moines; B. H. Apgar, Centerville; W. A. Moore, Newton, and Colonel Jontz and William Poulson, both of Baxter.

From Out-of-Town.

Those attending the services from Des Moines were Mr. and Mrs. Charles Irish, Mrs. Anna Kubec, Mrs. Margaret Apgar, Mrs. Augusta Mayers, Mrs. Hazel Crowley, Mr. and Mrs. James Eaton, Mrs. Whittle, Mrs. Josephine Clark, Mrs. Ada Brown, Mrs. J. F. Farrell, Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Stewart, Mr. and Mrs. F. B. Johnson, Mrs. Ida Wyman, Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Cook, Mrs. Stehm, Mr. and Mrs. George Boswell, Mrs. Hodges, Mrs. W. A. Merriam, George Reese, Orville Crowley, William Sutton and other members of the Fort Des Moines I.O.O.F. lodge. Alto T. J. Armstrong of Boise, Idaho and Mrs. E. E. Shugart of Council Bluffs.

Relatives from a distance were Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Apgar of Centerville, Dr. and Mrs. Aillaud of Des Moines, Mr. and Mrs. Colonel Jontz and son, Bert, of Baxter and Mr. and Mrs. William Poulson and daughter, Rita, of Baxter. ~ from Houck/Cross/Jontz scrapbook.

Susie Elizabeth (Helphrey) Houck

Born: July 8, 1861 in Newton, Jasper Co., Iowa
Died: June 25, 1947 in Newton, Jasper Co., Iowa
Buried: Lot 179, plot 2
Married: Charles G. Houck on December 8, 1881 in Jasper Co., Iowa. See wedding write up.
Parents: Lewis and Ann Marie (Koontz) Helphrey

Charles and Susie Houck

MARRIED

HOUCK - HELPHREY -- At the home of the bride Dec. 8th, 1881, by Rev. W. G. Thorn, Charles G. Houck to Miss Susie E. Helphrey. All of Jasper County, Iowa. ~ Journal (Newton, Iowa) December 15, 1881

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Wedding Bells

at the wedding ceremonies of Mr. C. G. Houck and Miss Susie E. Helphrey, at the residence of the bride's father. Lewis Helphrey in Palo Alto tp. on Thursday evening Dec. 8th, 1881, The Rev. Mr. Thorn, of the M. E. Church officiating, a large and respectable number of friends were present and highly enjoyed the occasion. A list of presents with names of donors are as follows. A list follows. ~ The Newton Journal. December 22, 1881.

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Mrs. Susie Houck, Jasper County Pioneer, Dies

Mrs. Susie Houck, 86, pioneer Jasper county resident and member of the Daily News Three Quarter Century club, died at 7 o'clock this morning at Skiff Memorial hospital. Death was attributed to complications from a broken hip suffered in a fall in her room at a local nursing home. She was admitted to the hospital on June 14.

The daughter of Louis and Ann Koontz Helphrey, she was born on a farm southwest of Newton, July 8, 1861, and received her education in the rural schools of Jasper county. She was married to Charles G. Houck, Dec. 8, 1881. Following her marriage she moved to Colfax where Mr. Houck operated a business. In 1888 they moved to Des Moines where Mr. Houck was associated in a meat market and served as Polk county auditor for 12 years. They later moved to Couer d'Alene, Idaho.

After the death of her husband in 1938 Mrs. Houck returned to Des Moines where she made her home until suffering a stroke a year ago, and was brought to the nursing home in Newton.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, three brothers and three sisters.

Survivors include a nephew, W. L. Aillaud, and a niece, Mrs. W. Allen Moore of Newton, and a nephew, Dr. H. C. Aillaud of Rockwell City; and nieces, Mrs. Ben Apgar, Centerville; Mrs. Harmon Gill, Corydon; Mrs. Frank Gray, Hamburg and a number of grand nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Houck was a member of St. John's Lutheran church, Leech Rebekah lodge and O. D. O. club of Des Moines; the Palo Alto grange of Newton, and Pythian Sisters lodge at Couer d'Alene, Idaho.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday from the Morgan and Son Funeral home. Rev. Fredrick Wertz of St. Johns church will officiate and burial will be in Sugar Grove cemetery. ~ The Newton Daily News, June 27, 1947.

John P. Houck

Born: December 26, 1850 in Ohio3
Died: August 20, 18733
Buried: Lot 194, plot 5
Parents: John and Eleanor Berry Houck3

John Paul Houck     John Houck tombstone

William John Houck

Name: William John Houck
Born: October 18, 1854, Wayne Co., Iowa3
Died: August 20, 1873, Jasper Co., Iowa3
Buried: No stone, but believe he is buried in Sugar Grove with the rest of the family.
Parents: John and Eleanor Berry Houck3

William John Houck

DIED, In Sherman township, August 20, William, son of John Houck, aged 19 years.

Heavy afflictions come in rapid succession to this family. But a few years ago McDonough C. Houck fell victim to the slow but irresistible approaches of consumption, and died in the prime of early manhood, when a life of happiness and prosperity had been fairly begun. Probably a year and a half later, John, younger and generally more robust, yielded his life to the same relentless destroyer. -- And now, after an interval of about a year an a half, William has gone to his final rest by the same disease. Each hopeful to the last, and calmly sinking to rest. The family has the sympathy of their large circle of friends in their great affliction ~ Newton Free Press, Newton Iowa, August 27, 1873.

Livonia (Houck) Cross

Birth: August 9, 1854
Died: September 11, 1882 in Jasper Co., Iowa
Buried:Lot 194
Married: David Cross on March 19, 1872 in Jasper Co., Iowa2
Children: Halburton Zane, Willis McDonough, Izora Mae Poulson, Estella Grace Jontz
Parents: John and Eleanor Berry Houck

Livonia Houck Cross portrait     Livonia Houck Cross tombstone

Additional Burial

There is one additional stone on this lot. It appears as if the name is Mattie, but the stone is very worn and the name doesn't fit in the family.

Unknown Houck stone

It could be a stone for Elizabeth, child of Henry and Sarah Sims Houck, but they are not on this lot. It could also be the stone for William, but the stone appears to be for a child.


1. Morgan Funeral Home Book 5
2. Jasper County Iowa Marriages, Volume 2, page 98.
3. Family Bible, information provided by Patricia Jontz Deaton

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Created Summer 2000 by Barbara Lane Hug and Marvelyn Lane Adams. Updated January 2005.