John E. Gable's History of Cambria County, V.II, p.869

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History of Cambria County, V.2

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY 869

For many years he was supervisor of Barr Township. In politics he was first a Whig and later a Republican, and in 1860 was the only man in the township who voted for Lincoln. He was reared a Lutheran but before his death was converted to Roman Catholicism. Mr. Houck married Jan. 26, 1841, Catherine, born in 1822, daughter of Peter Buser, who served seven years under Napoleon in the Spanish war. Mr. and Mrs. Houck were the parents of the following children: (1) Mary L., born Dec. 25, 1841, married Peter Soisson, had seven children: Mary, William, Catherine, Ida, Augustine, Gertrude and Teressa; (2) George, born Nov. 26, 1843, married Rachel Wills; (3) Mary Ann, born Feb. 23, 1845, married O. a. McKeen, had four children: Cora, Clara, Sadie and Elizabeth; (4) Margaret, born Jan. 23, 1847, married Sylvester Byrne, had six children: William, Edward, Angeline, Eugene, Alvira, and Cordelia; (5) Mary Helena, deceased, born Feb. 23, 1849, married James McConnell; (6) John N., born April 1, 1853, married Mary Krug, had two children: James and Marie; (7) Jane, born Sept. 17, 1855, married Henry Arble, had six children; (8 and 9) Peter and Barbara, twins, born May 6, 1857; the former married Mary McViehel, had one child, Etta, and died Jan. 22, 1906; the latter died at 19 years; (10) David J., father of the subject of this sketch. The death of Mr. Houck occurred in 1900 and was followed two years later by that of his widow.
D. J. Houck was reared on a farm and learned the carpenter trade, at which he worked for 15 years during the summers, teaching in the public schools during the winter. In 1889 he established himself as a contractor and builder in Johnstown, remaining there two years. In 1891 he went to Hastings, where he engaged in the bottling business, buying out the firm of Gregory Miller. He conducted the business until 1901, in which year he purchased the American House from Jacob Krug, which he operated until 1919. He now lives practically retired and spends part of his time in truck gardening on his farm near Hastings. He is a Republican and a member of the Catholic Church.
Mr. Houck was married to Miss Caroline Gessler, a daughter of Everhart and Caroline (Sider) Gessler. To them the following children were born: A. J., the subject of this sketch; Carrie, born July 31, 1887; Marge, born July 29, 1889; John, born March 17, 1892; George, born Sept. 4, 1895; Violet, born July 17, 1898; William, born Nov. 30, 1902; Helen, born Nov. 30, 1900; Enaez, born Dec. 5, 1904; and Paul, born June 15, 1908.

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	HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY	869
For many years he was supervisor of Barr Township. In politics he was first a Whig and later a Republican, and in 1860 was the only man in the township who voted for Lincoln. He was reared a Lutheran but before his death was converted to Roman Catholicism. Mr. Houck married Jan. 26, 1841, Catherine, born in 1822, daughter of Peter Buser, who served seven years under Napoleon in the Spanish war. Mr. and Mrs. Houck were the parents of the following children: (1) Mary L., born Dec. 25, 1841, married Peter Soisson, had seven children: Mary, William, Catherine, Ida, Augustine, Gertrude and Teressa; (2) George, born Nov. 26, 1843, married Rachel Wills; (3) Mary Ann, born Feb. 23, 1845, married O. a. McKeen, had four children: Cora, Clara, Sadie and Elizabeth; (4) Margaret, born Jan. 23, 1847, married Sylvester Byrne, had six children: William, Edward, Angeline, Eugene, Alvira, and Cordelia; (5) Mary Helena, deceased, born Feb. 23, 1849, married James McConnell; (6) John N., born April 1, 1853, married Mary Krug, had two children: James and Marie; (7) Jane, born Sept. 17, 1855, married Henry Arble, had six children; (8 and 9) Peter and Barbara, twins, born May 6, 1857; the former married Mary McViehel, had one child, Etta, and died Jan. 22, 1906; the latter died at 19 years; (10) David J., father of the subject of this sketch. The death of Mr. Houck occurred in 1900 and was followed two years later by that of his widow. D. J. Houck was reared on a farm and learned the carpenter trade, at which he worked for 15 years during the summers, teaching in the public schools during the winter. In 1889 he established himself as a contractor and builder in Johnstown, remaining there two years. In 1891 he went to Hastings, where he engaged in the bottling business, buying out the firm of Gregory Miller. He conducted the business until 1901, in which year he purchased the American House from Jacob Krug, which he operated until 1919. He now lives practically retired and spends part of his time in truck gardening on his farm near Hastings. He is a Republican and a member of the Catholic Church. Mr. Houck was married to Miss Caroline Gessler, a daughter of Everhart and Caroline (Sider) Gessler. To them the following children were born: A. J., the subject of this sketch; Carrie, born July 31, 1887; Marge, born July 29, 1889; John, born March 17, 1892; George, born Sept. 4, 1895; Violet, born July 17, 1898; William, born Nov. 30, 1902; Helen, born Nov. 30, 1900; Enaez, born Dec. 5, 1904; and Paul, born June 15, 1908.