Person:Andrew Housh (1)

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY, ILLINOIS 1899

ANDREW CLINTON HOUSH, son of David and Elizabeth (Thornbrough) Housh, was born October 16, 1834, near Greencastle, Putnam County, Indiana. The progenitor of the Housh family settled in Virginia, where grandfather Adam Housh resided till he removed to Kentucky and located near Louisville. Farming was his vocation, and politically, he was a democrat. There were born to him and his wife seven sons and four daughters: The sons were John, Andrew, Adam, George, Jacob, Thomas, and David. Both Adam Housh and his wife lived to be very aged; she died in Kentucky.

David Housh, father of Andrew C., was born in Kentucky and removed to Putnam County, Indiana. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph and Rebecca (Gibson) Thornbrough of the same state. The father of Joseph Thornbrough was a Quaker; Rebecca Gibson was of Welsh descent. David Housh came to Haw Creek Township, passing through the place where Maquon now stands, July 3, 1836. He was a prosperous farmer, and one of the leading men of his township. In politics he was a democrat, and held various township offices. He died at the old homestead in May, 1879, at the age of eighty years. He owned at the time of his death about two thousand six hundred acres of land. In religious belief he was a Universalist. He served in the War of 1812, though only twelve years of age, doing guard duty in one of the frontier forts of Indiana. Later he participated in many Indian skirmishes in his vicinity. He came to Illinois when Knox County was mostly a wilderness. Mrs. David Housh yet lives at the age of eighty nine years, having been born near Greencastle, Indiana, March 1, 1810. David and Elizabeth Housh had thirteen children, seven of whom are now living: Mary, Rebecca, James O., Andrew Clinton, Elizabeth, Daniel M., and Eveline; all of them have been devoted to agricultural pursuits.

Mr. A.C. Housh was educated in the common schools of Knox County, and was brought up on the farm. In the year 1858, with his father and three brothers, James O., Jacob C., and Daniel M., he entered upon the mercantile carreer in Maquon. They also engaged in the stock business and farming on a large scale. They had a general store, the largest in Maquon. A few years later he bought out his partners and conducted the mercantile business alone for several years, selling out in 1896. He opened a bank in 1884 called the "A.C. Housh Bank of Maquon," which he has conducted to the present time. He also owns and manages about fifteen hundred acres of farming land in Knox County, and also owns two farms containing three hundred and twenty acres in Nebraska. In politics he is a democrat. He has been Township Clerk, Commissioner of Highways, School Director and a member of the Town Council. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, A.F. and A.M., Lodge No. 530, in Maquon. He is liberal minded in all things, and is worthy the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens.

Mr. Housh was married at Knoxville, November 11, 1857, to Adeline, daughter of Peter F. and Elizabeth (Fink) Ouderkirk. Mr. and Mrs. Housh have two children: Emma F. and E. La Fayette.

In the 1878 History of Knox Co., A.C. Housh is listed as one of the present Board of Trustees members. The town had a population at that time of 800. (p. 641)

PORTRAIT and BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM of KNOX COUNTY, ILLINOIS 1886

ANDREW C. HOUSH, banker, Maquon, is the son of David and Elizabeth (Thournbrough) Housh. His father was a native of Kentucky and of Dutch ancestry, his mother of French and Irish. They settled in Putnam County, Ind., where they lived until 1836, when they removed to Knox County. They made a settlement in Haw Creek Township, where the father engaged in farming and became one of it's leading men. Here his demise occured in the latter part of May, 1879. His widow still survives and resides at Maquon. Their family consisted of twelve children--Joseph M., Mary, James O., Rebecca, Jacob C., Barbara, Joshua, Lilly A., Elizabeth, Daniel M., Eveline and Amanda.

Andrew C. Housh, of whom we write, was born in Putnam County, Ind., Oct. 16, 1834, and was therefore in the second year of his age when his parents came to this county, in 1836. He remained at home, assisting his father on the farm, until he attained the age of 17 years, after which he was employed by his father in teaming and in the distillery. He had learned the trade of distilling, at which occupation he worked for 12 years, at the same time following the occupation of a teamster. His education was very limited, being aquired in the common schools. In the year 1863, he, in company with his father and two brothers, bought out the mercantile interest of Alfred Thurman (see sketch of Mr. T.), Maquon Township, they continued together in this branch of business for ten years, when our subject bought out the entire concern. He conducted it for about four years, when he disposed of it and soon afterward engaged in the banking business, and also in the handling of stock, in which branches of business he is still engaged.

Mr. Housh is the proprietor of 530 acres of fertile land, located in Maquon Township, and which is under a very high state of cultivation. He is also the owner of village property in Maquon, besides 500 acres of fine farm land in Nebraska. He is an extensive dealer in stock, and is numbered among the successful and prosperous agriculturalists and business men in the county of Knox.

At Knoxville, Nov. 11, 1857, our subject was married to Adeline Ouderkirk, daughter of Peter F. and Elizabeth (Fink) Ouderkirk. Her parents were natives of New York state and of Dutch ancestry. They arrived in Knox County in 1835, and settled in Maquon, afterward removing to Haw Creek Township, at which place their demise occured. The father died in 1846, and the mother in 1863. The family consisted of six children--John, Samuel, Adeline, Caroline, Polly and La Fayette. Adeline E. Ouderkirk, wife of our subject, was born in Onondaga County, N.Y., Feb. 28, 1835, and was an infant of eight months when her parents came to Knox County. Samuel Ouderkirk enlisted in the 86th Ill. Vol. Inf., and served three years. He was in several engagements, the most important being the battle of Shiloh.

Mr. and Mrs. Housh have been blest by the birth of two children--Emma F. and E. La Fayette. Emma is the wife of Frank P. Hurd, the present Supervisor of Maquon Township, being elected April 6, 1886. Mrs. Hurd has become the mother of two children--J. Clinton and Addie L. La Fayette Housh is the husband of Leonia Libolt, also residents of Maquon, and is associated with his father in the banking business. The senior Mr. Housh has been Township Clerk, Commissioner of Highways and School Director. He has also been a member of the Town Council. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, and in politics is a Douglas Democrat. He belongs to Maquon Lodge, No. 530 A.F. & A.M. The father of Mr. Housh was in the War of 1812.

As one of the leading and representative men of Knox County we place the portrait of Mr. Housh in this ALBUM.

1880 CENSUS Household Record 1880 United States Census

Household:

Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace Andrew C. HOUSH Self M Male W 45 IN Banker --- --- Adaline HOUSH Wife M Female W 45 NY Keeping House NY NY Emma F. HOUSH Dau S Female W 21 IL At Home IN NY Edgar L. HOUSH Son S Male W 17 IL Clerk In Bank IN NY Mary E. COMBS Niece S Female W 15 IL At School OH OH Maggie E. CURTAIN Other S Female W 24 NY Servant IRE IRE

Source Information: Census Place Maquon, Knox, Illinois Family History Library Film 1254220 NA Film Number T9-0220 Page Number 281D

OBITUARY: Galesburg Daily Republican Register

February 14, 1923

Andrew Clinton Housh, a highly respected resident of Maquon, passed away at his home Tuesday night, February 13 at nine o'clock, after an illness two weeks of lagrippe and declining years.

Mr. Housh was a direct descendant of David Housh, an early pioneer who came to Illinois in 1836 and of a family of eleven children, five sons and six daughters. But one sister, Mrs. Evaline Southard, survives him. Besides his wife, who is very ill at this time, he leaves to mourn his departure one daughter, Mrs. F. P. Hurd, who has been at his bedside during his sickness and one son, E. L. Housh, who now resides in Maryland, four grandchildren and many relatives and friends.

Andrew C. Housh was the son of david and Elizabeth (Thornbrough) Housh, and was born in Putnam county, Indiana, October 16, 1834, and so was in his eighty ninth year. The family settled in 1836 on a farm in Haw Creek township. Mr. Housh assisted his father on the farm until he was seventeen years old. His education was limited to the common schools of the day. In 1863 he in company with his father and two brothers bought out the mercantile interests of Alfred Thurman in Maquon. After ten years Mr. Housh acquired sole control of the business which he conducted for four years longer. He then engaged in the banking business which he followed for many years. He was at one time one of the largest land owners in that part of the county.

At Knoxville, November 11, 1857, he was married to Adeline Ouderkirk, daughter of Peter F. and Elizabeth Fink Ouderkirk, also early settlers in the county. The widow is in her eighty eighth year. Their married life of over sixty four years has been a happy one. To their union two children were born, Emma F., and E. Lafayette. Mr. Housh during his long life has served his township in a number of capacities such as township clerk, highway commissioner and school director and in the villiage council. He was a member of the Masonic lodge of his village.

Mr. Housh was for many years prominent in his township and was one of the strong, familiar figures. Of late years he has lived a quiet and retired life. The time of the funeral has not been settled.

(The Evening mail of same date has following info: Born in Greencastle, Indiana, came to Knox county July 3, 1836, He was in stock raising business with brothers Dan and Oliver for some time.)

1854, March - Andrew C. signs the SPIRITUALISTS MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS requesting the appointment of a "Scientific Commission to investigate certain physical and mental phenomena of questionable origin and mysterious import that have of late occurred in this country and in Europe" A number of other people in Maquon also signed including Nelson Selby.

From MAQUON COOK BOOK., Maquon Cemetery Assn, 3rd Ed, 1912, page 70: BEDBUG RECEIPT. "One pint proof spirit, two ounces camphor, four ounces turpentine, one ounce corrosive sublimate. Poison. -- A. C. Housh"

1. ↑ Comp. by Knox Co. Genealogical Society, Galesburg, IL. Cemetery Records, Knox County, IL,, Haw Creek Twp.
2. ↑ Newton Bateman, Editor -in-Chief. Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and Knox County, 1899. (Name: Munsell Publishing Co., Chicago;)
   947.
3. ↑ Obit of Mrs. Elizabeth Housh, Abingdon Enterprise, Abingdon, Knox, IL, Aug 23, 1901.