Husband Dr. Daniel Houtz 1 2 3 4
Born: 15 Apr 1807 - Lebanon, Lebanon Co, PA 2 5
Christened:
Died: 20 Sep 1873 - Alexandria, Huntingdon Co, PA 5
Buried: - Alexandria Presbyterian Cemetery, Alexandria, Huntingdon Co, PA
Father: Christian Houtz (1775-1852) 5 6 7
Mother: Anna Elizabeth Zeller (1786-1822) 7
Marriage: 21 Jul 1829 - Alexandria, Huntingdon Co, PA 5
Wife Susannah Bucher 1 4
Born: 17 Nov 1808 - Alexandria, Huntingdon Co, PA 3
Christened:
Died: 14 Feb 1878 5
Buried: - Alexandria Presbyterian Cemetery, Alexandria, Huntingdon Co, PA
Father: John Conrad Bucher (1775-1852) 4 8 9 10
Mother: Hannah Mytinger (1780-1863) 8 10 11
Children
1 F Hannah Elizabeth Houtz 5
Born: 24 Aug 1830 5
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: George Mytinger Brisbin (1826- ) 5
Marr: 20 Aug 1860 5
2 M John Bucher Houtz 12
Born: 30 Nov 1832 12
Christened:
Died: 30 Apr 1836 12
Buried:
Spouse: Did Not Marry
3 M George McClellan Houtz 12
Born: 24 Sep 1835 12
Christened:
Died: 9 Jun 1861 - Alexandria, Huntingdon Co, PA 12
Buried:
4 F Eliza Bucher Houtz 12
Born: 27 Jun 1838 12
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Daniel R. Good, M.D. ( - ) 12
5 F Clara Porter Houtz 12
Born: 16 Apr 1841 12
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Hon. Harry J. McAteer (1838- ) 12 13
Marr: 26 Oct 1865 12
General Notes: Husband - Dr. Daniel Houtz
In 1822, he commenced an academic course at Milton, Pennsylvania, was afterwards privately instructed in the languages by Rev. Professor Graham at Selinsgrove, and still later in mathematics and surveying (a favorite study of his) by Professor Greer. Came to Alexandria, Huntingdon County, in 1826, where he studied medicine with James Charlton, M.D., and graduated at Jefferson Medical College in 1832. After practicing medicine one year in Williamsburg, Huntingdon (later Blair) County, returned to Alexandria and permanently located there, and by close application and a thorough knowledge of his profession he built for himself a large and lucrative practice.
In 1850 he was induced through the persuasion of a supposed friend to take an interest in a saw-mill on Clearfield Creek, known as the Belle Scena Mills. Through the bad management of those in charge, it soon became apparent that the business would require his personal attention or losses would be sustained. This caused him to make frequent trips to Clearfield County and partially abandon his practice at home, but he labored hard to attend to both. Through the knowledge he had acquired in his experience in extricating himself from the imminent peril of this first lumber embarkation, during which time he made trips down the river on his own rafts, he determined on pursuing the business further.
Disposing of his Belle Scena property in 1851 and 1852, he invested in four tracts of land in Woodward township, known as the "Philip Loast," "William Johnston," "Jacob R. Howell," belonging to the Peters estate; and the "George Bickham," to the Bank of North America. This purchase at that day was considered by many as a reckless investment. It was far from the water, the only mode of getting timber to market, and then the Tyrone and Clearfield road was not even talked about; and he was frequently heard to say, in referring to this purchase, that his friends thought "he might as well have put his money in the stove as to buy wild lands on the tip top of the Allegheny Mountains." But with that persistency, close application of time, and determination to accomplish all he had undertaken, and which marked every step of his business life, he loaned his assistance to the above-named railroad after it had been contemplated, and which was to approximate within six miles of his lands. It is useless to attempt to enumerate all the delays, vexations, and troubles attending the final completion of that enterprise; suffice it to say it lasted six years, that he was an every-day expectant, and never despaired. While this work was in progress he, with others, conceived the idea of a plank-road and pike from Osceola to Madera, diverging from the railroad at Osceola and running west ten miles. With him to conceive was to do. The charter was procured and the company organized by making him president, but for the lack of proper assistance this undertaking was permitted to drag along, and nothing was accomplished until he abandoned the plank-road for the railroad on the same location, and by stages assisted in getting it into his own lands. While he was making these exertions, and his lands were rapidly enhancing in value, under their influence, of a sudden a writ of ejectment was served upon him, and six hundred acres of his lands were seized as vacant, although he had been in peaceable possession of them and paid taxes on them for six years. This was a new cause for vexation, but with his wonted calmness he bowed with resignation to the decrees of the court, gave the required security that he would cease all operations on the portions seized, but never doubting that he would be fully able to make his title clear when the opportunity offered, yet convinced that great delay and expense would attend it. For four years the case was continued from court to court, finally reaching trial in 1863; when, through the ignorance of the jury to distinguish the plaintiff from the defendant, he was cast, as it was afterwards apparent, from this cause. Judge Lynn, who was on the bench at the time, and who was conversant with the whole matter, granted a new trial, and in the following June (1864) it was again tried, when, while the jury was yet in the room, and had, as it was afterwards understood, determined on a verdict for the defendant, the plaintiffs asked for a non-suit, which request had to be complied with, and the case was left in chancery. Here again it hung from year to year, until the plaintiffs, fearing to risk their claims further before the State courts, or appeal to the Supreme Court of the State, preferred carrying them to the United States courts; to do which they had to resort to the fallacy of selling their claims to a citizen of another State, and through this supposed individual it again reached trial before Judge McCandless, of the United States Circuit Court, at Pittsburgh, in the fall of 1867, where the jury, after four weeks listening to the testimony, rendered a verdict in favor of the defendant in twenty minutes, thus settling all dispute. This left the defendant in possession of his lands, and he again went to work where he had been stopped, and the consequence of that resumption to-day is the railroad from Moshannon to Houtzdale, the town of Houtzdale, the Eureka, Franklin, Webster, Penn, Beaver, and Harrison Collieries, and the gang-mill at that point. During the long years his lands were in difficulty he never despaired, and always treated those who were opposed to him with courtesy. He encountered and surmounted difficulties that ninety-nine men out of a hundred would have sunk under, and lived to see his most sanguine expectations realized.
It was supposed that the decision rendered in the United States Court in Pittsburgh settled the title, but in 1878, five years after the doctor's death, the former plaintiffs again brought suit in Clearfield County, and asked for a change of venue on the ground that they could not get justice in Clearfield County. It was granted, and they accepted Centre County. The case was conducted by the Hon. George A. Jenks, of Jefferson County, and Gen. James A. Beaver, of Bellefonte, for the plaintiffs, and Hon. W. A. Wallace and Senator Alexander for the defendants; time of trial, six days. The jury returned a verdict for the defendants (the Houtz heirs). The plaintiffs then applied for a new trial, which was refused. They then appealed to the Supreme Court, and the case was argued before said court in Harrisburg at the June term, 1881. The court did not render a decision during the Harrisburg term, but held it over until they convened at Pittsburgh, in October, when the decision was given in favor of the Houtz heirs, opinion by Judge Sterrett. Thus after twenty-two years of litigation the case was finally settled.
In politics the doctor was a lifelong Democrat; was elected State representative in 1858; was candidate of his party the following year, but was defeated by R. B. Wigton. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church at Alexandria, and for many years one of its trustees. He was a "Royal Arch Mason," Portage Lodge, Hollidaysburg. He also belonged to Mount Moriah Chapter, No. 282, Hollidaysburg. His lower degrees in the order were taken in Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 300, Huntingdon.
In temperament the doctor was genial and warm-hearted. He had a kind word for all who came into his presence. He was emphatically the poor man's friend, rendering them professional and pecuniary aid without stint. He commanded in the largest measure the love and esteem of all who knew him. He died at his home in Alexandria, Sept. 20, 1873. His wife survived him but a few years. She died at the homestead, Feb. 14, 1876. Both are buried in the Alexandria Presbyterian Cemetery.