Person:Joab Houghton (1)

Biography

Joab Houghton11 History of Caldwell and Livingston Counties, Missouri (1886) pages 285-286. (Farmer and Stock-raiser, Section 30, Post-office, Kingston). In every community and among all classes there are always a few men who seem to become leaders in whatever they do, whether of a commercial or agricultural nature; and these same men are the ones who perhaps unconsciously take a prominent and active interest in promoting any movements which may be thought capable of tending to the welfare of the county or vicinity in which they may reside. Such a one is Mr. Houghton, a native-born citizen of Caldwell county, and a man highly respected by every one who knows him. His parents were Hon. John S. and Lucy (Alvord) Houghton, who came originally from Cortland county, N. Y., to this county in 1844; and it was some four years after this, on August 1, 1847, that Joab was born. Though spending his boyhood and early manhood here, he accompanied his parents to Cortland county, N. Y., when they returned there in 1860, but remained only until 1865, when this county again became their home, and here the subject of this sketch acquired a good education. He has since been giving much attention to the stock business, particularly to buying and shipping, and his choice landed estate of 220 acres is one of the best tracts for stock raising purposes in this section of the county. It is well improved and in a good state of cultivation. Mr. Houghton is a married man, his wife having originally been Miss Mary J. Fugitt, a native of Illinois, but brought up in this country. She is daughter of William Fugitt, an outline of whose life will be found in a few pages before this. Their marriage occurred on the 9th of March, 1871. this union has been blessed with an interesting family of four children, all of whom are living. Their names are, in the order of their births, Fannie May, Carrie F., John S. and Alice B. Houghton.