My Genealogy Hound

AMOS C. HOUSE, an extensive land-owner and representative agriculturist of Bertrand Township, Berrien County, resides upon a magnificent homestead pleasantly located upon section 18, the valuable acreage with its costly improvements being one of the finest pieces of farming property in the State. Our subject, a native of Juniata County, Pa., born May 24, 1843, is the son of Ephraim and Mary (Scott) House. The father, born and reared in New Jersey, was of German descent. The mother, who was a native of England, remained in her native land until about sixteen years of age, when she came to America with her father and settled in New York. The father, also born in England, returned later to the Old Country for the rest of the family. It was supposed that he was killed on the outward-bound journey, and his daughter Mary was then left alone, a stranger in a strange land. The mother of Mr. House married for her first husband Mr. Sanders, and bore him three sons, George, Richard and Joseph. Later Ephraim and Mary House were united in marriage and became the parents of eleven children. The father died in Pennsylvania at about sixty-two years of age. The mother afterward made her home in Michigan and passed away at the close of four-score years. In physique, she was small, but was a woman of intelligence and strength of character.

Our subject was reared on a farm in Juniata County, Pa., and received his education in the common schools of the district, and when eighteen years old began the battle of life for himself. For seven seasons he boated on the Pennsylvania Canal, and was driver, steersman and captain, working for the same man most of the time. He journeyed from Liverpool to Columbia, thence to Sunbury and on to Baltimore. One year he boated on his own account. March 8, 1865, he went to Missouri, but remained there only a short time, going thence to Illinois, and from that State finding his way to Indiana. Later he came to Michigan, and finally, during 1865, settled in Bertrand Township, where he worked for a time by the day and month. Amos C. House was married August 23, 1868, to Miss Eliza, daughter of David and Anna (Rhodes) Rough. The parents of Mrs. House, with their five children, were born in Pennsylvania. The father and mother journeyed with their family to Michigan by team in 1849. They were twenty-eight days on the way, and slept at night in the large wagon which comfortably sheltered the weary travelers.

Mrs. House, the youngest child and second daughter, born in the Quaker State May 16, 1843, was but six years of age when she arrived in Berrien County, and in the district schools of her new home received her education. Immediately subsequent to their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. House made their home with Father Rough, remaining upon his homestead for four years, in 1873 removing to Tripp’s farm. In 1881, they located permanently where they now reside, and built an elegant residence and other buildings at a cost of $15,000. The finely appointed house is a modern brick structure, containing fifteen conveniently arranged apartments, whose finish is in keeping with the beautiful design and style of architecture. The barn, 46x72 feet, is attractive in exterior and contains every convenience desirable for housing grain and stock. The six hundred acreage, all in one body, is mostly under cultivation and, furnishing a variety of products, yields annually a bounteous harvest. Our subject owns other valuable farming property, among which is a tract of two hundred and six acres, with a house and barn; also a one hundred and thirty -seven acre farm in Indiana, with a house and barn; also a one hundred and six acre homestead, well improved, with house and barn, in Terre Coupee Prairie, Bertrand Township; and a farm of one hundred and nine acres in Niles Township, his entire acreage being estimated at thirteen hundred and forty-six.

Mr. House is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Niles, and is prominent in financial enterprises. He is an active member of the Zion Evangelical Church, of which he has been Steward for seven years. He was one of the building committee through whose efforts the new house of worship was erected. Our subject was a liberal donor and generously gave many hundreds of dollars toward the completion of the new building. Mrs. House has also been a valuable aid in religious work and benevolent enterprises, and has long been connected with the church. One son has blessed the home, William David, born upon his grandfather’s homestead August 20, 1871. William D. House is an intelligent young man and, possessing excellent business ability, has a bright future before him. He is married, and with his wife, formerly Miss Nellie Shearer, has been residing with his parents. Our subject is now erecting a dwelling in Buchanan, where he expects after a time to locate, and will then retire from active business. His life has been a busy one, and throughout the prosperous years he has steadily won his upward way, true to each daily duty. Without being a politician, he has taken a deep interest in national issues and is in every sense of the word an enterprising and loyal American citizen, and votes the Democratic ticket.