My Genealogy Hound

JOHN HOUSE, a representative and highly-esteemed citizen of Berrien County, Mich., has prosperously devoted the labor of his life to agricultural duties, and now resides upon his finely-cultivated homestead located upon section 22, Bertrand Township. Mr. House is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in Perry County July 4, 1832. His parents were Ephraim and Mary Scott House. The father, born in New Jersey, was of German descent. The mother was of English nativity and crossed the ocean with her father to the New World when only a young girl. While returning to the Mother Country for the other members of his family, it is supposed the father was killed, as he was never heard from again. The mother of Mr. House was thus left alone in the United States. She self-reliantly cared for herself until her marriage to Mr. Sanders, by whom she became the mother of three children. She subsequently wedded the father of our subject and bore him fourteen children. The father died in Pennsylvania at the age of sixty-two years, and the mother, surviving, journeyed to Michigan, and was four-score years of age when she too passed away.

John House was the eldest child of the second marriage of his mother, and was reared on a farm and received his education in the primitive schools of those early days. He remained with his parents until his marriage in 1856, at which date he was wedded in Snyder County, Pa., to Miss Catherine Brooker, born in the Quaker State and of German descent. The first wife of our subject did not survive her marriage many years, but lived to become the mother of two sons: Wilson and Jonathan. Sometime after her death, Mr. House was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Limbert, also a native of Pennsylvania. Four children blessed the second marriage. Mary and Sarah are deceased; John Edward and Lawrence F. survive. Immediately following his first marriage our subject removed to the West and located in Pulaski County, Ind., which he made his residence about seven months. At the expiration of this brief time he returned to Pennsylvania, and for twelve years industriously engaged in tilling the soil of his native State.

Realizing the larger opportunities of the farther West, Mr. House again left his early home, and, journeying to Michigan, located permanently in Berrien County. He at first settled on a rented farm, and later, in 1880, purchased the fine homestead of two hundred acres to which he finally removed with his family in 1883. One hundred and sixty acres of the pleasantly located farm have been brought to a high state of cultivation, the productive soil annually yielding a large harvest. Being much troubled with rheumatism, our subject a short time since rented his farm and now allows himself needed rest and recreation, richly earned by many years of unceasing care and busy industry. Mr. House has never been a politician, but he has always taken an interest in local and national affairs and is an advocate of true Democracy. Throughout his career a kind friend, generous neighbor and excellent citizen, he enjoys the regard and confidence of the entire community of Bertrand Township.