M Houck - An Early Cleveland History

Michael Houck

(aka Hauck)

June 29, 1839 – June 22, 1916

 

Michael Houck – born June 29, 1839 on Washington St. in the part of present day Cleveland directly west of the Cuyahoga River.  At the time, this part of Cleveland was called Ohio City.  He was one of nine boys (no girls in family).  They roamed the flats – Whiskey Island was their playground –

His father owned & operated a spoke factory (made spokes for wagon and carriage wheels).  He (Michael) attended the first West High School – a stone building on or near W28th St. & present day Clinton Ave.  His maternal grandfather, an Austrian by the name of Pfalsgrafs who had fought against the Prussians  and lived with M. Houck’s family.  It was probably his tales of soldiering that incited the Houck boys into joining the Union Army to fight in the Civil War.  All nine joined – then later his father was drafted.  However because he had those nine sons in service he was able to get out of serving. 

 

M Houck’s lost his left eye in service and for this reason received one of the best pensions given Civil War Veterans to the end of his life – June 22, 1916.   about the times of the beginning of hostilities in Europe of World War I.  the news of which greatly disturbed the old man. 

 

He enlisted in the 19^th Ohio Battery Light Artillery organized by prominent men of the area under the direct command of Capt. Joseph Shields.  At the close of the war after being mustered out, he returned to Cleveland and work in the spoke factory.  He married Fredericka Gehring the daughter of a well known west Cleveland family and made his home on Gehring Ave in Cleveland until bad health sent him to the country.  There on Lorain Rd in what used to be Rocky River but is now Fairview Park, he started a small fruit farm specializing in strawberries and red raspberries. Because of the quality of his berries his entire crop was contracted for each spring by Cleveland’s fancy grocery – the Chandler & Rudd Co. which is still in existence today.

 

The above was written by Jean Wallace Whipple – one of M. Houck’s grand children

 

Below was written by John G. Whipple, Jean’s youngest child

The material for this biography was supplied to me by my mother Jean Wallace Whipple who was one of Michael Houck’s four grandchildren.  My mother, her two sisters, and their brother lived on the farm with Michael & Fredricka Houck and their parents lived next door.  They were told many stories about the Civil War and the 19^th OVA.  They often attended Ohio G.A.R. Conventions and reunions of the 19^th O.L.A.  Their father Charles Wallace was the maître d' at White’s Two Minute villa restaurant.  Mr White was the chewing gum king at the time and his fascination with horses and a 2 minute mile; this led to the name of his restaurant.