John Chiles HOUK, Congress, TN (1860-1923)
HOUK, John Chiles, (son of Leonidas Campbell Houk), a Representative from Tennessee; born in Clinton, Anderson County, Tenn., February 26, 1860; attended the local schools; moved with his parents to Knoxville in 1871; was graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville; employed as a clerk in the Pension Bureau at Washington, D.C., 1881-1883; studied law at Columbian (now George Washington) University, Washington, D.C.; was admitted to the bar in 1884 and commenced practice in Knoxville; secretary of the State Republican committee for four years; Assistant Doorkeeper of the House of Representatives in the Fifty-first Congress; elected as a Republican to the Fifty-second Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of his father, Leonidas C. Houk; reelected to the Fifty-third Congress and served from December 7, 1891, to March 3, 1895; unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1894; served in the State senate, 1897-1899, 1911-1913, and 1917-1923; resumed the practice of law in Knoxville, Tenn.; died in Fountain City, Knox County, Tenn., June 3, 1923; interment in Greenwood Cemetery, Knoxville, Tenn.
Bibliography
Archer, Claude J. âThe Life of John Chiles Houk.â Masterâs thesis, University of Tennessee, 1941.Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present
