Kings County Biographies


This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm



 
GEORGE W. HOUSTON
 
A breeder of cattle, horses and hogs in the district of Kings county, Cal., 
southwest of Hanford, who has won prominence by his excellent stock and good 
business ability is G. W. Houston. Born near Bloomington, Monroe county, Ind., 
August 11, 1853, Mr. Houston passed his early life there, learning farming and 
studying in the public schools. He was married in 1877 and some time later went 
to Kansas, where he lived about three years, and in 1889 he came to California, 
locating in what is now Kings county. His first year here was spent in operating 
the George Camp ranch near Armona, and the following year he was on the Ernest 
Rollins ranch. His next venture was to lease two hundred and forty acres for 
five years, on which property he put in ten acres of vineyard and twelve acres 
of orchard. His first purchase of land was in 1904, when he bought eighty acres 
which he has developed into a fine ranch. When it came into his possession part 
of it was devoted to vineyard and some of the rest of it to orchard. He has put 
out eleven acres of it to vines and taken up the old orchard and has forty acres 
under alfalfa. All the improvements on the place are due to the enterprise of 
Mr. Houston, who has used the best judgment in the selection of trees and vines. 
Cattle, horses and hogs are among his chief products. They are of the best breed 
and bring the best prices in the market.
On December 26, 1877, Mr. Houston married Miss Minerva A. Morris, a native of 
Indiana, and a daughter  of Hiram and Rebecca Morris, and it was in the Hoosier 
state that their wedding was celebrated. Mrs. Houston has borne her husband four 
sons and two daughters, Ernest W. and Everett R., born in Indiana; Grace S. in 
Kansas; and Oscar C., Howard G. and Blanche in California.
Everett R. and Ernest W. are in the real estate business at Hanford. Grace S. is 
the wife of Claude C. Overstreet and lives in Lemoore. Oscar C. is a member of 
his parents' household. Howard G. is in the Coalinga oil field and Blanche is a 
student in the high school at Lemoore. While Mr. Houston is a lover of home and 
confines himself very closely to his own private business, he is intelligently 
interested in public questions and is glad, whenever possible, to do his utmost 
for the good of his community.
 
History of Tulare and Kings Counties, California with Biographical Sketches - 
Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company, 1913
pp. 719-720
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler