My Genealogy Hound

JOHN HOUK is one of the very early settlers of Harlan county, Nebr., and one of the first few who settled in Prairie Dog township. He was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, July 15, 1830. Though born in Hamilton county, the greater part of his early life was spent on a farm in Allen county, where he resided until twenty-two years of age, attending district school and obtaining as good an education as the advantages of the times afforded. In March, 1853, he went via the ocean to California with a company in pursuit of gold, and while there engaged in mining for nine years, when he returned via the ocean and settled again in Allen county, Ohio, his trip not having been much of a success in a financial sense. Four years later, in 1867, he moved to Benton county, Iowa, and farmed one year, and then changed locations to Madison county, of the same state. Here he lived and labored on a farm till May, 1871, when he came to Harlan county, Nebr., driving through in a covered wagon. He homesteaded a quarter section, it being section 33, township 1, range 18 west, on which he still lives. The country presented a wild and barren appearance and was thronged with buffalo in herds numbering up into the thousands. There were also some elk and deer and many antelope. Though not an experienced hunter, he killed a number of buffalo and antelope and always had plenty of their meat for table use. His first house was a log cabin twelve by fourteen feet, with a dirt roof and ground floor. Indians at that time frequented the creek on hunting expeditions and would come to his cabin door half starved and beg for something to eat. The first few years he was able to raise fair crops, but during the grasshopper times, from 1874 to 1876, lost all his corn and raised but little small grain. Of late years he has raised uniformly good crops and has his farm in a good state of cultivation, with one hundred acres broken. In 1882 he took his family and went to Texas, and remained one year and then returned. In like manner he made a trip to Walla Walla, Wash. Ter., in 1889, but after an experience of four months returned and settled on the original homestead, with the idea that Nebraska was good enough for him.

Mr. Houk was married in Allen county, Ohio, October 8, 1862, to Miss Sarah Ulrey, who was born in Allen county, Ohio, May 9, 1839. Four children bless their home, namely — Catherine J., Silas M., Sylvia M. and Mina E. Politically, Mr. Houk is a democrat.