The Houts Family

Early church records, dated 1652 in Hasslock, Germany, list the family of Lorentz Houtz. His son, John Wendel Houtz, had a son named Philip Lorentz Houtz who immigrated to Philadelphia in August, 1730. Later the Houtz family migrated to Ohio.

Daniel Houtz was born in Perry County, Ohio, April 25, 1832. He was united in marriage with Angeline Mason on June 25, 1854. They had 10 children. He passed away April 3, 1918, in Liberty Center and was buried in Mohler Cemetery.

Benjamine Franklin Houts, farmer, son of Angeline and Daniel Houtz, was born near Colton, Ohio, on September 7, 1858. He married February 27, 1890, to Anna Maria Bergstresser of near Colton, Ohio. To them were born three children, two girls and one boy named Charles William. The two girls died in infancy. Charles William was born October 10, 1899, in Washington Township. He was united in marriage to Leota Lucinda Gramling on February 2, 1918. She died August 11, 1947. He is a retired general farmer and raised dairy cows, chickens, and cabbage. He united in marriage to Lura Bisher (Barlow) on January 1, 1949. They belong to the Methodist Church in Liberty Center. He is a member of the IOOF (Independent Order Odd Fellows) from which he has received his Fifty Year Pin on September 28, 1972.

The following eight children were born to Charles and Leota: Mildred Herma, born August 29, 1918, at Washington Township. She is a graduate of Liberty Center High School, Class of 1936, and has been employed as LPN at Heller Memorial Hospital since March of 1952. She married James Gillespie on June 2, 1940. They have two children. Judith Kathleen, born April 16, 1942, married the late Ronald Moore of Bryan, Ohio. They had three children: Julie, born July 10, 1959; Jackie, born May 3, 1963; and James, born May 27, 1964. Suzanne Marie, born January 29, 1945, married Earl Richardson, Jr. on September 15, 1963. They are the parents of four children: Earl Chad, born March 28, 1964; Matthew, born September 7, 1966; Wendy Sue, born December 2, 1967; and Cory, born April 20, 1969.

[Photo, p. 261] The home of Benjamine Houts. Left to right: Charles, Anna Maria and Benjamine. This was the birthplace of Charles William Houts.

[Photo, p. 262] The Charles William Houts family. Left to right: Charles William, Leota, Bernard, Helen, Marie, Millie; front row: Arlene, Charles, Betty and Patsy; taken in 1939.

Anna Marie was born July 3, 1920. She was united in marriage with Leonard Yarnell. She has been an employee of A.R.A. Cafeteria at Campbell Soup Company for ten years. They are the parents of six children born to this union. Charles Fredrick, born September 29, 1939, married Jane Spiller on August 24, 1968. They are the parents of three children: James Edward, born June 21, 1970; Margaret Ann, born June 10, 1972; and Jeanette Marie, born February 3, 1975. Leonard John, born January 18, 1941, married Kasumi Takayasu of Japan on July 7, 1966. They are the parents of Charles Scott, born September 13, 1967, Paul David, born August 7, 1969, and Daniel William, born June 2, 1971. Beverly June, born June 15, 1942, married Jonathan E. Louden on September 8, 1964. They are the parents of Amy Orcelia, born March 3, 1967, William Eugene, born June 13, 1968, and Jennifer Jean, born September 16, 1969. Patricia Lee, born July 15, 1947, is unmarried and is a school teacher in the Michigan area. David Daniel, born November 10, 1951, married Rebecca Janney on September 9, 1972, and they have no children. William Herbert, born July 6, 1953, is unmarried and living at home and is a student at Toledo University.

Helen Ruth was born November 21, 1922, in Washington Township. She is a graduate of Liberty Center High School, Class of 1941, and married Robert U. Myers on June 18, 1944. There were three children born to this union. James Allan Myers, born June 17, 1945 at Miami, Florida, died in infancy. Gregory Kent Myers, who was born August 18, 1947, at Lansing, Michigan, was united in marriage to Linda Elizabeth MacPhee on March 28, 1970. They have no children. Michael David Myers, who was born on October 23, 1949, at Battle Creek, Michigan, was united in marriage with Katherine Owen House on April 12, 1975. They have no children.

Bernard R. was born May 22, 1924. He is a graduate of Liberty Center High School, Class of 1942. He is a grain farmer and raised chickens. He married Shirley Phillips on October 20, 1946. They had two daughters. Cathy Elaine, born December 24, 1947, married James Leatherman on January 13, 1968. They are the parents of three children: Jennifer Lynn, born January 1, 1969; Andrew James, born May 14, 1970; and Benjamine Lowell, born August 2, 1972. Joy Lynn, born April 20, 1952, is unmarried and is a graduate of Bowling Green University. Bernard and Shirley were divorced on August 31, 1967. He married Maude Parritt (Strock) on April 8, 1969, and she was an assistant cashier at the Community Bank in Napoleon, Ohio,from January, 1955, to March, 1972.

Arlene B. was born April 3, 1929. She is a graduate of Liberty Center High School, Class of 1947, and is an employee of Sears, Roebuck & Company, She married Robert S. Griteman on February 1, 1948. They are the parents of five children: Robert W., born January 30, 1950, living at home; James L., born June 12, 1952, living at Wauseon, Ohio; Bruce A., born May 5, 1954, attending Bowling Green University; John M., born December 24, 1959, who died June 20, 1969 of injuries from bicycle accident; and Karin L., born February 5, 1962, living at home.

Charles Junior was born March 31, 1931. He is a graduate of Liberty Center High School, Class of 1950, and has been a salaried employee of General Motors in Defiance, Ohio, since January, 1956. He married Annella Sturdavant on December 14, 1952. They have three sons: Steven Charles, born July 21, 1954; Jeffrey Lynn, born January 19, 1957; and Marc Alan, born June 14, 1959.

Betty June was born June 19, 1932. She is a graduate of Liberty Center High School, Class of 1950, and has been employed as a deputy clerk of common pleas court since August 1, 1968. She married Herbert C. Huddle on May 6, 1951. They have four children: Steven H., born February 3, 1953, is a student at Northwest Technical College and is living at home; Diann Sue, born February 1, 1954, married Max Mansfield on August 31, 1973, and graduated from Columbus Business University in 1973 and they live in Napoleon, Ohio; David Joseph, born April 8, 1960, is living at home; Jean Ann, born August 28, 1961, is also living at home.

Patsy Ann was born March 15, 1934. She is a graduate of Liberty Center High School, Class of 1952, and is an employee of Heller-Aller Company. She married Lee Allen Beck on January 16, 1954. They had four children: Lee Ann, born December 22, 1955, is a student at Findlay College; Sandra Lynn, born December 1, 1957, married William Kline, Jr., and they have one son - William Lee Kline, born August 19, 1974; James Ondo, born November 29, 1958, is living at home; Annette, born August 10, 1960, died at birth.

Submitted by The Family