HOUSER, Walter L.

History of Northern Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical, 1881, p 169

Walter L. HOUSER, editor and founder of the "Buffalo County Herald," [a 
resident of Mondovi, Naples Township, Buffalo County, Wisconsin], was born 06 
May 1855 in Pennsylvania. In 1865 he left his native state in company with 
his mother and came to Wisconsin, locating with her in River Falls, Pierce 
County, where he received a common school education. He afterwards read law 
with Abner MORSE, and then commenced learning the printer's trade. In 1876 
he moved to Mondovi, his present home, where he established the "Buffalo 
County Herald." This is a Republican paper, seven-column folio, and has a 
circulation of 500 copies, being one of the best in the county, and is a 
strong advocate of the temperance cause. [He may have eventually moved to 
Alma, Buffalo County, since the paper was later moved there.]

In 1877 the subject of this sketch [Walter L. HOUSER] was married to Miss 
Susie [Susan C.] LEGORE, daughter of John LEGORE, one of the oldest settlers 
in the Town of Naples. [See also the Buffalo County, Wisconsin, biography of 
Ezra H. MEYERS, who married Miss Frances LEGORE, also a daughter of John 
LEGORE.] He [Walter] is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, 
Mondovi Lodge No. 23, and also of the Good Templars, being a strong worker in 
that cause, and was Clerk in the Senate of 1879 and 1880.

[John LEGORE, father-in-law of Walter L. HOUSER, is enumerated in the 1880 
census of Naples, Buffalo County, Wisconsin: widower, a farmer, age 
fifty-five, born in New York, about 1825 from his census age, his mother born 
in Pennsylvania. The birthplace of John's father is not given. Also 
residing in the family are: a son Lorenzo, age thirty-four, married, a 
farmer, born in Wisconsin to parents born in New York; a son, Stephen, 
single, a farmer, age twenty-three, born in Wisconsin, about 1857, to parents 
both born in New York; and a daughter-in-law (probably the wife of Lorenzo), 
age twenty-one, a dressmaker, born in New York to parents also born there.]

[The family of Walter L. HOUSER is also enumerated in the 1880 census of 
Mondovi. Walter L. is twenty-five years of age, married, a printer, born in 
Pennsylvania, about 1825 from his census age, to parents also born in 
Pennsylvania. His wife, Susan C., is also age twenty-five, born in Wisconsin 
to parents both born in New York. This family also contains two children, 
both born in Wisconsin to a father born in Pennsylvania and a mother born in 
New York: (1) Mortimer A. HOUSER, age two years, born about 1878; and (2) 
Helen E. HOUSER, age six months. Also in the household are two sisters of 
Walter L. HOUSER, both born in Pennsylvania to parents also born there: 
Helen E. HOUSER (same name as Walter's daughter), age twenty, a teacher, born 
about 1860; and Sarah L. I. HOUSER, age seventeen, born about 1863, also a 
teacher. Bracketed material added by submitter (who is not researching these 
surnames) to support and clarify information given in the biography and to 
raise questions.]

Submitted by Cathy Kubly