[p. 885] who has a highly improved farm of fifty-two acres in Wayne Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, has resided on his present farm all his life. His father had some 400 acres of land in the township, and Elisha was born in a little log cabin just above the present residence of William Houk, May 6, 1848. He is a son of Benjamin and Nancy (Hazen) Houk.
Benjamin Houk was born on the old homestead in Wayne Township, and there resided until his death. He was a large land owner, and one of the most substantial citizens of his time. He was buried at Harmony Baptist Church. His wife, in maiden life Nancy Hazen, also was born in Wayne, Township, and was a daughter of John and Rebecca Hazen, pioneers of the county. Benjamin and Nancy Houk were parents of fifteen children, namely: Matilda, deceased wife of Thomas Carter; Nancy (Lynn), deceased; Polly, who married Samuel Houk, both being now deceased; Rebecca, wife of William Lynn, resides in Wayne Township; Betsy, widow of Jonathan Wiley; Margaret, who married David Fry, both deceased; Joseph, deceased, who married Mary Ann Lutton; Philip, deceased, who married Elizabeth Houk; John, deceased, who married Elizabeth Newton; Gilbert, who died at the age of eighteen years; Franklin, a physician, who resides on the old Hazen farm in Shenango Township, married Sarah Newton, deceased; Elijah, married Lydia Houk, and both are deceased; Elisha; Albert, who resides near Harmony Church, in Shenango Township, first married Annie Wiley, and subsequently Mary Van Emon; and William, who resides on the old homestead in Wayne Township, married Melissa Lisnet.
Elisha Houk was reared on the home place and attended the schools of that district. He has always followed agricultural pursuits, in which direction he has attained a high degree of success. He has always lived on the farm he now owns, and in 1878 erected his present home and the substantial barn and other outbuildings. He is a man of advanced ideas, and stands high among his neighbors and fellow citizens.
In 1872 Elisha Houk was united in marriage with Asceneth Wiley, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Wiley, and they reared three children: Clarissa, who married Elmer Conner and resides in Ellwood City, had the following children: Ralph, Carl, (deceased), Gerald, Paul, Gladath and Raymond; Loren W., of Wilmerding, Allegheny, County, Pennsylvania, married Annie Porter and they have three children—Tina Marie, John and Lawrence; and Tina Luella, who married Howard Parker, died leaving two children—Harold and Kenneth. Mr. Houk was married a second time, in 1880, to Miss Elzeda Powell, who was reared in Perry Township, Lawrence County. Religiously they are members of the Harmony Baptist Church. In political affiliation Mr. Houk is a Democrat, and served his township two years as overseer of the poor.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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