Short Biography of Samuel Houston

HOUSTON, SAMUEL, farmer, Sec. 35; P. O. Denmark; born in Hillsboro Co., N. H., 1815; lived on a farm; in his 21st year came to the then Territory of Wisconsin direct to the section where he now resides; bought a claim with some improvements; the following year, his parents came and settled on adjoining property; with them he made his home until 1848, then he married Catharine Hornby, a sister of Wm. L. Hornby, whose biography appears elsewhere; since he has continued to cultivate and improve his farm, consisting of 165 acres of land, valued at $4 per acre. They have seven children—Annie M., born March, 1847, the wife of Wm. L. Morgan, of Kansas; Camilla J., born May, 1851, the wife of H. S. Dearing, of Boone Co., Iowa; Chas. T., born July, 1856; Edward C., born July, 1858; Harry W., born April, 1961; Carrie M., born January, 1864; and Arthur S., born February, 1867. Republican. Mr. and Mrs. H. and two eldest daughters, are members of the Congregational Church at Denmar. He was among the original members of that church; the family are very attentive at religious exercises; it has been said that for over twenty years they had not missed a single Sabbath; the father of Mr. H., Ira Houston, Sr. was a native of Hillsboro Co., N. H., born in 1786; married Elizabeth Epps, daughter of Jos. E.; she was born in the same county, in 1792; had two sons and four daughters; all are married and settled in Lee or adjoining counties; the family came here in 1837, with teams; were two months on the road. They also were members of the Congregational Church; the father was leader of the choir in early times.

Source: "The History of Lee County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc" ⁴⁰

SAMUEL HOUSTON.

Samuel Houston, deceased, was an honored pioneer settler of Lee county and for many years was a prominent, leading and influential farmer of Denmark township, making his home on section 35, where he owned, developed and improved a good farm. He was a native son of New England, his birth having occurred in Hillsboro county, New Hampshire, in 1815, his parents being Ira and Elizabeth (Epps) Houston.

In his twenty-first year Samuel Houston came west to the territory of Iowa and settled in Lee county, which was then a frontier district. He purchased a claim, on which some improvements had been made, and the following year he was joined by his parents, who settled upon an adjoining property. With them Samuel Houston made his home until 1848, when he completed arrangements for having a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Catherine Hornby. He secured one hundred and sixty-five acres of land and improved this property, which is now owned by his son Harry W. Houston. He worked diligently and persistently year by year, transforming the tract into highly cultivated fields and adding many mode'rn improvements. His methods of farming were at once practical and progressive and his energy resulted in the production of excellent crops.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Houston were born seven children. Annie M., who was born in March, 1 849, became the wife of William L. Morgan and died in 1912. Her husband still survives, now making his home in Phillipsburg, Kansas, at the age of eighty-two years. Camilla J., born in May, 1851, is the widow of H. S. Dearing, who died in Missoula, Montana, in June, 1913. She is now a resident of Missoula. Charles T., born in July, 1856, makes his home at Clarinda, Iowa. Edward C, born in July, 1 858, resides at Prosser, Washington. Harry W. is the next of the family and is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Carrie, born in January, 1864, became the wife of Rev. H. L. Henn, now of Denmark, but her death occurred in January, 1900. Arthur S., born in February, 1867, completes the family.

Samuel Houston was a republican, joining that party upon its organization and remaining thereafter an active supporter of its principles to the time of his demise. He and his wife were consistent and faithful members of the Congregational church at Denmark. They joined that church on its organization and thus were active in forming the oldest church of that denomination in Iowa. Their lives, ever upright and honorable, won for them high regard and unqualified confidence. Their years were fraught with good deeds and wherever they were known they were justly held in high esteem and gained the friendship of all with whom they were brought in contact. The father of Mr. Houston of this review was also a native of Hillsboro county, born in 1786, and his wife's birth there occurred in 1792. They were parents of two sons and four daughters, all of whom married and settled in Iowa, either in Lee or adjoining counties. The family came to this state in 1837, making an overland trip with teams, being two months upon the road. The trip was an arduous one, but they possessed the courage that animated the pioneers who laid the foundation for Iowa's present greatness and prosperity. They were members of the Congregational church and Ira Houston, who possessed considerable musical talent, acted as choir leader in the early days.

Source: "The Story of Lee County, Iowa" ³⁴⁸⁸