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stumps had to be dynamited and grubbed from at the age of 86 about 1934 she was the last sur- Sam was an active member of Sherburne
<br /> the land before it could be used for planting viving charter member of the Union Church. Lodge No.95,A.F.&A.M.for 54 years;a mem-
<br /> crops. The dairy herd, horses, pigs, chickens, Although in old age her health confined her to ber of Whittemore Chapter,Order of the Eastern
<br /> ducks,and geese needed lots of hay and grains to her home at what later became the site of the Star, and the Elk River Commercial Club. He
<br /> feed them all. The men butchered hogs, veal First National Bank in Elk River,her mind was was also a director ofthe Twin City Milk Produc-
<br /> calves, or cattle as needed for the family table. keen and she recalled many interesting events of ers Association for 27 years and a vice-president
<br /> They also smoked their own hams, bacon, and early life in Elk River, of that organization for 14 years.
<br /> sausages in our smoke house. The women 'She and W.H. Houlton had three children, Always a quiet, studious man, Mr. Houlton
<br /> canned various meats,as well as vegetables and Sam R. Houlton, Lewis K. Houlton, and Ruth used many of his leisure hours for reading. He
<br /> fruits from a large garden and orchard.John,Jr., Houlton.The two sons and their father founded was also interested in keeping abreast of the lat-
<br /> and Andrew saw service in the United States Houlton's Bank in 1902,and it became the First est developments in agriculture, banking, and
<br /> Army during World War II,and Peter and Louis National Bank in 1907.Miss Ruth Houlton was other unrelated fields such as the then-young sci-
<br /> were home helping with the farm work, a graduate of the University of Minnesota ence of atomic energy.His wide-ranging general
<br /> Mother died in September of 1937 at the age of School of Nursing. She served with the Red knowledge and unassuming personality.made
<br /> 47;father died in December of 1956 at the age of Cross in Europe in World War I and later became him the real friend of hundreds of Elk River busi-
<br /> 76. Both are buried in St. Andrew's Cemetery the Executive Director of the Visiting Nurses nessmen and farmers as well as in banking and
<br /> near Elk River. Association of the United States located in New agricultural circles in other parts of Minnesota.
<br /> John,Jr.,was a carpenter and married Lil Lig- York City. Helen Wheaton earned a degree in education
<br /> man who had two sons,but they had no children Footnote: Freddie Houlton was the wife of and home economics at the University of Minne-
<br /> together.They lived in Elk River until she died in William H. Houlton, founder of the First sota after her graduation from Elk River High
<br /> June of 1960.Peter was single and stayed on the National Bank of Elk River. His story appears. School. She also attended St. Cloud Normal
<br /> farm,continuing as a dairy farmer.John moved elsewhere in this book under the history of the School to hone her teaching skills. Before her
<br /> back to the farm after Lil died and farmed with First National Bank. marriage to Sam Houlton in 1923 she taught ele-
<br /> Peter.They sold their dairy herd in 1975 but con- mentary school in Keewatin,Ely and Elk River,
<br /> tinued crop farming.Peter died in September of and home economics in Elk River and Kalama,
<br /> 1980 and John died in June of 1981. SAM AND HELEN WHEATON Washington. She was an active member of the
<br /> Andrew is an electrician and had Andy's Elec- HOULTON Union Church Centennial Society, Elk River
<br /> tric Shop in Elk River for many years.He mar- Community Club, and Whittemore Chapter,
<br /> ried Donna Braun of Monticello,and they have Sam R.Houlton was a banker in Elk River for Order of the Eastern Star.
<br /> two children:Carolyn and Donald. 57 years,and was also widely known as an agri- She died in 1983 at the age of 92 after living
<br /> Louis married Lois Weisz of Becker,and they culturist who once managed a 2,000 acre ranch, two years in the Elk River Nursing Home follow-
<br /> have one son David.After farming near Elk Riv- where he raised prize sheep and shorthorn cattle, ing hospitalization for a hip fracture.
<br /> er for several years, they sold that farm and and developed one of the nations outstanding Sam and Helen Houlton had two children;
<br /> bought one near Santiago, where he still farms registered milking shorthorn herds. Helen Irene and Kendall(Bud).
<br /> with his son.
<br /> Mary married Michael Hoffer,and they have a , THE I£ENNETH EARL AND NANCY
<br /> three sons:Mike,Jr.,John,and Richard,and are HUBBARD FAMILY
<br /> still crop farming in Meadowvale. f Kenneth Earl Hubbard was born at Becker.
<br /> The John Horvath farm was sold in 1984 to 4.
<br /> Weldon Schulze and Sons who have a large hog t � Minnesota,on January 30, 1939,the son of Earl
<br /> raising M. and Lucille Guentzel Hubbard. His grand•
<br /> operation there.Mary E.Ho
<br /> "', 'r, parents were Joseph and Mary Etta Benson Hub-
<br /> a. bard of Tuttle, North Dakota and August and
<br /> [•'. Lillian Polesacker Guentzel. He was baptized
<br /> FREDDIE LEWIS HOULTON May 20, 1948 by Father T.S.Ziolho kski at the
<br /> Becker Immaculate Conception Catholie
<br /> Coming to Minnesota from New York at the Church.Ken had eight brothers and sisters:Lav
<br /> age of 11 was quite an experience for Freddie ern,Shirley,Lois,LaRayne,Dale,Coleen,Carol,
<br /> Lewis.Nearly 80 years later she still recalled the and Sharon. He attended school in Becker
<br /> 1859 trip she made with her parents by train to farmed with his father just west of Becker,ther
<br /> LaCrosse, Wisconsin and then to St. Paul by farmed alone on the place for nineteen years.Ir
<br /> boat.She remembered that it was late in the fall 1977 he sold the farm to Northern States Powei
<br /> and that her father was afraid the river would Sam and Helen Houlton and moved his family to a farm northeast o:
<br /> freeze over before they reached St.Paul. Milaca.There he farms the land and has a largf
<br /> His wife,Helen Wheaton Houlton,pursued an herd of Holsteins.Ken is civic-minded and take:
<br /> elementary and secondary school teaching an interest in the affairs of the towns, enjoy:
<br /> career before her marriage and was active in the bowling and snowmobiling,is a good mechanic
<br /> Elk River community as she devoted her life to and at one time rode his horses in both local ane
<br /> her home and family. state events in which he won many trophies an(
<br /> A" Both grew up in the Elk River community and
<br /> both graduated from Elk River High School and 1 4! i
<br /> the University of Minnesota.
<br /> Born in Elk River January 5, 1878,Sam was
<br /> u the son of the prominent Elk River landowner, ;i
<br /> developer and businessman W.H.Houlton and =ii
<br /> Freddie Lewis Houlton. After graduating from 1 ,
<br /> Elk River High School with honors in 1896 he
<br /> became an honor graduate of the University of
<br /> Minnesota School of Agriculture, where he
<br /> received his B.A. degree in 1901 and his B.S.
<br /> degree in1902.
<br /> a For the next 20 years he managed the"Houl-
<br /> ton Ranch",owned by the Houlton Investment I
<br /> Company he and his father and brother had orga-
<br /> nized after his graduation from college.Later he 3
<br /> turned his attention to his own farm within the
<br /> Elk River village limits and furthered the devel-
<br /> opment of the shorthorn herd until a dispersal
<br /> sale was held in the mid-1940s.
<br /> Later the farm was operated on shares with
<br /> Walter Abraham but Mr.Houlton took an active
<br /> Freddie Lewis Houlton part in management of the farm until his death in
<br /> 1959. �
<br /> But they did arrive not only in St.Paul but set- While pursuing his agricultural interests,Mr.
<br /> tled at Monticello and 11 years later,Freddie Houlton was also director of the First National
<br /> became the wife of Elk River pioneer landowner Bank in Elk River,which he and his brother and ;
<br /> and businessman,William H.Houlton, father had founded in 1902 and named"Houl-
<br /> Mrs.Houlton was prominent in.the social cir- ton's Bank."He served as a vice-president from 1
<br /> cles of the early day Elk River and took a great 1926 to 1950,and was president for the remain- Ken and NancyHubbard—Married June 14,1958.
<br /> interest in church work.At the time of her death der:of his life.
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