HOUSER FAMILY.

Edward A. Houser and Josiah Houser.

He is written about in the 1901 Biographic sketches of Cowley County. He came January 20, 1869.

[1869] PAGE 350.

EDWARD A. HOUSER was a self made man, and a highly respected citizen of Cowley County, Kansas, where he lived since January 20, 1869. He was the owner of 449 acres, all in Rock Township, and his home was situated in section 18. He was born in Washington County, Virginia, February 22, 1841, a son of John J. Houser.

His father, John J. Houser, was born in Washington County, Virginia, and in his youth learned the trade of a blacksmith. He followed his trade many years, but at the time of his death, in 1888, he was engaged in agricultural pursuits in Sullivan County, Tennessee. He was united in marriage with Latina Moree, a native of Washington County, Virginia, who died in Sullivan County, Tennessee, in 1851. They had the following children: Elizabeth, who died young; Edward A., the subject hereof; Josiah, a prominent farmer of Maple Township; Arrena, the wife of John Tittsworth, of Rock Township; Louise, the wife of Frank Greer, of Rock Township; Lusannah, who lived in Rock Township, was the widow of J. F. Smith; three, who died in infancy; and Elizabeth, Jeremiah, and George W., who are deceased. Each of the children who grew up received a good mental training in the common schools.

When a young man, in 1861, Edward A. Houser enlisted in the Confederate army, joining Company G, 63rd Reg., Tenn. If., and he saw two years of hard fighting. He was mustered out in 1864, in Mississippi.

After the war Edward A. Houser joined his brother, Josiah, in Illinois and carried on farming a number of years. Thence he went to Kansas, where he spent five years in the same pursuits. On January 19, 1869, he entered the borders of Cowley County, Kansas, and took up in Rock Township the south half of the northwest quarter of section 18, township 30, range 4 east, and the north half of the southwest quarter of the same section. He built a small house, and the first year broke 55 acres, which he put into corn. Subsequently, he set out 200 apple trees and half as many peach trees. He also went to the timber and cut out posts, which he used in fencing his farm. In 1878 he bought 80 acres of the John Cox farm, in section 7, which contained some improvements. At a later period he bought 65 acres, of Joseph Bailey; 65 acres, from William Bailey; 16 acres, of John Bailey; 23 acres, of J. H. Martindale; and 40 acres, of J. W. Haines--all in section 18, in Rock Township. He rented a small portion of his farm and became an extensive grain producer, and raised a considerable number of hogs and cattle.

Mr. Houser was married in December, 1874, to Verona E. Dailey, of Sullivan County, Tennessee. They had the following children: Alice; Dailey; Ethel; Archimedes; and Forrest.

Mrs. Houser was a daughter of William Dailey, of Sullivan County, Tennessee, a self-made man who educated himself and became qualified for the business of a land surveyor, and afterward devoted his attention to the work of an educator, which task he fulfilled with honor to himself and his family, acting as professor in the academy nearly ten years. Close study and hard work ruined his health, and he died, leaving a widow and four children. The latter were reared to manhood and womanhood and were respected by all who knew them.

In politics Mr. Houser always voted for the candidate whom he considered the best man, while in religious views he favored the Christian church.

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[MAY 1870.] PAGE 152.

JOSIAH HOUSER was the owner of 400 acres of good farming land, all of which was in Maple and Rock Townships, Cowley County, Kansas. In 1901 he resided in his home, which comprised the northwest quarter of section 13, taken up in May 1870. Mr. Houser was born January 22, 1843, in Washington County, Virginia, and was a son of John J. and Letitia (Moree) Houser.

Josiah’s father, John J. Houser, was a native of Tennessee and a blacksmith by trade. He died in 1888, and his wife passed away in 1849. They were the parents of the following children: Elizabeth, deceased; E. A., a prosperous farmer of Rock Township; Josiah; Arrrena, wife of John Tittsworth, a farmer of Rock Township; Louisa, wife of Frank Greer, who lived in Rock Township; Lusanna, widow of William Smith, a resident of Rock Township; and Jerry.

Josiah Houser obtained a common school education, and when twenty-four years of age, located in Logan County, Illinois, where he successfully carried on farming for eighteen months. On May 1, 1870, he settled on the north half of the southwest quarter, and the south half of the northwest quarter of section 13, as before mentioned. The land was unbroken prairie, and Mr. Houser at once set about the task of cultivating the soil and making improvements upon the farm. He put in sod corn the first year, and the following year he built a log house, in which he lived many years. His last home was built several years ago, and contains all the latest conveniences. In 1882, he bought the north half of the northwest quarter of section 13, Maple Township, which contained a few improvements. He also bought the southwest quarter of section 17, Rock Township, known as the Bailey farm. Mr. Houser was an extensive grain producer, but at the same time devoted much attention to the raising of cattle and hogs.

Mr. Houser was married in Cowley County, in 1880, to Mary Meador, of Lafayette County, Missouri, who was born in September 1856, and was a daughter of J. W. and Rebecca (Booker) Meador, of Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Meador was born in Kentucky, on the present site of Louisville, December 10, 1834. During his early life, he moved to Missouri, where he lived until 1863. He then moved to Cowley County, Kansas, where he located in section 22, Rock Township. About eight years later, he moved to Butler County, Kansas, where he spent six years in tilling the soil. At the end of that period he moved to Oklahoma, where he took up 80 acres; after living thereon for nine years, he moved to Oklahoma City. Mrs. Meador died there September 11, 1898, and Mr. Meador then lived with Mr. Houser.

Mr. and Mrs. Josiah Houser had the following children: Vienna Letitia, deceased; Wendell Phillips; John J.; Anderson Furlong; Josiah Finley; Vernon, who died in 1883, aged two years and nine months; Moree Odell, who was killed on the farm when six years old; Ernest, who died in infancy; and Webster Everett.

Josiah Houser was independent in politics, always supporting the candidate whom he considered the best man. He was one of the organizers of Maple Township, and helped to choose a name for it.

Mr. Houser was a soldier in the Confederate army, being a member of Company I, commanded by Capt. McClellan, in the 4th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry, commanded by George R. McClellan. The regiment was in Gen. “Joe” Wheeler’s Division.