Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-13
HOUCK DIES AFTER
SO YEARS SERVICE
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% 1EANS OENVlNE
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were made for the state government to
be represented at the obseques. Gov
ernor Broubaugh, who was a personal
friend of long standing, sent a message
to DR.. Houck's family and other de-
partment heads did the same.
Under the constitution the Governor
will name n successor to fill tho va
cancy created at the head of the de-
partment of internal affairs.
BY the death of DIR. Houck there will
be vacancy on the State Board Of
Pardons.
Born in 1885
DR.. Henry Houck, Secretary OF In
ternal Affairs for the State of Penn
sylvania, and one of the prominent and
influential citizens of Lebanon, was
born March 6, 1886, in Palmyra. Leb-
anon county, Pennsylvania son of
Samuel and Rosanna (Jontz) Houck.
The early education of Henry Houck
was that of most of the country boys
of the neighborhood, o few months
each year at the district school, later
he was sent to the Annville Academy,
and he also attended for a term the
Arcadian Institute at Orwigsburg. Not
satisfied with the work he had accom-
plished at these schools Mr.. HoucR,
who had an ambition for that knowl-
edge of the classics which always ac-
companies, If it cannot be said to be
the foundation of the highest culture,
took lessons privately in Greek and
Latin from tutors and prepared for
college.
self was teaching and his leisure was
V, began
when he was hardly more than boy,
being only sixteen at the time. But lie
had that magnetic gift of arousing in
terest and enthusiasm which Is so
large a part of the teachers equip
ment and from the outset his WORK
in that direction was highly success
ful. His interest in educational work
begun at that time continued ever
since, identified as he was with the
work of a lifetime in that field. He
was leading spirit in every movement
for educational improvement.
Being in great demand as a public
speaker he lectured in every city and
town in Pennsylvania and in many
other States. When DR.. NJ. G. Brum-
baugh, now Governor, was Commits
sioner of Education in Porto Rico, DR..
Houck assisted him in conducting a
series of educational meetings, which
were held in the principal cities and
towns on the island.
Appreciation was shown of his work
in the educational department of
Pennsylvania by the gift from the
teachers of a trip to foreign lands a
few years ago. The degree of Master
of Arts was conferred upon him by
Franklin and Marshall College. and
that of Doctor of Literature by Penn
sylvania College.
DR.. Houck married, April 10, 1856,
Susan Margaret, daughter of DR..
Christian Bucher. and they had seven
children, Harvey Bucher, Mary Valen-
tine, Rosa Jontz, Elizabeth Hester,
Paul Winters. Alfred Rhodes and
Susan Margaret Houck.
Death of Son a Blow
The death of AL. r. Houck, former
postmaster of Lebanon, Republican
leader of that county and Chief of the
Bureau of Industrial Statistics, Depart
ment of Labor and Industry, two
years ago, was blow from which
Uncle Henry" as the Secretary was
affectionately known to his more inti-
mate friends, never fully recovered.
He depended much upon Allie" as he
called him, and every day the two
rode to and from their Lebanon
homes together, the son seeing to it
that the father got safely to the station
and from the station to his home in
Lebanon. The aged Secretary's eyes
would fill with tears and he could
scarcely speak when conversation
some times led around to the death OF
the son.
Last Tuesday was Uncle Henry's'
81st birthday and when he arrived at
his office in the morning his desk and
the floor about was a bower of flowers
sent by friends both here and in many
other parts of the State. Uncle
Henry" was in happy mood. He
beemed upon those who called to pay
their respects and laughed and chatted
like a young man.
'I should think you would be very
happy man, with SO many good
friends" ventured one of his callers
Yes, yes" replied "Uncle Henry"
happy, indeed. If only Allie could
be here to see how his old father is
remembered by so many good people.
He would have been SO much pleased" /"
The final act of the Secretary in his
office before leaving for his homo for
the last time was to inscribe cards of
appreciation for those who had re-
membered him on his birthday.
1t is for his kindly disposition, his
never-failing optimism and his CHEEKY
outlook on life that DR.. Houck will
be remembered, as we'll as for the eX-
cellent work he did as deputy superin-
tendent in behalf of the school sys-
derful campaigner. His presence at
political meeting was a sure indi-
cation of a big crown. People went
miles upon miles for a chance to hear
him. He was a wonderfully magnetic
speaker and moved his audiences to
laughter or to tears at will His style
of public speaking was distinctly indi-
vidual. He violated every known rule
of oratory and succeeded where pol
ished speakers failed. He knew his
classics, but he knew people better.
To hear him speak was to love him.
once, in a hard campaign, he plead
ed age and asked to be excused from
one strenuous stumping trip. "If you
won't go for your own sake, go for
mine," begged q companion on the
ticket who knew his drawing power.
"If you go out and ask them to vote
for me and the other candidates they'll
do it," And SO Uncle Henry" went
for the sake of the other fellows and
won a lot of votes that otherwise
might have been lost. When an effort
was made to abolish the office of Sec
retary of Internal Affairs it is said
the personality of Uncle Henry" was
all that stood in the way. Nobody
wanted to dispossess him of his Of
flee, and so the plan fell through.
He was close friend of Governor
Brumbaugh and likewise of Senator
Penrose. He was a Republican but
no factionist and regarded the quar-
rel between the factions as a grievous