Aaron Runyan Houghton, youngest son of Charles P. and Elizabeth VanDeventer Houghton, was born in 1825. He was left an orphan when ten years of age, and lived with his brother and sister. He served one year in the Mexican War.

In 1854 he was married to Elvira Stephenson, and settled on the Stephenson farm. To them were born three children; James F., who died in early manhood, Charles William, who owns the home place and is an elder in the church, and Mary Adaline, wife of G. L. Harnsberger, of Springfield.

Mrs. Houghton was a woman of fine Christian character, and like Dorcas of old, was full of good works. Mr. Houghton was a prosperous farmer, a man of affable disposition, and greatly interested in civic affairs. The same spirit which actuated him in the Mexican War and his grandfather in the Revolutionary War was present with his three grandsons in the World War: James F. Houghton, First Lieutenant in the Officers' Training Camp; Ralph H. Houghton, in the Navy, and Edward W. Houghton, a Marine.

Source for photo is: The Book Committee. Rock Creek Presbyterian Church Christian Heritage 175 years, Menard Co. IL. 1997. This includes a reprint of ROCK CREEK, A Retrospect of One Hundred Years, by Alice Keach Bone, written ca 1922, page 81, 82. It is a history of Rock Creek Cumberland Presbyterian Church and it's people