Biography of John Houlton, pages 618 / 619 / 620.  History of De Kalb 
County, Indiana.  Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

John Houlton, deceased, the first settler of De Kalb County, Ind., was born 
in Highland County, Ohio, Sept. 21, 1804, a son of Samuel Houlton, a pioneer 
of Highland County, and a soldier in the war of 1812.  He was reared in the 
wilds of Ohio, having Indian boys and wild animals for playmates.  In 1827 he 
came to Williams County, Ohio, and worked for his brother Samuel in a saw-mill 
on Fish Creek, near its confluence with the St. Joseph River.  They rafted 
the lumber down the river to the Fort Wayne market.  He was married Feb. 5, 
1833, to Sarah Fee, who was born May 12, 1812.  The following September they 
moved to De Kalb County, and Sept. 4, raised the first house in the county.  
It was built of round logs, was one and a half stories high, and twenty feet 
square.  It remained standing till 1860, when it was torn down, and the De 
Kalb County Pioneer society had a number of canes made from its logs, 
presenting a cane to each pioneer whose settlement dated prior to 1840.  
Mr. Houlton’s wife died Jul 12, 1839, leaving three children---Samuel, 
born in Lima, Ind., Feb. 1, 1839, was a member of Company B., First 
Michigan Infantry, in the war of the Rebellion, and died in Libby prison; 
Margaret, born April 8, 1836, was the first female white child born in De 
Kalb County; Sarah, born July 1, 1839.  All grew to maturity, and all are 
deceased.  Margaret married William H. Slentz, and had three children, two 
of whom are living-Rinaldo Burnett and Nancy Rosette.  Sarah married Norman 
Nichols, and had six children, five of whom are living---Orilla, William, 
Viola, Inez and Mary.  Nov. 21, 1839, Mr. Houlton married Nancy Lewis, 
daughter of Samuel Lewis who settled in Williams County, Ohio, in April, 
1834, and was the seventh settler on the St. Joseph River.  Nine children 
were born to them, six of whom are living---William L., Rebecca, John, 
Mathew K., Lewis N., and Roger R.  One daughter, Mary Ann, died Aug. 3, 
1869.  She was the wife of Jeremiah Gnagy, and left one child, John, now a 
student at Valparaiso Normal School.  Rebecca married her brother-in-law  
Jeremiah Gnagy, and has four sons---Guy, George, Girt and Glen.  John 
married Mary Getz, and has two children-Bert and Mary.  Lewis married 
Rhoda Martin and has one son---Verna S.  Roger married Amanda Mills, and 
has one son---Artemus L.  Roger is leader of the Houlton Orchestra.  Mr. 
Houlton died on the old homestead, June 2, 1875.  He was a consistent 
Christian, and a member of the Disciples church.  Mrs. Houlton has passed 
though many hardships and relates many peculiar and interesting accounts 
of the experiences of her early life.  She was possessed of unusual 
courage and was often helpful in time of need, when it was necessary to 
have a strong hand and a brave heart.  One instance of her undaunted will 
and courage may interest our readers, and especially the descendants of Mrs. 
Houlton:   At one time when about eighteen years of age her father and 
brothers were away from home, an a man came to the house and asked if any 
one could take him across the St. Joseph river, then swollen even with the 
banks.  She told him she would take him over if he would obey her orders.  
He wanted to place the horse above the canoe, but that was not her way and 
she refused to take him over.  He finally came to her terms.  She then 
placed the horse below the canoe, and told him to hold the bridle bit, 
while she rowed the canoe across the river.  The man was forced to admit 
the soundness of her judgement, saying he never saw a girl of so much 
courage and good sense.  At the time Mr. Houlton settled in De Kalb 
County, the Indians and wild animals roamed the forest at will.   The only 
ting he ever hunted was squirrel; deer was safe from his gun, although 
there were many at that time.  One Sunday a flock of thirty turkeys came 
into his orchard, just at the rear of the house, and although acting 
contrary to the wish of Mrs. Houlton his early Presbyterian training would 
not allow him to shoot one on the Sabbath.  He set out the first orchard in 
De Kalb County, in the spring of 1834, obtaining the trees in Constantine, 
Mich.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com