GEORGE O. HOUSER was
born July 16, 1860, in Petersville, Northampton County, where he
made his home until reaching his twelfth year. He is one of the
best known men of this section, is identified with the various
interests of the neighborhood, and for many years held the
responsible position of Justice of the Peace. He is at the
present time foreman in the foundry and machine shops of Davies &
Thomas.
Mathias Houser the
father of the subject of this sketch, was in early life a farmer,
and later became a tailor, following this trade the greater part
of his life, although at one time he was engaged in the butcher
business. He was prominent in the neighborhood of Petersville,
was Postmaster of that town, was a Democrat in politics, and was a
public-spirited and progressive man, who allowed no worthy
movement to fail through negligence on his part. He was born and
died in Northampton County. His widow, who is still living and
resides in this city, was prior to her marriage Miss Sarah Buss.
She was born in Upper Saucon Township, Lehigh County, where her
father, Mathias Buss, was a farmer.
George O. Houser is one
of seven children, of whom five are now living. When twelve years
old he came to this city, where he remained until 1875 and then
went to Weissport, Carbon County, and engaged to work in the
bottling works of H. G. Steitz. Three years later he returned to
this city, and in March of the following year found work in the
shops of Davies & Thomas as foreman of their shipping department.
He was later placed in the office of assistant bookkeeper, at
which he was employed for three years, when he was again placed in
the shipping rooms, where he is now foreman, having under his
charge twenty-five men.
In 1890 our subject was
engaged in the shoe business in East Catasauqua, which he
conducted four years under the firm name of George O. Houser &
Co. With his family he occupies a good residence on the corner of
Race and Elizabeth Streets. He was married in this city in 1882
to Miss Elmira E., daughter of Edward Kurtz, an old settler of
this city.
Mr. Houser is highly
regarded by all who know him, and in the year 1888 was elected
Justice of the Peace of Upper Hanover Township. He is a worthy
member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, and Superintendent of the
Sunday-school in this town. He took an active part in the
building of the chapel in 1889, being President and Secretary of
the building committee. In politics he upholds the principles of
the Democratic party, and he is a man of sterling integrity and
good business ability.