John B. Houtz - G.A.R. Bishop Post

Born about 1839, John B. Houtz was a Defiance boy who learned the blacksmithing trade early.  When he was 12, he was enumerated in the 1850 census with his parents, Michael and Nancy.  Michael was a blacksmith and living with the family were Jacob Houtz, 32, another blacksmith, and two young men who were probably apprentices - Harman Lisman, 16, and Charles Oden, 15.  

But the war called to John in 1861, when he was about twenty-two.  He first enlisted in a three month unit - Company K, 21st Ohio Infantry and served from April 27 to August 12, 1861.

He must have come home for awhile before reenlisting as his marriage to Henrietta Bates was recorded as occurring on January 26, 1862.  John enlisted again on August 1, 1862 into Company D, 100th O.V. I. where he served another 2 years, 10 months and 19 days, mustering out on July 20, 1865 in Columbus, Ohio.  

Once home, John and Henrietta set up housekeeping in Defiance where John worked at what he knew best - blacksmithing.  In the 1870 census, John and Henrietta were joined by children: John, 7 - William, 3 - and Christian, 6 months.  And by 1880, the family had added Albert, Henry, and Nelly. 

Sometime between 1870 and 1880, John added the job of constable in Defiance. The job seemed to involve serving papers and helping in court, for the most part. He made the newspaper in 1878 for a bit of clumsiness with his gun.

"SHOT HIMSELF

Constable John Houtz, while cleaning his revolver, last Friday, shot himself through one of the fingers of his right hand.  The accident happened while he was in the act of replacing the cylinder.  The question which naturally arises is what use has a constable for a revolver anyway?  Guess Houtz begins to wonder himself."  
Defiance County Express - August 1, 1878

By 1900, John Houtz was working as a constable as his main occupation.  At 64, he lived with wife, Henrietta, sometimes called Nettie, and two of his sons who were single: William,32, who worked as a bridge carpenter, and Henry, 24, a cigar maker.  Daughter Nellie was also still at home.  

In June of that year, he worked on some renovations on his home at 224 Water Street, where some new historical information was revealed.

"John Houtz, of Water Street,has been making some improvements on his residence in the way of a new roof and cornice.  A historical event is connected with the house which is known to but few.  The house was built about the year 1850 by Fred Wolsiffer and was used as a brewery, that being the first brewery introduced in this county.  The building is wonderfully well preserved.

Defiance Weekly Express - June 14, 1900

  

In 1915, it was reported that Defiance had had SIX bald-headed smithies!  Big news - enough so that a special portrait had been taken of the six which was then hung in the Bishop Post - John B Houtz, Peter Dickman, James M. Wilt, Peter M. Sieren, E. P. Rhoades, and Benny Shupp.  

Who knows what happened to that photo?

Crescent-News - May 12, 1915

John B. Houtz died on July 15, 1919 and he rests at Riverside Cemetery, Defiance.

Crescent-News - July 16, 1919

(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city.  Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle.  The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived.  If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)