The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-11-24
JOHN IRVING HOUSEAL.
Dies In Memphis, Tenn.-Native of
Newbrery-Brother of DR.. W.
G. Houseal.

y couple weeks ago 1T. w. VI.
Houseal received message that his
brother, Mr.. Jno. I. Houseal, was crit
ically i'll. He went to see him and
had the pleasure of seeing him and
talking with him once more. His Sis
ter Mrs. Matte '. Werts, Of Sails
bury. n. c.. went with him. On
Thursday DR.. Houseal received the
news Of the death of his brother. An
other brother, Mr.. W. P. Houseal. left
last week for Memphis, but his brot'.
er died before his arrival.
John Irving Houseal died in Mem
phis. Tenn, November Is, 1908, and
was buried in that city November 20,
1908.
He was born near Beth Eden church
Newberry county, S. c., January 26,
1916. w. ". Houseal moved with his
family to the town of Newberry IN
1853 and his son, John l., was citi-
zen of the town from that time until
1875 when he went west to better his
fortunes.
His education was received at New
berry college but before completing
his course he answered the call Of his
country to battle for her rights and
in 1861, he enlisted In Company F,
10th South Carolina Regulars, under
Capt. Jno. NJ. Kinard Of the Confed-
crate army. With this company he
fought at Fort Sumter and was at
the seige of Charleston in 1861. He
was put on guard duty at the surren-
der Of Fort Sumter. He served in
Gen. Lees army in the campaign Of
1864 at Richmond, Va, at the bat
tie Of the Wilderness, at the second
battle Of Cold Harbor and at the seige
Of Petersburgh. He was then trans
ferred to Gen Early's command and
fought Sheridan at Cedar Creek, Va.
He was then transferred back to
Richmond and finally to South Caro-
lima and met Sherman in his march
through Georgia. He surrendered
with his company at Salisbury, N. c.,
in 1865. His career as a soldier was
remarkable in that he was never
wounded nor was it ever necessary
for him to enter hospital.
Most Of his life was devoted to
railroad work. He served his time
and learned the machinist's trade at
The old Helena shops Of the c. & G:
R. R. and was afterwards an en-
ployee Of that road. For time he
retired from railroading and entered
the employ of a mercantile house Of
and at one time was a mem
Der of the firm of Houseal & Jones'
(Jno. I. and Z. c. Later he was
clerk in the sheriff's office and for
several years was chief of police Of
During the dark days Of reconstruct
ton he answered every call Of duty
that was made upon him and his was
:; strong arm Of defense and protec-
ton. He was arrested and incarcerat-
ed in the Newberry Jail IS member
of the Ku Klux Klan, but was releas-
ed without ever having been brought
to trial.
In 1875 he left Newberry and went
West to reenter railroad work after
an absence of seven years from that
occupation. and was cor tinuous1y 50
until last August when he
was granted leave Of absence on ac-
count Of failing health-a period OF
thirty-three years. During that time
he was engineer on the Ala. & Vicks.
burgh R. R., the E. T. & G.. r. R., and
the Yazoo and Miss Valley R. R.,
which was absorbed by the III. Cen. IN
1898. Since the latter year he was III
the employ Of the I'll. Cen. R. R. Co.
He was also foreman of the railroad
shops at Memphis for five and one
half years. During his whole career
Of railroad work he was only in one
wreck being slightly burned. He nev-
er had collision and no railroad pro-
perty under his care was ever dam
aged. He was popular foreman OF
R. R. shops and passenger engineer
and highly esteemed by his employers.
He was married to Miss Augusta &.
Addy of Newberry, S. c., March 23'
1871. and is survived bv her and four