John Howser ^{1 2 3}

   Another name for John was John Houser.^{4 5}

  General Notes:

"Genealogy of the Houser, Rhorer, Dillman, Hoover Families", W. W. Houser, 1910:

John Houser was born in Hardin County, Kentucky. In his early manhood, he was engaged in freighting on the Mississippi between northern river points and New Orleans. While so engaged, he had many strange experiences which it gave him much pleasure in after life to relate. Later he located in Logan County, Illinois, and was one of the pioneers of that country. He was engaged in farming for a number of years and later entered the mercantile business in Lincoln, Illinois. He was a prominent member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and was largely instrumental in building two church edifices and also the large denominational college which is still flourishing in Lincoln. To this school he gave a large sum of money at the time of its inception, and it was largely through his efforts and management that the institution was made possible. While living in Lincoln, he sank the first successful coal shaft in that region and thus was the pioneer in the development of one of the most important coal fields in Illinois. His declining years were spent with his daughter in Tecumseh County, Nebraska.
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  Birth Notes:

The book, "Genealogy of the Houser, Rhorer, Dillman, Hoover Families" by W. W. Houser, written in 1910 indicates that John Houser/Howser was born in Hardin County, Kentucky instead of Jessamine County.
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  Noted events in his life were:

1. Alt. Birth, 1806, Kentucky, United States. ⁵ This birth year was referenced by his age of 54 on the 1860 census.

2. Alt. Birth, 25 February 1808, Hardin, Kentucky, United States. ²

3. Alt. Birth, 1809, Kentucky, United States. ² This birth year was referenced by his age of 61 on the 1870 census.

4. 1850 US Census, 1 November 1850, Logan, Illinois, United States. ⁶ 1850 US Census
Page 224A, Dwelling 774, Family 783, Roll 116
, Logan County, Illinois
John Houser..34..KY..Farmer

(Living with 2nd wife and 5 children.)

NOTE - If his birth date was 25 Feb 1807, then his age should have been 43 instead of 34. Did the enumerator merely reverse the numbers?

5. 1860 US Census, 28 August 1860, Lincoln, Logan, Illinois, United States. ⁵ 1860 US Census
Page 344, Dwelling 2442, Family 2508, Roll 200
Lincoln, Logan County, Illinois
Jno Houser..54..KY..Merchant

(Living with wife and 4 children.)

NOTE - If his birth date was 25 Feb 1807, then his age should have been 53 instead of 54.

6. 1870 US Census, 6 August 1870, East Lincoln Township, Logan, Illinois, United States. ² 1870 US Census
Page 61 & 62, Dwelling 472, Family 479
East Lincoln Township, Logan County, Illinois
John Howser..61..KY..Coal Miner

(Living with wife and 2 daughters.)

NOTE - If his birth date was 25 Feb 1807, then his age should have been 63 instead of 61.

7. 1880 US Census, 4 June 1880, East Lincoln Township, Logan, Illinois, United States. ¹ 1880 US Census
Page 128B, District 42, Dwelling 134, Family 134, Roll 0227
East Lincoln Township, Logan County, Illinois
Kankakee Street
John Howser..Self..73..KY..Broker

(Living with wife, 2 daughters, and mother-in-law.)

8. Cemetery: Tecumseh Cemetery, After 8 March 1899, Tecumseh, Johnson, Nebraska, United States. ³ No visible gravestone
Plot: Block 54 Lot 2
Find A Grave Memorial 80070606

John married Sarah Houser, daughter of Jacob Houser and Mary Phillips, on 27 April 1833 in Spencer, Kentucky, United States. (Sarah Houser was born on 10 May 1809 in Jessamine, Kentucky, United States, died in June 1837 in Logan, Illinois, United States and was buried in June 1837 in Logan, Illinois, United States.)

  Marriage Notes:

Family Archive #229, Marriage Index: KY, NC, TN, VA, WV, 1728-1850, "CD-ROM," The marriage index shows the names spelled as "John Houser and Sarah Houser".
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Family Archive #002, Marriage Index: IL, IN, KY, OH, TN, 1720-1926, "CD- ROM," Their names are listed as "John Houser" and "Sarah Houser."
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John and Sarah were 1st cousins.
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John next married Elytha Jane Bryan, daughter of Bryan and Sidney, on 17 May 1838 in Tazewell, Illinois, United States.¹ (Elytha Jane Bryan was born in July 1819 in Shelbyville, Shelby, Kentucky, United States,^{1 5 7} died on 3 June 1902 in Tecumseh, Johnson, Nebraska, United States ⁷ and was buried after 3 June 1902 in Tecumseh, Johnson, Nebraska, United States ⁷.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

1. 1850 US Census, 1 November 1850, Logan, Illinois, United States. ⁶ 1850 US Census
Page 224A, Roll 116, Dwelling 774, Family 783
, Logan County, Illinois
John Houser..34..KY..Farmer
Lelitha F. Houser..35..KY
Richard Houser..17..KY
Manerva A. Houser..10..IL
William J. Houser..9..IL
Alfred Houser..6..IL
Martha E. Houser..1..IL

NOTE - Richard Houser was a son born to John's first wife, Sarah Houser.

2. 1860 US Census, 28 August 1860, Lincoln, Logan, Illinois, United States. ⁵ 1860 US Census
Page 344, Dwelling 2442, Family 2508, Roll 200
Lincoln, Logan County, Illinois
Jno Houser..54..KY..Merchant
Lethy Jane Houser..40..IL
M. Houser..19..IL..Male..(must be William)
Alfred Houser..15..IL
Martha Houser..9..IL
Sydney J. Houser..2..IL

3. 1870 US Census, 6 August 1870, East Lincoln Township, Logan, Illinois, United States. ² 1870 US Census
Page 61 & 62, Dwelling 472, Family 479
East Lincoln Township, Logan County, Illinois
John Howser..61..KY..Coal Miner
L. J. Howser..48..IL..Keeps House
Sidney Howser..12..IL
Addie Howser..6..IL

4. 1880 US Census, 4 June 1880, East Lincoln Township, Logan, Illinois, United States. ¹ 1880 US Census
Page 128B, District 42, Dwelling 134, Family 134, Roll 0227
East Lincoln Township, Logan County, Illinois
Kankakee Street
John Howser..Self..73..KY..Broker
Liza Howser..Wife..60..KY..Keeping House
Sidney Howser..Dau..23..IL
Adie Howser..Dau..17..IL
Sidney Brian..MothL..82..KY..Boarder

NOTE - Sidney Brian was the mother of Elytha "Liza" Bryan.
(Living with parents.)