JOHN HOUSE was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, Dec. 2, 1827, his parents being John and Savina House. On arriving at the age of 16, having finished his education, he started to learn the trade of stone-mason and plasterer, and after serving an apprenticeship of three years, he worked at his trade at Frankfort-on-the Rhine. He returned home in 1849, and taking leave of home and friends, went to Antwerp, and took passage on the ship Victoria, bound for New York. After a voyage of 37 days, he arrived at New York, Sept. 16, 1849, and the same evening started west. He stopped at Pittsburgh three months, where he worked at his trade, and from there he came to St. Louis, where he worked at his trade three years and a half. He then came to this county, the first fall engaging at general work, and after that time working steadily at his trade until 1868, since which time he has divided his time between farming and working at his trade. He was married, Aug. 13, 1853, to Sarah Cranfill, native of Tennessee, and a daughter of George and Mary Cranfill, who were early settlers here. Mr. House and wife are the parents of four children - Mary Savina, Lura Adelia, John Erasmus and Adam Benjamin. When Mr. House came to this country, he had no capital save willing hands, and accumulated gradually, until he now has 75 acres of valuable land, adjoining Wilmington. He is a member of the Catholic Church. His parents both died in Germany, in 1836, his mother dying just two weeks before his father. Mr. House has a brother, Adam, living at Wilmington, and a sister, Eliesabetha, wife of Charles Voelp, living in St. Louis.