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CHARLES
V. HOUSTON was born in Dover, Me., February 7, 1826. He is
a son of Joseph and Loretta (Spalding) Houston, both of whom
were natives of Kennebec county, Me., the father having been
born in 1782 and the mother in 1790. The father was reared in
his native county and resided there until 1861, when he came to
Iowa and from that date until his death, which occurred in 1867,
made his home with his son, the subject of this sketch. He was
a farmer all his life and died in moderate circumstances. He
was for many years a member of the Baptist church and always
enjoyed the esteem, confidence and good will of the people among
whom he lived. His father, the grandfather of our subject, was
named William Houston, and he was a native also of Maine, his
ancestors being of Scotch and English origin. Our subject's
mother died some years before her husband, dying at Dover, Me.,
in 1843. She was a daughter of John and Bettie Spaulding, both
of whom were natives of Maine and of English origin. Mrs.
Houston was a life long member of the Baptist church and lived
a pious, Christian life.
Eleven children were born to Joseph
and Loretta Houston as follows: Joan, now deceased; Marcia, now
wife of C. A. Bragg, a lumber dealer at Reno, Nev.; Sybil
deceased; George, a retired farmer, residing at Helena, Mont.;
Charles V., the subject of this notice; Addie and Emaline,
twins, both now deceased; Joseph, a farmer residing in Pierce
county, Nebr.; Mary, Ellen and Ann, deceased.
Our subject was reared on a farm in
Dover, Me., and received an ordinary common school training. He
remained in his native place until 1849, when he took a trip to
California, going by the way of Cape Horn. He remained six years
in California, engaged in mining and made some money while
there. He returned to Dover, Me., by way of the Isthmus of
Panama, and in 1856, came to Iowa, settling in Delaware county.
He bought the farm where he now lives immediately on locating in
the county and engaged in farming, which he has followed since.
He now owns two hundred and eighty acres in section 36, Hazel
Green township, and thirty-three acres in Union township. He has
given all his attention to farming since coming to Iowa, and has
met with good success. He raises considerable live stock and
does some dairying.
August 31, 1856, Mr. Houston married
Miss Sophronia A. Potter, of Dover, Me., she being a native of
that place, born June 11, 1834. She is a daughter of Joseph W.
and Nancy Greenleaf Potter, the father having been a native of
New Hampshire and the mother a native of Massachusetts. These
died at Dover, Me., well advanced in years. They had three
children, of whom Mrs. Houston is the eldest. The two younger
ones, Mary F. and Joseph, are now deceased.
Mr. Houston and wife have had nine
children born to them: Mary E., who is now the wife of Fletcher
Porter, a farmer residing at Albion, Nebr. They have four
children: Sophronia, Charles W., John A. and Raymond. Mr. and
Mrs. Houston's next was Walter G., who died at the age of eleven
months; Clara, now a young lady, is still at home with her
parents; Frank W. is a farmer in Hazel Green township, Delaware
county. He married Miss Clarissa Winch, of Union township,
Delaware county, and has two children: Charles H., now
deceased, and Rubie. Mr. and Mrs. Houston's remaining children:
Fred L., Wallace, Lora A., Elmer G. and Burt O., are single and
reside yet with their parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Houston have given to
their children the best educational advantages within their
reach, having sent all of them to college.
In politics Mr. Houston is a
republican, but does not much interest in partisan matters. He
is a liberal contributor to all charitable and religious
purposes, and he and wife are members of Y. W. Baptist church. |
