My Genealogy Hound

FRANKLIN J. HOUGHTON is a prominent advocate of the third party movement, who believes that practical temperance can soonest and best be realized by statutory enactments prohibiting the manufacture, sale or use of intoxicants, and whose definition of temperance is moderation in things useful; total abstinence of things harmful. He is a son of Thomas B. and Elizabeth (Lamphere) Houghton, and was born May 14, 1846, in Constableville, Lewis county, New York. His grandfather was Richardson Houghton, a native of Massachusetts, from whence he came to Lewis county and engaged in farming. He aided the Whig party and married Sarah Bennett, the daughter of a prominent Revolutionary officer. They had four sons and two daughters. Thomas B. Houghton was born in Saratoga county, this State, in 1822. From there he emigrated to Lewis county about 1840. He married Elizabeth Lamphere about the same time, and became the father of two sons and five daughters. He was a strong Union man; no sentiment for State rights found sympathy from him, and when the flag on Fort Sumter was desecrated by rebel shot and shell, he responded to President Lincoln’s call for three hundred thousand men. He entered Co. H, 140th regiment, N. Y. Vol. Inf., and served three months, when he died of fever, November 17, 1862. Thomas B. Houghton was a painter by trade, but enlisted as a farmer as he had been paying more attention to the latter for some years prior to entering the service. Politically he favored the young Republican party. Mrs. Houghton is still living at South Ripley, being sixty-seven years of age. Of the sons, Henry R., entered the regular army after the close of the war, and was discharged in 1872.

Franklin J. Houghton was educated in the public schools. At the age of eleven years he left home and began boating. In 1864 he joined Co. D, 89th regiment, N. Y. Vol. Inf., and served until sickness compelled his discharge. Upon leaving the service and recovering his health he worked at day laboring until 1867. One year later he came to Chautauqua county and located in South Ripley, where he still lives upon a farm containing fifty-five acres of fine land. Mr. Houghton is a prohibitionist, having changed from the Democratic party some years ago. He has served as justice of the peace for four years, and was postmaster at South Ripley for two years.

On September 9, 1869, he married Harriet E. Chace, daughter of James Chace, of Mina, and their union has resulted in the birth of two daughters: Gertrude, who married Fred Rundell, of Mina, and has one child, Harriet; and Fannie E., now attending school.

F. J. Houghton is a gentleman who makes many friends and possesses characteristics that retains them.