Surnames: HOUGHTON WILCOX

----Source: HUMBIRD ENTERPRISE (Humbird, Clark County, Wis.) 12/18/1909

Houghton, Jeffers (21 OCT 1828 - 12 Dec 1909)

Mr. Jeffers Houghton, the last surviving member of the original family of Houghtons who settled in Houghtonburg in 1856, died at a hospital in Minneapolis last Sunday at the age of 81 years. Mr. Houghton had enjoyed comparatively good health until about three years ago. In an effort to relieve his sufferings he was operated on a short time ago and died in the hospital Dec. 12. The funeral was held at Merrillan Tuesday afternoon and the body was interred in the Houghtonburg Cemetery.

Mr. Houghton was born in Chenango Co., N.Y., Oct. 21, 1828. He was married there to Miss Sarah Wilcox, and then migrated to Illinois and later into the new state of Wisconsin. To them were born four children, one son Nathan, of Minot, N.D., surviving. One son was killed in the war and is buried in the south. Mrs. Houghton still survives, but has been in an enfeebled condition for many years.

In the early "70's Mr. Houghton disposed of his farm and went to Augusta to live. He left there after a ten years' residence, going into Minnesota to live. For some time past Mr. Houghton had made his home with Charles Hamlin in Montevideo.

Thus passes another one of the earliest settlers of this section. All of the old settlers remaining, those who knew him best, have naught but praise for his early life and character. 'Twas the sturdy pioneers such as he, that laid the foundation in hardship that their posterity might live in happiness and plenty.