Soldier Visiting Kin in Hickory On Way Home to California, Jan. 1, 1919

From the Hickory Daily Record, January 1, 1919

California Youth Finds Many Relatives in Hickory

Mr. Ben Houck, the California soldier who got off the train in Hickory for the purpose of locating some of his father’s relatives in this section, found a number of them and will return west in a few days delighted with his trip here and his kinspeople. His relatives are glad he came and have given him a good time. This is a fine country, he says, but these hills—he couldn’t farm them.

The young man is a son of Mr. Watt Houck, who left this section many years ago and settled near Santa Barbara, Cal. His father is one among 12 brothers and sisters and the son expects to visit them all before he returns home. He had been on the sea three days en route for France when the news was flashed that the armistice had been signed. The ship turned back and reached New York at 3 o’clock one morning. Many of the boys thought they were in France, but they learned differently later.

Mr. Sidney Houck, aged 52 years, is the youngest member of the large family of brothers and sisters and Mrs. J.A. Poovey of Hickory, aged 78, is the oldest. The others are Messrs. Fate and Bob Houck of Lenoir, Mrs. Russell Lefevers of Connelly Springs, Mr. Kelly Houck of Morganton, Mr. F.C. Houck of Hickory, Mrs. Eli Kerlee of Gastonia, Mrs. George Powell of Denver, Col., and Mr. John M. Houck of Marion.

All the aunts and uncles in this section have been visited and the young man will visit the others on his return home. He had never been here before, but had often heard his father speak of his relatives in this section.