Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-03-04
Special to The Telegraph


Penbrook. Pa, March 4. Shortly
before Z O'Clock last night the Rev.
Orville L. Houston, pastor of the
Church of God, and one of the most
prominent ministers of that denomi-
nation in this State, died at his home
at ~ South Twenty-ninth street. He
had fingered for more than twenty
four hours in an unconscious condi-
ton and when the end came he was
unable to recognize his wife and chill
dren who had gathered at his bedside.
Death was caused by Brights dis
ease, but was principally due to a
nervous breakdown caused by study
and overwork in the church which he
had founded here seven years ago. He
was 90 years old.
Last September the Rev. Mr.. Hous-
ton was seriously i'll, but recovered.
After this he was given a two months
leave OF absence and went to North
Carolina, but returned here in practi-
cally the same condition. He took up
his work again and otficiated in the
church until one month ago, when
he became too i'll to continue.
He was prominent member of the
Masons of Mt. Joy and was a member
of the Odd Fellows lodge at Colds
boro. Members of the Masonic order
Will have charge of the funeral ser
vices at the grave.
The Rev. Mr.. Houston was born
near New Kingston. Cumberland coun-
ty October 26, 1858. When he was
eight years of age his father died. He
attended the country schools in Win
ter and in the summer months helped
farmers. He learned blacksmithing
and until the age of "a years followed
this trade. In 1888 he was licensed to
t1N,. Dc, IN
dership at Altoona. His first charge
was at Fayetteville, where he re-
mained for one year He next went
to Duncannon, for three years, then
TO Goldsboro for four years, to Lis
burn for four more years, and after
this to Elizabethville for four more
years.
Sixteen years ago he Went to Mart
insburg, Blair county, where he served
for five years. AT the end of this time
he was assigned to the Penbrook dis
trict, preaching in the Pleasant View
and Progress Churches of God. After
four years he organized, and later
built the present church at u cost of
more than $4,000. Starting with a
membership of less than twenty-five
the church now has a church mem
bershlp of more than one hundred and
fifty and Sunday school enrolment
of more than 500. The Rev. .lr. Hous-
ton celebrated his eleventh anniversary
as pastor here last November.
Thirty-five years ago he married
Miss Carrie E. Mutch, of New Kings
ton. His wife and the follo--ing chill
dren survive: Charles o., Mrs. C. G..
Miller, Mrs. j. A. Miller, Miss Ruth
w., Miss Caroline, and four grand
children, all of this town; and the fol-
lowing brothers and sisters: John
Rupp, of Aurora, Nebraska; a sister in
Shiremanstown, one in Williamsport,
one brother and sister in Rocky Noun
tain, North Carolina, and q brother in
st. Petersburg, Florida.
The funeral services will be held
Monday afternoon at l o'clock from
his home. At 1.30 o'clock additional
services will be held at the church.
The services will be in charge of the
Rev. c. H. Grove, pastor of the Green
Street Church of God, Harrisburg, as
sisted by the following pastors: The
Rev. j. c. Forncrook, Maclay Street
Church of God, Harrisburg; the Rev.
George w. Harper, Pleasant View
Church of God, and the Rev. H. S.
Bickle, secretary of the Pottsville p.
+. r. Y. NJ. c. A.
Pallbearers will be six Church of
God ministers, all former friends of
the dead man. They are: The Rev.
Is. n. Good, New Cumberland; the
Rev. J. c. Hickes, Lisburn; the Rev.
j. \. Staub, Penbrook; the Rev. Harry
f. Hoover. Middletown; the Rev. w.
H. Snyder, of York, and the Rev. G..
w. Hoverter, of Elizabethtown. Bur-
ial will be made in the Camp Hill