George W. Houk
Encyclopedia
George Washington Houk was a lawyer
and politician
representing Ohio
.
George W. Houk was born near Mount Holly Springs in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
, the son of Adam and Catherine (Knisley) Houk. The family moved to Dayton, Ohio
in 1827 where George Houk attended the public schools and the E. E. Barney Academy at Dayton. For a number of years Houk taught school while he studied law with Peter P. Lowe. George W. Houk was admitted to the bar in 1847, commencing practice in Dayton.
He married Eliza Phillips Thruston (23 October 1833-31 Aug 1914), daughter of Robert A. and Mary (Phillips) Thruston, both of locally prominent families. They had five children.
In 1861, he became a law partner of John A. McMahon
, who had previously been a law partner of Clement Vallandigham
. He remained in that partnership until 1882.
Houk was elected a member of the Ohio House of Representatives
, serving from 1852 to 1853. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
in 1860 supporting Stephen A. Douglas
and a delegate again in 1876. He was defeated for circuit judge in the Ohio Second judicial circuit in 1884.
In 1888 on the Democratic ticket, he faced incumbent Elihu S. Williams
in Ohio’s third district, but was defeated. In 1890, he defeated Henry Lee Morey
and was elected to the Fifty-second congress. He was easily re-elected in 1892 to the Fifty-second congress. He died suddenly in Washington, D.C.
during his second term. Paul J. Sorg
was elected to fill the vacancy in a special election in May 1854.
George Washington Houk and his wife are interred in Woodland Cemetery, Dayton, Ohio
.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
representing Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
George W. Houk was born near Mount Holly Springs in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
Cumberland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and is one of three counties comprising the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 235,406.-History:...
, the son of Adam and Catherine (Knisley) Houk. The family moved to Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
in 1827 where George Houk attended the public schools and the E. E. Barney Academy at Dayton. For a number of years Houk taught school while he studied law with Peter P. Lowe. George W. Houk was admitted to the bar in 1847, commencing practice in Dayton.
He married Eliza Phillips Thruston (23 October 1833-31 Aug 1914), daughter of Robert A. and Mary (Phillips) Thruston, both of locally prominent families. They had five children.
In 1861, he became a law partner of John A. McMahon
John A. McMahon
John A. McMahon was a United States Representative from Ohio. He was the nephew of Clement Vallandigham, another Representative from Ohio....
, who had previously been a law partner of Clement Vallandigham
Clement Vallandigham
Clement Laird Vallandigham was an Ohio resident of the Copperhead faction of anti-war Democrats during the American Civil War. He served two terms in the United States House of Representatives.-Biography:...
. He remained in that partnership until 1882.
Houk was elected a member of the Ohio House of Representatives
Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
, serving from 1852 to 1853. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
in 1860 supporting Stephen A. Douglas
Stephen A. Douglas
Stephen Arnold Douglas was an American politician from the western state of Illinois, and was the Northern Democratic Party nominee for President in 1860. He lost to the Republican Party's candidate, Abraham Lincoln, whom he had defeated two years earlier in a Senate contest following a famed...
and a delegate again in 1876. He was defeated for circuit judge in the Ohio Second judicial circuit in 1884.
In 1888 on the Democratic ticket, he faced incumbent Elihu S. Williams
Elihu S. Williams
Elihu Stephen Williams was a farmer, lawyer, soldier, and politician who became a member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio.-Biography:...
in Ohio’s third district, but was defeated. In 1890, he defeated Henry Lee Morey
Henry Lee Morey
Henry Lee Morey was an officer in the United States Army during the American Civil War and a politician and U. S. Congressman after the war.-Early life and career:...
and was elected to the Fifty-second congress. He was easily re-elected in 1892 to the Fifty-second congress. He died suddenly in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
during his second term. Paul J. Sorg
Paul J. Sorg
Paul John Sorg was a businessman and member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio.-Biography:...
was elected to fill the vacancy in a special election in May 1854.
George Washington Houk and his wife are interred in Woodland Cemetery, Dayton, Ohio
Woodland Cemetery, Dayton, Ohio
Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum , located at 118 Woodland Avenue, Dayton, Ohio, is one of the oldest "garden" cemeteries in the United States....
.
Sources
- Taylor, William A. Ohio in Congress from 1803 to 1901. Columbus, Ohio: The XX Century Publishing Company, 1901.