Posted on: House Biographies Reply Here: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/gc/FamilyAssoc/HouseBios/10 Surname: House, Smith, Boyer, Watson, Corey, Engles, Losee, Cooper ------------------------- This was included in: A Twentieth Century History of Allegan County; Dr. Henry Thomas; Allegan; The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago; 1907; PPS 411-412 Allegan CO, MI. REUBEN HOUSE is the owner of a good tract of land, embracing one hundred and twenty acres, situated on section eight, Gun Plains township. He is a native of New York, born November 28, 1831 on the banks of the St. Lawrence river in Theresa township, Jefferson county. His father, John House was likewise a native of the Empire state, where he was reared and married to Miss Catherine Boyer, who was born in Albany, New York. The father came with his family to Allegan county in 1850 and here spent his remaining days, passing away at the age of sixty-six years, while he was survived by his widow, who passed away about ten years ago, when she had reached the extreme old age of ninety-eight. Reuben House acquired his education in his native state, and was there reared to the age of nineteen years, when in 1850, he accompanied his parents on their removal to Allegan county, this state. He remained with his father for one year, and in 1851 started out in life on his own account, purchasing eighty acres of land, this constituting a part of his present place. He paid five dollars per acre for this property, which was then in a wild and uncultivated state. He broke the land, plowed the fields and planted his crops, which in due course of time brought forth abundant harvests. As his financial resources increased he added to his original holdings by the purchase of an additional forty-acre tract, making in all one hundred and twenty acres. In 1859, in company with his brother Charles and Everett Watson, he made an overland trip to the west, the party having three yoke of oxen and two cows. They were five months in making the journey to the Pacific coast where he remained for six and a half years, returning to his home farm in 1865. Upon going to the west Mr. House had a family consisting of wife and two children, whom he left on the home place, which was leased on the shares during his absence. Upon his return home he resumed his operations on the home farm, and in addition to raising various cereals, was also engaged in raising live stock, having only the best grades of animals. He is meeting with gratifying success in his farm labor, for he follows only the modern and practical ideas of agricultural pursuits, using the latest improved machinery to facilitate his work. Two years after his arrival in Michigan, in 1852, Mr. House was united in marriage to Mrs. Rebecca House, nee Smith, the widow of his brother Moses House. The only child of that marriage died at the age of three months. After losing his first wife Mr. House was married to Eleanor Corey, and their marriage was blessed with three children: Otis, who died at the age of nineteen years; Reuben Augustus, who was born January 15, 1859, and is now a resident farmer of the Yakima valley, in Washington, and Lena B., who was born December 12, 1866, and is now the wife of Elmer Engles, who resides in the northern peninsula of Michigan, twelve mils from Marquette. She has become the mother of ten children, of whom four sons and five daughters survive, the record being as follows: Otis, Willis, Clyde, Herman, a son who died at the age of three months; Ella, Ruby, Gertrude, Lila and Edna. After the death of his second wife, which occurred October 20, 1880, Mr. House was married a third time to Mrs. Laura Ann Losee, a native of Jefferson county, New York and a daughter of John M. Cooper, who passed away in Watertown, that state. Mr. House formerly gave his political support to the Republican party, but in more recent years has been Bryan Democrat. He has taken an active interest in the local ranks of his party, having served as justice of the peace for twelve years, and he was likewise commissioner of highways and school officer. He has been identified with the Masonic order for the past forty years, holding membership with Plainwell Lodge, NO 235. He also hold membership with the Patrons of Husbandry. When Mr. House located in Allegan county there were many evidences of pioneer life still to be seen. Few settlements had been made, the homes being widely scattered, while large herds of deer could be seen roaming over the prairies and one had ample opportunity to indulge his love of hunting. He has seen all the changed, however, as the country has become more thickly populated, thriving towns and village have sprung up and the work of advancement has been carried forward along many lines. He has lived in the county for more than half a century, so that he has a wide acquaintance and a host of warm friends.