William J. Houck
As Lincoln once said relative to his own parentage and youth, the conditions which compassed the early years of William Jackson Houck were those implied in the "short and simple annals of the poor," but he had the will to do and to dare and has thus proved himself able to overcome obstacles, master circumstances and push his way forward to the goal of worthy and distinctive success, as is evident when it is stated that he is numbered among the able and representative members of the bar of Grant county, where he has maintained his home since his childhood days and where he has measured fully to the demands of the metewand of popular confidence and esteem. He is engaged in there practice of his profession in the city of Marion, the county seat, and has not only achieved pronounced success and precedence in his chosen profession but also is known as progressive, liberal and influential citizen. He has passed the half-century mark and has made the years count for good in all the relations of his life, his accomplishment standing there more to his honor because it has represented entirely the concrete results of his own energy, determination and ability.
Mr. Houck was born in Jay County, Indiana, and the place of his nativity was a primitive log cabin, of the type common to the pioneer era, his parents and other kins-folk having been in the poorest of financial circumstances, so that early felt the lash of necessity, which quickened his ambition and vitalized his mental and physical powers. He was the fourth in order of birth in a family of nine children, all of whom are living except one. The parents, Samuel B. and Mary Ann (Iiams) Houck, were both natives of Ohio, where the respective families settled in the pioneer days. Samuel B. Boyd was born in Butler County, that State, and his wife was born near Sandusky, Erie County. After coming to Indiana Samuel Houck followed the vocation of teamster in Jay County, for two years, at the expiration of which in the autumn of 1864, he came with his family to Grant County and established his home in Marion. He followed teaming and other modest vocations and the financial returns for his labors were barely adequate to make provision for the necessities of his family. He was a man of integrity and industry and while his career was not marked by dramatic incidents or great temporal success he lived up to his possibilities under existing conditions and thus merited and received the respect of his fellow men. He passed the closing years of his life at Jonesboro, this county, where he died in 1908, at a venerable age, his cherished and devoted wife having passed to the life eternal two years previously.
William J. Houck is indebted for his early educational discipline to the public schools of Marion and Jonesboro, this county, and in securing a more liberal education he had the definite spur of personal desire and ambition, so that he depended upon his own exertions in defraying the expenses of his collegiate course. When but fifteen years of age he began teaching in the district schools, and that he does not place a specially high estimate upon his scholastic ability at the time as shown by the fact that he states that he "kept rather than taught school." Experience proved effective, however, and he made good the handicap, with the result that he was successful in the pedagogic profession, through the medium of which he paid his college expenses. He finally entered Ridgeville College, at Ridgeville, Randolph County, an institution that has now passed out of existence, and in the same he was graduated in June, 1880, with the degree of Bachelor of Science (et seq. M. S.). After leaving college Mr. Houck passed two years as a teacher in the public schools near Cincinnati, Ohio, and simultaneously he pursued his studies in the Cincinnati Law School, his ambition being one of action and definite purpose. After completing the prescribed course in the law school Mr. Houck returned to Indiana and entered the office of Judge Haines, of Portland, Jay county, and there he was admitted to the bar of his native State in the year 1880. He forthwith entered upon the practice of his profession, but shortly afterward, in June, 1881, he was deflected from the same, as he was elected superintendent of schools for Jay County, the place of his birth. Thus was shown forth conclusively that he was not like the prophet and without honor in his own country. He gave an effective administration, died much to systematize and advance the work of the schools of the county and the popular estimate placed upon his services was manifest in his re-election in 1883 and again in 1885, so that he served three successive terms, at the expiration of the last of which the county board of trustees failed to elect a successor, with the result that he continued the incumbent about six months after the close of his regular term an then resigned the office.
Resuming the active practice of law at Portland, Jay county, Mr. Houck there remained until September, 1889, when he purchased the weekly newspaper known as the Marion Democrat and returned to the county seat of Grant County. He removed the plant of his paper to new quarters and in its first issue under his regime he changed its title to the Marion Leader. He successfully continued as editor and publisher of the Leader until the autumn of 1895, and brought the paper up to a high standard in its editorial and news department and as an exponent of local interests. It is still published under the name which he conferred and is one of the influential papers of this section of the State. After his retirement from the field of journalism Mr. Houck resumed the practice of his profession, to which he has since given his entire time and attention and in connection with which he has become one of the representative members of the bar of Grant county, and of the State, with a large and important clientage and with the highest reputation for ability and resourcefulness as a trial lawyer and conservative counselor.
Mr. Houck, as may well be imagined in connection with a man of his character and experience, is staunchly fortified in his opinions concerning matters of public policy, both in local and general sense, and he has long been one of the influential figures in the councils of the Democratic party in central Indiana. In 1886 he lacked only eleven votes of being nominated for the office of Clerk of the Supreme Curt of the State, and two years alter he was the Democratic nominee for representative of his district in the State Senate, said district comprising Grant and Madison Counties, his defeat being compassed by normal political exigencies, for the district had at that time a decisive Republican majority. In 1900 at the Democratic convention for the Eleventh Congressional District Mr. Houck, against his own volition and desire, was virtually compelled to accept nomination for congress. His defeat was a foregone conclusion, but he made a spirited and effective campaign through his district and succeeded in reducing the majority of his opponents 3,000 votes, though the district had a normal Republican majority of eight thousand. Mr. Houck is a most vigorous and convincing political speaker and his services have been enlisted by his party in various campaigns in the State, though he has permitted nothing to deflect him from his profession and the demands of his large and representative practice. As a citizen he shows a vital and helpful interest in all that touches the welfare of his home city, county and state and his influence and aid are given to worthy enterprises and measures projected for their good, as well as that of humanity in general. He has unqualified affection for his native state and deep appreciation of the sturdy pioneers who laid broad and deep the foundations upon which has been reared the great superstructure of advanced civilization and prosperity. both he and his wife are zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd fellows, and the Tribe of Ben Hur.
On the 21st of June, 1881, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Houck to Miss Eliza C. Shrack, who was born and reared at Dunkirk, Jay County, this State,. where her husband taught school for two years. She presides most graciously over the attractive home in Marion and the same is a center of generous hospitality. Mrs. Houck is the only child of James H. and Nancy R. Shrack, who are now living in the same home with Mr. and Mrs. Houck where they have always lives as one family. Mr. and Mrs. Houck have no children.
Centennial History of Grant County Indiana 1812-1912. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1914.