Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1881-08-13
IN MEMORIAM.

IN MEMORIAM.
Perhaps no man dies whose death is
not regretted by some one. Some die
regretted by all who know them. and
when such persons leave the world they
deserve more than a brief mention. to
the end that their example may serve to
benefit mankind.
The death OF George Houx affords
such an example. No man has ever
died more regretted In the community
in which he lived, and but few have lived
in any community who so uniformly
adopted the rule Of acting toward
others as he would have them act to.
ward him.
Mr.. Houx was born near Lexington,
KY. March 8, 1897. His father moved
to Logan county, in the same state. at
what date is unknown to the writer.
| Matthias and Susan Houx, the parents
| OF deceased, came with their family to
| Missouri in 1917, reaching their destina-
ton. "Old Franklin" Howard county,
Missouri, November 5. of that year.
On the 18th day OF March, 1919, Mr..
| Houx was united in marriage to Miss
June Tooley. The following year he
made a profession of religion and united
with the Cumberland Presbyterian
church, and lived q lite consistent with
his profession to the day of his death.
His wife died July rs. 1888. leaving
two children, Oliver Houx, who is now
a merchant OF Marshall, Saline county,
and Lucinda, the wife OF Hezekiah
Warehouse, of MAYHEM, Lafayette
county. He was again married to Mrs.
Eliza A. Sloss nee McCutchen, February
l6. 1884. By the latter marriage there
are three children. The eldest Mary
A., the wife of William T. Meglasson,
of Bates county. Marlnda, the wife oil
G. E. Bellies, and Harriet, the wife OF
DR.. Robert W. Clarkson, all living In
the vicinity of Mayhem, Lafayette
county, Missouri.
Mr.. Houx made two trips to New
Orleans In fat.boats. The first'one in
1921. and the second trip In 1928. the
freight being composed entirely OF
bacon; the; enterprise in neither case
being very profitable. To assist him in
navigating bis craft, he procured a book
styled the navigator, published at Pitts
burg, Pennsylvania, in the year 1914.
The writer upon examination OF the
book, found it to coutain maps of the
Mississippi, Missouri and Ohio rivers, and
their navigable tributaries, describing the
islands, bars. and noted landmarks,
containing also q list of the towns and
landings then In existence. So thor
oughly observant and painstaking had
he been in the two trips he made, it is
said of him that he could describe by a
glance at the maps contained in his
book, the p~eculiarities of any island, bar,
&C., from Old Franklin on the Missouri
river, to the city of New Orleans. The
above characteristic was in perfect &C.
cordance with the man, he was critical
and painstaking in everything that en-
gagged his attention. The smallest de-
tails OF an enterprise or piece OF work
did not escape his observation. The
pleasant home that he made for him.
self and family zeal MAYHEM. will
attest the fact, being surrounded by al
most every convenience that could be
desired.
MI. Houx became a resident of La
tayette county in 1924. He first i'm.
proved the place now occupied by Mrs.
Duling. In 1880, he moved to Lexing-
ton, becoming one Of the trustees OF the
town. He assisted to laying off the first
and second additions to "Old Licking
TONI
In 1912 he commenced to improve
the place upon which he lived to the
day of his death.
Alter an acquaintance with the SUBJ
ject oil this obituary. of more than thirty
six years, it asked to name three dlstin-
gushing traits of the deceased, I would
name those OF industry, probity and
b%enevolence. Employment OF some
kind, seemed to be q necessity Of his
life. If it was to work on his farm it
vas we'll, If to visit the sick and relieve
the distressed, or to attend the religious
meetings OF his neighborhood, or the ju-
dicatories OF his church, it was all en-
p!oyment to him, and OF the kind that
was agreeable; so, that whatever his
hands or mind found to do, he did with
all his might. His probity was unques-
toned and unquestionable.
He vas benevolent and philanthropic
in the broad aud better sense OF those
terms. He did not wait until he was
about to die to bestow his benefactions
alter the manner of many pseudo bene-
factors OF mankind, who amass their
millions by means both tair and ioul,
and ut the approach OF death, bequeath
to institutions already rich what they
do not need. He chose rather to fol-
low tho illustrious example of his exalted
Master. by doing good every day to all
that were about him. Thera can be
found but few persons as clear of bigot.
ry aud intolerance, as was Geo. Houx.
While he was a man OF great decision OF
character, entertaining settled and de-
termined views upon religious topics,
and all OF the affairs Of life, with which
he had to deal, he nevertheless extend
ed the greatest limit of charity to others
in entertaining and exercising their own
pecuiiar tenets. religious and otherwise.
The subscription books of many of the
various denominations of christians IN
Lafayette and adjoining counties will
attest the fact. In the bestowal of his
money or property, there seemed to be
with him but " considerations. First,
is b person or enterprise an object of
b~enevoIence; and second, how much he
could afford to give to this particular
person or enterprise.
Mr.. Houx was not q rich man, but it
may be safely asserted that If a list oi
ali his benefactions could be summed
up they would be greater in the proper
ton to his means than those of any man
who has ever lived in Lafayette county.
While he was not a rich man, he was
not a poor one. If money getting had
been his chief object in lite, he could
have been wealthy, as he nat both the
tact and industry 10 have accumulated a
fortune.
l know of nothing that so fully exem-
pllies the character of the man and his
manner OF lite as the following quota.
ton from the bible: There is that
scattereth. and yet increaseth." He ap.
peared to be continually giving,
according to the evidence of those who
knew him fifty years or more OF his Life,
yet his ability and disposition to do So,
did not appear to have been diminished.
How wonderful Is all thisp Grand
old man! Unallured by the beck OF
ambition for worldly honors or wealth,
with ears ever open to the cries OF dis
tress. with means ready and hands
quick to distribute them; you could with
the feelings OF a christian philosopher
contemplate with equanimitY the sun
shine and storms OF earth. view with
more pity than blame the warning
passions of your fellow-men, counsel and