My Genealogy Hound

MAJ. THOMAS W. HOUTS, one of the leading citizens of Johnson County, resides on a farm four miles southwest of Warrensburg. He has made a specialty of stock-raising, and buying and selling cattle, and has been prospered in his various financial undertakings. The Houts family is of the old Pennsylvania-Dutch stock, and has long been identified with the history of this county and state.

George Wilson Houts, our subject’s father, was born in Washington County, Ky., August 23, 1809, and his wife, who was formerly Miss Elizabeth Cooper, was born in New Madrid County, Mo., September 12, 1807. Their marriage was celebrated February 10, 1831, and both are still living. The father of G. W. was Thomas Houts, who was born in Pennsylvania, about 1780, and died in Scott County, Mo., at the age of fifty-six years. He went to Kentucky in early manhood and was married there, in 1806, to Sarah Meyer, a native of North Carolina. Mr. Houts was a Whig and served as Judge of the County Court in Scott County. Both he and his wife were devout members of the Presbyterian Church, but after coming to this state became identified with the Methodist denomination, as there was no church of their own particular faith near their home. Mrs. Elizabeth Houts was a daughter of John and Agnes Cooper, who were residents of New Madrid County for years, and she well remembers an earthquake which occurred there, that destroyed much property and life. For sixty-two years George W. Houts and wife have been faithful and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In former days the members frequently met at their home, and they were in reality the organizers of the denomination in this county. Houts’ Chapel, a house of worship which has since been erected in this vicinity, was named in their honor. Mr. Houts has been Class-Leader and has also served as Steward, besides serving in various other official positions. Formerly a Whig and a slave-owner, he was nevertheless a sympathizer with the Union cause, and is now a Republican. In 1846 he was elected Constable, and after serving as such for four years was elected Assessor, in which capacity he acted for two terms. In 1856 he was elected Sheriff, holding that position for two terms, or until 1860. He was next called upon to represent his district in the State Legislature for two terms, and afterwards, in 1866, was elected County Clerk, serving also two terms.

It was in 1839 that George W. Houts emigrated to Johnson County, buying a part of the tract of land that he still owns, and to the original purchase he has since added two hundred and fifty acres. At one time he knew every man in the county, and when acting as Constable made frequent trips in every direction, thus becoming well known and popular, which fact was shown by his being elected by a minority party on each occasion. Honorable in all his dealings, he forced even his political enemies to respect him. He is a man of excellent judgment, temperate in his habits, and always generous to the poor. His maiden vote was cast for Gen. William H. Harrison, and he has never missed an election.

The marriage of George W. and Elizabeth Houts was blessed with ten children, six of whom are deceased. William L., went to Jackson County, Tex., in 1880, and has since been engaged in farming there; Thomas W. is the next in order of birth of those living; O. L. is a well known attorney of Warrensburg; and F. M. lives on the home farm. Leona died at the age of five years, and Mary E. passed to her final rest in childhood. Sidney F. died when in his tenth year. John B. departed this life in his twentieth year, and Wesley at the age of twenty-two years, just before the war. William S. was Captain of a company of the Forty-second Enrolled Missouri Militia, and was active in fighting the guerrillas. He was afterwards in the United States Secret Service, holding the rank of Captain, and took part in the battle of Little Blue, Kan.

Maj. Thomas W. Houts, of this sketch, was born near Benton, Scott County, Mo., August 21, 1838. He received a district-school education in this county, and lent his assistance to his father on the farm, and also fulfilled his official duties until the war. In 1861 he enlisted in the Twenty-seventh Missouri Volunteers, under Colonel Grover, who was killed at Lexington. Major Houts was then Quartermaster of the regiment and was mustered out as such in the fall of 1861. Later he recruited a company for the Seventh Missouri State Militia and was made Captain of Company A. At the end of a year and a-half he was promoted to be Major of the Seventh Regiment, and participated in the battles of Jefferson City, Marshall, Lone Jack and many other engagements. His bravery was unquestioned and frequently commended, for much of his service was extremely dangerous, he being often on detached duty for special causes. He was finally mustered out of the army at St. Louis, and returned to peaceful avocations.

At the close of the war Major Houts bought the farm where he now resides and which comprises two hundred and eighty acres of very valuable land. His energetic and industrious management of this place has made it one of the best in this section. October 7, 1866, was celebrated his marriage with Lucy, daughter of Nathaniel Thornton, an old settler and prominent citizen of this county. Mrs. Houts was born October 8, 1849, and her only child, Claude, died when a year and a-half old. The Major and his wife then took to their home Nellie Crites, who is now the wife of A. J. Graham, and lives about four miles from her old home. For four years Major Houts was Steward in the Methodist Church, known as Houts’ Chapel, to which congregation his wife also belongs.

Like his father, our subject was a Whig until the war, after which he became a Republican, but he has no desire to serve in public positions or to take much hand in politics beyond discharging his duties as a citizen.