Person:Francis Houser (2)

{geni:occupation} Homesteader

{geni:about_me} From Biographical Memoirs of Huntington County, 1901

Henry Houser, a prosperous farmer of Clear Creek township, Huntington County, Indiana, was born on his present homestead May 13, 1860.

Frank Houser, father of Henry, was born in Germany in 1822, and in 1833 came to America with his father. Frank Houser visited Detroit, Michigan, whence he came to Indiana, passed some time in Fort Wayne, and at an early day came to Huntington and went to work for the old Indian chief, La Fontaine, on whose farm he labored until his marriage to Miss Elizabeth Zahn. This lady was called away by death one year after marriage, and Mr. Houser again went to work for Chief La Fontaine, remained with him three years and then married Miss Elizabeth Beihl, a native of Germany, who came from that country to America when eighteen years old, lived a short time in Ohio, and then came to Huntington County, Indiana.

To Frank Houser and his second wife there were born seven children in the following order: George F., deceased; Lewis, who is a farmer in Lancaster township; Caroline, still at the old home; Henry, whose name opens this article; Lizzie M., wife of Philip C. Lahr, of Whitley county; Jacob W., deceased; and Ida E., still on the homestead. Soon after the marriage of Frank Houser, in 1850, he settled on the farm in Huntington County which he had entered from the government and which he cleared and resided upon until his death, March 19, 1882, in the faith of the Catholic church. His wife survived him until September 18, 1899, when she expired at the age of seventy years, a member of the German Reform church. Both parents were highly esteemed, useful and hard-working residents of the township, and left the old farm to the possession of the family, since which Henry, Ida E. and Caroline have purchased the interest of the other heirs of this farm of eighty acres. Henry Houser has cleared up fifteen acres since his father died, and has made of the place as neat a tract as a casual passerby would care to look upon.

In politics Henry Houser is a Democrat, and in 1898 was his party's candidate for county clerk, he being a prime favorite with his political friends as well as the general public.

More information on Miami Civil Chief Francis LaFontaine (Topeah): http://www.historicforks.org/miami/

1880 Census has his birthdate around 1815: http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=allencountyin&id=I02525

http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:3280243&id=I0167

FRANK HOUSER APPLIED FOR CITIZENSHIP OF THE UNITED STATES IN HUNTINGTON CURCIT COURT, HUNTINGTON COUNTY IN., MARCH 22, 1843. A COPY IS AT THE HUNTINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY. IN THIS APPLICATION HIS DISCREPIOIN OF HIMSELF IS 5 FEET HIGH, DARK COMPLEXION, DARK HAIR, BLUE EYES.

HUNTINGTON DEMOCRATE HUNTINGTON, IN. 23 MARCH 1882

HOWSER

SUNDAY LAST, MR. FRANK HOWSER DIED OF LUNG FEVER, AT HIS RESIDENCE IN CLEARCREEK TOWNSHIP, AT THE AGE OF SIXTY-FOUR YEARS. THE DECEASED WAS ONE OF THE VERY OLDEST SETTLERS OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY, HAVING COME HERE MORE THAN FOURTY YEARS AGO. HE WAS ON OF NATURE'S NOBLEMAN AND RESPECTED BY ALL HIS ACQUAINTANCES, AND BY HIS DEATH THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH HE LIVED HAS LOST ONE WHO WILL BE MISSED AND MOURNED, HE LEAVES BEHIND HIM A WIFE AND SEVERAL CHILDREN. THE REMAINS WERE INTERRED LAST TUESDAY AT THE CATHOLIC CEMETERY IN WHITLEY COUNTY.

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1. ↑ {geni:event_description} Traveled from Fautenbach, Germany. Ship departed from Le Havre, France, to Ellis Island. Traveled through Buffalo, NY and Detroit before arriving in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Theresia gave birth to Elizabeth in Buffalo, NY in March.
2. ↑ {geni:name} Travel of Hauser family from Le Havre, France to New York