My Genealogy Hound

DALBERT WALLACE HOUSTON. Margaret Huston, daughter of Samuel and Isabella (Sharon) Huston, who married John Huston and settled in Dickinson township, had eight children. The eldest of these eight children was a son named Jonathan. He was born and raised upon the farm, but became a carpenter and worked much at his calling, and it was while working at his trade that he was accidentally killed. In an unguarded moment he fell from a scaffold and received injuries from which he died. He was twice married. He first married Nancy Mickey and by her had one child, a daughter named Nancy. Nancy, daughter of Jonathan and Nancy (Mickey) Huston, first married George Logue, of Carlisle, who died a few years after their marriage. Afterward she married J. Quinn Thornton, a lawyer whom she met in Missouri while she was teaching school in that State. Mr. and Mrs. Thornton in 1846 crossed the Plains to Oregon and Mr. Thornton became a justice of the Supreme court of Oregon.

After the death of his first wife Jonathan Huston married a Miss Amy Spear, who bore him six children, viz.: Amanda, John Wilson, Isabella, Margaret Ann, Caroline and David. John Wilson, the second child, was born on Nov. 30, 1819, in Dickinson township. He married Sarah Wallace, a daughter of Thomas Wallace, of Newville, who was a native of Ireland, and had been an officer in the British army and resigned to come to America. Mr. and Mrs. John W. Houston began their married life at Palmstown, in West Pennsboro township, where they lived for sixteen years, engaged at carpentering. From Palmstown they in 1860 moved to Middle Spring, in the upper end of the county, where they farmed for a period of ten years. Mr. Houston died at Middle Spring, Oct. 25, 1868. His wife, Sarah (Wallace) Houston, died Dec. 17, 1893, at the age of seventy-six years, while on a visit to Nebraska. The remains of both are buried in the Old Graveyard at Carlisle. John W. and Sarah (Wallace) Houston had issue as follows: Dalbert Wallace, Emma Bell, Samuel Montgomery, Hugh McCune, Rebecca E., Caroline M. and Mary G.

Dalbert W. Houston, the oldest child of the family and the subject of this sketch, was born at Palmstown, on Jan. 22, 1844. He was reared upon the farm and educated in the country district schools and at the normal school at Newville. After the death of his father he for one year continued to do the farming, but after that gave his entire attention to his trade, carpentering and cabinetmaking. In 1872 he married Miss Agnes Means (A history of the Means family appears elsewhere in this work), Rev. Dr. George Norcross, pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of Carlisle, performing the ceremony. Agnes Means was a daughter of Joseph M. and Jane (Woods) Means, who were members of two old and substantial representative families of the upper end of Cumberland county, After their marriage Dalbert W. Houston and wife settled in Carlisle, where they have always since lived. Mr. Houston for ten years continuously worked in the sash and door factory of Messrs. Gardner & Co. Subsequently he worked for three years in the planing-mill of Vance & Co., and later formed a partnership with Daniel Rupp under the firm name of Houston & Rupp, at cabinet making, repairing and upholstering, at which he is engaged at this writing. Dalbert W. and Agnes (Means) Houston have two sons: Joseph Means, born Jan. 18, 1874; and John Wallace, born Aug. 12, 1876. Both were educated in the public schools of Carlisle, graduating from the Carlisle high school in the same class in 1891. After graduating from the high school Joseph M. entered the Pennsylvania University and on June 13, 1895, graduated from the dental department of that institution. With this preparation he began the practice of dentistry in his native town, where he now resides and is in the enjoyment of a good business. He married Lillian, daughter of George and Mary (Young) Fithian, of Carlisle, and they have two daughters: May Reside and Jane McElhenny. John W., the other son, after completing his high school course entered the National School of Pharmacy at Washington, D. C., and graduated from it May 7. 1897. On completing his pharmaceutical course he obtained a situation in the drug store of W. F. Thompson, of Washington City, where he continued for five years. In 1903 he purchased the drug store of John C. Groome, of Carlisle, and settled in the town of his birth. He pays strict attention to his business and his prospects are bright and encouraging. John W. Houston married Loula Mae, daughter of Thomas Morris, of Washington City, and to them have been born two children: Geraldine Agnes and Mary Genevieve.

As in the case of most family names the spelling of Houston varies. Some branches of the family spell it Huston and others Houston. Dalbert W. Houston and family adhere to the latter form, and have distinguished precedent for their preference. In the matter of religion Dalbert W. Houston and family are Presbyterians, which has been the faith of their ancestors in both paternal and maternal lines, from time immemorial.