California Biographies Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from its earliest settlement to the present time. Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905 Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176 THOMAS HOUSE. An old-time agriculturist of large experience, and a successful stock- raiser of early days, Thomas House, now living with his daughter and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. John Fox, near Dinuba, is numbered among the venerable residents of that community, and by its people is held in that reverence and respect tacitly accorded to those whose lives have been distinguished by integrity and usefulness. A man of strong personality, upright and strictly honest in all of his dealings, he is a worthy representative of the pioneer element which laid the foundations for the present and future prosperity of our great and undivided country, rendering it one of the recognized powers of the world. Born and bred in Illinois, through the days of his boyhood and youth he suffered all the privations and hardships of life in a new and uncivilized country. Migrating to Missouri, then the extreme western frontier, in November, 1839, he rendered efficient service in transforming the primeval forest into tillable land, while during the Civil war he served with distinction, offering his life if need be for his country. During the quarter of a century that he has resided in California he has been an important factor in advancing its farming interests, and in the march of progress, wherever he has lived has kept in the front rank. No more pleasant hour can be passed than in lis- tening to the reminiscences of Mr. House, who has witnessed the wonderful changes that in the last half century have been wrought in all lines of industry and science, bringing the At- lantic and Pacific shores into close contact, and placing both in touch with all parts of the earth. Within his remembrance the rude trails and foot-paths have developed into broad, well-trav- eled thoroughfares; dense forests and waste prairies and deserts have blossomed into large, well-tilled fields of hay and grain ; modern machinery has replaced the rude implements for- merly used on the farm and in the house, the combined harvester taking the place of the sickle and cradle, and the immense cotton and woolen factories rendering useless the old spinning wheel and hand loom. From the home-made candle dip to the evolution of the electric light plant has been but a few short steps, while our superior system of railway communication, our telegraph, telephone and postal facilities have added an important impetus to the growth, pop- ulation, wealth and intelligence of the country, and given us close connection with the entire nation. Of pioneer ancestry, Mr. House was born, February 2, 1823, in Edgar county, Ill., a son of John House. His grandfather, John Joseph Anderson House, a Virginian by birth, served in the Revolutionary war, after which he settled in Ohio, where he cleared and improved a farm, on which he resided until his death. Born on the Ohio homestead, John House spent his earlier years in his native state. In 1819 he removed to Edgar county, Ill., locating eight miles from Paris. Engaging in river pur- suits, he did a good deal of trading in New Orleans, taking produce down the Mississippi in flat boats. On one occasion the children remember that he brought back calico enough to make his wife a dress, paying six bits, or seventy-five cents, per yard for it, that being the first piece of calico the family had ever seen. On one of his trips, he died of cholera in New Orleans. He married Margaret Foster, who was born in Kentucky, a daughter of Thomas Foster. Mr. Fos- ter was born of Scotch-Irish ancestors, in Pennsylvania. He settled first in Kentucky, from there removing, in 1819, to Edgar county, Ill., becoming a pioneer farmer of that place. He served in the war of 1812. In 1836 he migrated with his family to Missouri, and there spent his remaining years. His wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Harbaugh, was of German de- scent. After Mr. Foster's death, Mrs. Foster returned to Illinois, where she subsequently passed the remainder of her life. Mrs. House survived her husband, and married in due course of time Thomas Martin, of Indiana, with whom, in 1839, she removed to Missouri, where both resided until their deaths, hers occurring when she was seventy-eight years of age. Eight chil- dren, all boys, blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. John House, and of them we make the following mention : Thomas, the subject of this sketch ; Joseph Anderson, a soldier in the Mexican war, died in Gilroy, Cal. ; Samuel, who lost his health while in the Mexican war, died soon after its close in Edgar county, Ill. ; Ezekiel is a farmer near Gilroy, Cal. ; John, who served in a Mis- souri regiment in the Union Army during the Civil war, died in Texas ; Francis Marion, now operating a small ranch near Traver, Cal., rendered the Union brave service during the Civil war as a member of the Twelfth Missouri Cavalry, in which he enlisted in spite of a lameness caused by hip disease that was brought on from abuse by the people to whom he was bound out after his father's death ; Emanuel died near Gilroy, Cal. ; and Arthur died in Ray county, Mo., in 1866. Arthur, the youngest son, served in the Union Army during the Civil war, belonging to the Eighth Kansas Volunteer Infantry. On one occasion, while he and a comrade, George Metcalf, were home on a furlough, the rebels hounded them, and finally sent for them to come out of the house. The two brave boys came out back to back, and as soon as they appeared the rebels began firing, Metcalf returning the first shot. The horses becoming frightened, turned about, thus giving Arthur House an opportunity to take better aim at his assailant, whom he killed. George Metcalf put nine buckshot into one of the rebel's shoulders. The boys fought their way through the rebel line, and in their stocking feet, reached a camp of state militia. Soon afterward the militia was attacked by Bill Anderson and his followers near Richmond, Mo., and these boys were in the thickest of the fight. Arthur was lying upon the ground when he saw Bill Anderson aim at Metcalf. Seizing his musket, Arthur House fired, and Bill Anderson, who at the time had the scalps of seventeen white men on his bridle, fell from his horse dead. Arthur never told this tale until lying on his death-bed, fearing that his mother and sister might be made to suffer for the act. When a boy Thomas House obtained his first knowledge of the three "R's" in the rude log schoolhouse, with its dirt floor and slab benches, but acquired the greater part of his education after his marriage by reading. In November, 1839, he went with the family to Ray county, Mo., moving across the country with teams. He subsequently worked for two years at the blacksmith's trade, after which he located in Carroll county, near Norborne, where he car- ried on farming for many years. Possessing great physical strength and endurance, Mr. House did many a hard day's work. On the day that Lincoln was inaugurated he broke four hundred pounds of hemp, which was four times the amount expected of a slave, and he at one time mauled and split four hundred and thirty-five ten-foot rails in one day. In those pioneer times produce of all kinds was very cheap. In 1842 and 1843 bacon was hauled to the Mis- souri river and sold for one and one-fourth cents per pound ; it took six bushels of corn to buy a yard of calico; forty bushels of wheat to purchase a pair of boots; while sheep sold for $1.50 a dozen. Each merchant in those days had a list of all the banks, and the value of wild cat money was kept. This bank list was reviewed from time to time, and was called a de- tective. At one time Mr. House received several months pay for labor, but before he could get to town to purchase the clothes, boots and provisions that he really required the money was worthless, the bank which issued it having become defunct. An outspoken Union man, Mr. House enlisted at Chillicothe, Mo., July 17,1861, in Company D of the famous Merrill's Horse. Later on January 8, 1864, he re-enlisted as a veteran at Brownville, in the same company and regiment. He took part in many different battles and skir- mishes, and followed the bushwhackers through Missouri and Arkansas. He was in the battle at Little Rock, and at Mer de Changnes when Marmaduke and Cabell were captured. Gen. John McNeil had given the command to "trot, gallop, gallop like hell." Besides capturing Generals Marmaduke and Cabell they took nine cannons and twenty-two hundred prisoners. Mr. House served until the close of the war, when he was discharged as sergeant of his com- pany. Prior to the breaking out of hostilities he had two hundred acres of land, and at the end he had but eighty acres, and was in debt for that. He suffered a good deal during the war from the southern sympathizers. At one time the rebels threatened to burn out his fam- ily, but Mr. House sent word in a letter to them through his family physician, who was a rebel, that if such a thing was attempted he would sweep the valley, leaving not one of their houses standing, as he had Colonel Merrill's permission to pick out fifteen men to help him do it. The rebels knowing full well that Thomas House would do as he promised left him and his family unmolested. Leaving Missouri in 1881 Mr. House came .to California, locating in Hanford, on April 1. Subsequently buying land on the San Joaquin river, in Fresno county, two and one-half miles south of the San Joaquin power house, he improved a fine ranch, which is well located, being two thousand, five hundred feet above the sea. Since 1902 Mr. House has rented this ranch, and has made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Fox. Mr. House married first, in Norborne, Mo., Hannah Coleman, who was born in Ray county, Mo., and died in Carroll county, Mo. She bore him four children, one of whom is living, Jo- seph A. House. September 12, 1854, in Ray county, Mo., he married for his second wife Sarah Ann Clark, a daughter of John Clark, who was born in Pennsylvania, and died in Mis- souri. She died on the home ranch, in Tulare county, Cal., in September, 1891, aged fifty- eight years. By this marriage Mr. House has five children, of whom we mention the following : Georgia A. married, April 17, 1873, John Fox, who was born near Norborne, Mo., a son of John and Elizabeth (Tiner) Fox, and is now employed in agricultural pursuits in Tulare county, his ranch of one hundred and thirty-four and one-half acres lying four miles south- west of Dinuba; Mrs. Mary Beaty, lives near Sanger, Cal. : Mrs. Fannie Caeser, lives near Reedley; Mrs. Emeline Root is a resident of Sanger; and Mrs. Caroline Dailey resides in Coalinga, Cal. A man of true Christian piety and devotion, Mr. House united with the Meth- odist Episcopal Church in January, 1844, and has since been a consistent member, as was his wife during her life. He was a charter member of McPherson Post, G. A. R., and now be- longs to the Dick Yates Post, G. A. R. Politically he was a Whig until the formation of the Republican party, and has since been one of its most zealous supporters. He has cast his vote for the presidential candidates in the order named, voting first for Clay, then Taylor, Scott, Fremont, Lincoln, Lincoln, Grant, Grant, Hayes, Garfield and Arthur, Blaine, Harrison, Harrison, McKinley, McKinley and Roosevelt, and lastly for Roosevelt.