V. H. Houtzer
V. H. Houtzer, insurance, Lima, was born March 10, 1840, in Berlin, Shelby Co., Ohio; son of John J. and Marcuria (Kern) Houtzer, natives of Germany, who came to America in 1835, and settled in Shelby County, Ohio. John J. Houtzer was a potter by trade. He was thrice married, having no issue by the first union. By his second wife (the mother of our subject, and who died in this county in 1846), he had three children: V. H., John C. and Robert, all living in Ohio. Mr. Houtzer's third marriage was with Mrs. Evaline (Day) Hawthorne, a widow, by whom he had one child-George (deceased). Our subject received his early education in Shelby County, and came with his parents to Allen County in 1845. He followed farming in youth and for a time left Allen County, but returned when eighteen years old, and learned the trade of potter, working with his father up to 1870. He was married, September 14, 1861, to Adeline, the daughter of John Boyer, by whom he has six children: May, William (in the insurance business with his father), Mary, Emma, John and Ida. Mr Houtzer commenced the insurance business in September, 1873, representing several companies, and is a reliable business man.
From History of Allen County, Ohio, Warner Beers & Co., Chicago, 1885