Biography for Joseph X. Durliat

Joseph X. Durliat was born near Niagara Falls, on the Canada side, May 28, 1858, and is of French lineage. The founder of the family in America was Xavier Durliat, a native of Alsace, France, who with his family crossed the Atlantic to Canada, where he and his wife spent their remaining days. The father of our subject, Joseph Durliat, Sr., was born in Alsace, in 1830, and when fifteen years of age came with his parents to America. He was married in Canada to Magdalena Trendall, who was born in that country in 1837, and there he followed farming for many years. In 1865 he brought his family to Ohio, taking up his residence on a tract of wild land in Jackson township, Wood county, where he made his home until his death. In his business undertakings, principally sawmilling, he was quite successful, and accumulated 520 acres of valuable land. He passed away in 1889, but his widow is still living in Custar. The following named constituted their family----Joseph X.; Mary Ann, wife of Joseph Metzger, of Custar; Elizabeth, wife of Peter Louy, of Toledo, Ohio; Regina, wife of Henry Wentzink, of Henry county, Ohio; Frank X., of Custar; John M., a farmer, of Milton township; Henry, of Custar; Charles, who is living on the old homestead; and Martin and Louis, who are also residents of Custar.

Mr. Durliat, of this review, spent the first seven years of his life in his native land, and then came with his parents to Wood county. He acquired his education in Jackson township, and as soon as old enough to handle the plow his training at farm labor began. He also worked in his father's sawmill in Jackson township.

In 1880 Mr. Durliat was united in marriage in Custar with Miss Emma Metzger, who was born in Dunreath, Iowa, April 4, 1861. Their union has been blessed with seven children, namely: Joseph B., William H., Fred M., Magdalena J., Mary E., Lawrence M. and Agnes L. Mr. and Mrs. Durliat, after their marriage, lived for one year in Jackson township, and then located on their present farm, comprising seventy-six acres, which is a part of the estate left by his father. In 1881 he erected his present residence, and now his entire time and attention is devoted to his business interests, which he is capably and successfully managing. In politics he is a Democrat, and has served for two years as supervisor. He belongs to St. Louis Catholic Church of Custar, and takes quite an active interest in its work.

[Source: Page 927 of the Historical and Biographical Record of Wood County, Ohio; It's Past and Present. Published in 1897.]

Biography For Jacob F. Houser

The name of Jacob F. Houser is prominently connected with the industrial interests of Turner, where he has been the proprietor of a general mercantile store since the 11th of September, 1899, and also with its public life, for since 1904 he has served the town as its postmaster. He has been identified with the interests of Turner since marrying and starting in life for himself, and the first seventeen years of his business career was spent in the employ of the Ehrlick Coal Company.

Mr. Houser was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, January 1, 1850, a son of George and Mary (Whitmyer) Houser. The mother was born and reared in Ohio, and was of Pennsylvania Dutch parentage. The father was born in Germany October 26, 1818, and was but fourteen years of age when he came to the United States and located in Ohio, where he was married and remained until 1854, in that year coming to Indiana and locating in Owen county. In 1858 he moved to Clay county and became the owner of a farm near Bowling Green in Washington township. On the 2d of August, 1862, he enlisted in the Eighty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Company I, and served for one year in the Civil war, He was wounded in action which terminated his service, and he returned to his home and family in Clay county. He voted with the Democracy before the war, and afterward was a Republican. His death occurred at the age of fifty-six years and six months. Mr. and Mrs. Houser had ten children, four sons and six daughters, and eight of the number grew to years of maturity, and four are now living. All but two of the number were educated in the schools of Clay county.

Jacob F. Houser, the third child and second son, attended the district schools of Washington township, and on the 22d of July, 1879, in Sugar Ridge township, he was married to Anna M. Tribble, who was born near Bowling Green in Clay county, and was reared and educated in Sugar Ridge township and at Staunton, a daughter of William and Charlotte (Sparks) Tribble, prominent early settlers of Washington township. Ten children have also been born of this union, William Frederick, Callie M., Walter, Ross W., Ethel, Ira Lee, Harry, Clarence, Georgia and Inez, all of whom were born and reared in Posey township, but five of the number, Walter, Ross W., Ethel, Harry and Inez, are deceased. Mr. Houser votes with the Prohibition party, and fraternally is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Red Men.  He is also a member of the United Brethren Church.

[Source: History of Clay Co., Indiana, Vol. II, author: William Travis, publ. 1909]