Thomas William House

1814 - 1880  (65 years)

• Name	Thomas William House
  Birth	14 Feb 1814	Stoke St. Gregory, Somerset, England, UK
  Gender	Male
  FindaGrave ID	8477706
  Immigration	31 May 1834	New York, New York, New York, USA
  	Sailed on the Kingston
  Occupation	Houston, Harris, Texas, USA
  	Mayor
  Occupation	Merchant
  Occupation	31 May 1834
  	Baker
  Death	17 Jan 1880	San Antonio, Bexar, Texas, USA
  	Thomas William House was born in the village of Stoke St. Gregory, Somerset. He immigrated to America, landing in New York in 1835 where he earned his living as a baker. The next year, he moved to New Orleans to take charge of the bakery at the St. Charles Hotel. In 1838, he established the firm of House and Loveridge in Houston. In 1840 he began accepting bank deposits, the beginning of The House Bank. He produced and sold the first ice cream in Houston, restricting his confections to one side of the store and placed dry good on the other side. In 1853, he paid $40,000 for the large jobbing business of "James H. Stevens and Company", which was the largest sum of money to change hands in Houston up to that time. He changed the name to "T. W. House and Company" and was the largest wholesaler in the state; accepting cotton in payment for goods and setting up cotton factoring as a separate department. In 1851 House helped organize the Houston and Galveston Navigation Company "to navigate steamboats between Houston and Galveston and on other streams tributary to Galveston Bay," carrying passengers, freight, and United States mail. He also worked with the Texas Transportation Company, the Houston Direct Navigation Company, and the Buffalo Bayou Ship Channel Company, all of which contributed to the development of Houston. He was active in organizing the first street railway, the Board of Trade and Cotton Exchange, and the Houston and Texas Central and other railroads. On the organization of Protection Fire Company, in 1848, he became a member and remained one as long as he lived. In 1857, and again in 1861, he was chosen a member of the Board of Aldermen of the city, and served two terms of two years each. In 1862 he was elected Mayor and held this office one term. In 1866 he organized the city's first public utility, the Houston Gas Company. The general public was indifferent to this; however, hotels and other public places were the first to install gas, then private homes accepted the innovation, and finally gas street lights appeared. It is difficult to overestimate House's share in the building of Houston. He was a charter member of the Ship Channel Company, and was always a staunch friend of that enterprise. House died in San Antonio, where he had gone for medical attention and his will directed that for five years his estate should be held together and his banking and mercantile business should be carried on in his name. (bio by: H M G)
  Burial	Houston, Harris, Texas, USA
  	Address: Glenwood Cemetery, Houston, Harris, Texas, USA
  Person ID	I72180	Lasbury Family
  Last Modified	26 Apr 2024

  
  

  Wife	Mary Elizabeth Shearn           b. 9 Sep 1822, Walcot, Bath, Somerset, England, UK           d. 28 Jan 1870, Houston, Harris, Texas, USA (Age 47 years)
  Marriage	6 Oct 1840	Houston, Harris, Texas, USA
  Children	1. Mary Elizabeth House           b. 13 Sep 1841, Houston, Harris, Texas, USA           d. 7 Jan 1885, San Marcos, Hays, Texas, USA (Age 43 years)   2. Charles John House           b. 7 Mar 1844, Houston, Harris, Texas, USA           d. 10 Sep 1850, Houston, Harris, Texas, USA (Age 6 years)   3. Thomas William House           b. 1845, Houston, Harris, Texas, USA           d. 15 Aug 1923, Houston, Harris, Texas, USA (Age 78 years)   4. John Henry Bower House           b. 23 Aug 1848, Houston, Harris, Texas, USA           d. 21 Feb 1905, Houston, Harris, Texas, USA (Age 56 years)   5. Charles Shearn House           b. 16 Jan 1850, Houston, Harris, Texas, USA           d. 17 Sep 1896, Houston, Harris, Texas, USA (Age 46 years)   6. Jimmie House           b. 18 Mar 1852, Houston, Harris, Texas, USA           d. 10 Mar 1868, Houston, Harris, Texas, USA (Age 15 years)   7. George R. House           b. 26 Jul 1855, Houston, Harris, Texas, USA           d. 4 Jun 1876, Houston, Harris, Texas, USA (Age 20 years)   8. Edward Mandell House           b. 26 Jul 1858, Houston, Harris, Texas, USA           d. 28 Mar 1938, Manhattan, New York, New York, USA (Age 79 years)
  Family ID	F30039	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	26 Apr 2024

  
  

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  Birth - 14 Feb 1814 - Stoke St. Gregory, Somerset, England, UK Immigration - 31 May 1834 - New York, New York, New York, USA Occupation - Mayor - - Houston, Harris, Texas, USA Marriage - 6 Oct 1840 - Houston, Harris, Texas, USA Death - 17 Jan 1880 - San Antonio, Bexar, Texas, USA Burial - Address: Glenwood Cemetery, Houston, Harris, Texas, USA - - Houston, Harris, Texas, USA  = Link to Google Earth