Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1889

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 349
BENEDICT HOUVENAGHEL, a prominent and influential farmer of Montpelier Township, residing on section 2, was born in Belgium, on the 4th of May, 1815, and was the seventh in order of birth of a family of eight children, who were as follows: Catherine, Martin, Carletta, Louis, John, Charles, Benedict and Seighbring. Benedict spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his native land, but on attaining his majority left the parental roof to make his own way in the world. Going to Lisle, France, he was there employed as head hostler in a livery stable for about four years, after which time, in 1844, he became a resident of Paris, where he was engaged as a driver of an omnibus, receiving only sixty cents per day as compensation for arduous labors. Continuing in that employment until 1852, he then removed to Bordeaux, in the south of France, where he then drove a stage for about four months. Thinking he could better his fortune in the New World, on the 19th of April, 1854, he sailed for America, reaching the harborr of New Orleans May 25, after being thirty-six days on the water. He at once took a steamer for Davenport, Iowa, arriving in that city June 11, but after a short residence came to Muscatine County, where he has since continued to reside. In 1866 he removed to his present home on section 2, Montpelier Township, where he now owns eighty acres of fine land, which pays tribute to his care and cultivation.

On the 11th of October, 1855, Mr. Houvenaghel was united in marriage with Percy Deanna, a native of Virginia, and six children graced their union, five of whom are yet living: George, the eldest, born in 1856, married Belle Chatterton, and to them have been born two sons and a daughter; he is engaged in farming in Montpelier Township. Louis, born in 1859, wedded Tima Berryman, and they have one child; Frank, born in 1862, is the husband of Martha Franklin, and resides in Black Oak, Scott County; Charles, born July 14, 1863, resides at home, and has the management of his father's farm; Roxalema, born in 1865, is the wife of Henry Drumm, a farmer of Wilton Township, and to them have been born two children; Stephen, born in February, 1869, died in 1884, and was laid to rest in Blue Grass Cemetery.

Politically, Mr. Houvenaghel has always been a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and is numbered among Muscatine County's best citizens. His life has been one of industry, and, though beginning life's battle in limited circumstances, his perseverance and enterprise have gained him a comfortable competency, and he is numbered among the well-to-do farmers of Montpelier Township. During his long residence of thirty-five years in this community he has witnessed almost the entire growth of Muscatine County, and in the work of transformation has borne a prominent part.

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