El Dorado County
Biographies
JOHN L. HOUX
Is a native of Missouri, where he was born on the 20th of February, 1849, is a son of Leonard and Sarah L. (Tebbs) Houx. In 1852 his parents crossed the plains to California and settled near Black’s station in Yolo county, where John L. lived until 1877, when he came to El Dorado county and purchased his present home, known as the Bugby farm, located on the stage road leading from Sacramento and Folsom to Placerville. The farm comprises 220 acres. On the place is one of the oldest vineyards in the county of about 20,000 vines. He was married March 25th, 1875, to Miss Mary Viola Gray, a daughter of Allen T. Gray, the pioneer settler of Gray’s Flat. They have two children, Ensley L., born November 26th, 1876, on the homestead, Gray’s Flat, and Eliza j., born July 2d, 1880, on their present home. Mr. Houx is part owner in the recently discovered quartz mines known as the Houx mine and Sailor Jack, and also interested with his brother in an extensive drug store in Folsom. From 1874 to 1882, in company with two other brothers carried on a wheat ranch of about 6,000 acres in Colusa county. There is a family of nine children, brothers and sisters of Mr. Houx’s. They are a family of successful business habits and none of them more so than the subject of our sketch.
Historical Souvenir of El Dorado County, California with Illustrations & Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men & Pioneers - Oakland, Cal. - Paolo Sioli, Publisher, 1883. p - 248
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
JOSEPH IRISH
Is a son of Freeman and Almeda (Rowe) Irish, of Oxford county, Maine, where he was born on October 6, 1832. He worked on a farm till 21 years of age, then went to learn the shoemaker’s trade. He worked at his trade in the town of Randolph, Massachusetts, until 1853 when he emigrated to California and located on Dry creek, below Placerville. In 1864 he removed to Bear creek and engaged in operating a saw mill, now owned by Reuben Demuth. In 1876 he moved to his present home of 240 acres, on which he grows all kinds of fruits and does a general farming business. He was married in 1856 to Mary Russell, a native of Boston, Massachusetts. They have a family of four daughters and two sons, viz.: Charles F., Mary E., Franklin H., Rosa A., Ella M., and Alice J. Mr. Irish is a member of the I.O.O.F., and Ancient Order of United Workmen at Georgetown.
Historical Souvenir of El Dorado County, California with Illustrations & Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men & Pioneers - Oakland, Cal. - Paolo Sioli, Publisher, 1883. p - 249
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler