HOMER L. HOUSE, hardware merchant and implement dealer at Deshler, is a native of Sandusky township, Sandusky county, Ohio, where he was born on July 16, 1860. His parents were George L. and Mary (Lambert) House, the father born in Erie county, Ohio, May 6, 1834, and the mother born in Rice township, Sandusky county, Ohio, in 1836. The subject was reared on the home farm and attended the district schools and the schools at Fremont, and also attended one year in the normal school at Milan, Ohio. He then engaged in teaching school for seven years, spending the summers in work on the farm. In October, 1892, he came to Deshler and engaged in the agricultural implement business, to which he later added a full line of hardware, and later, buggies, wagons and harness, in all of which he carries a large and varied stock, such as is required by the trade which he commands. On September 1, 1905, he organized the firm of H. L. House & Company, for carrying on this business, the other partners being his brother Frank J. and Clark Robinson. In politics Mr. House has always been a stanch Republican and is now treasurer of the township, the corporation and the city school fund. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic order, in which he has filled all the chairs, as he has also in the local lodges of Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias, being also a representative to the grand lodge of the latter order. He also belongs to the Maccabees, the Modern Woodmen and the Elks. His religious connection is with the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. House married Miss Carrie C. Gilson, who was born in Rice township, Sandusky county, Ohio, on July 9, 1861, the daughter of Hiram Gilson. To them have been born eight children, Maude, Rufus (deceased), Edna, Scott, Mildred, Florence, Alma and Helen.
The House family from which are descended the Deshler people of that name, was founded in America by the two sons of an English trader who dealt at New England and Eastern ports. Following his death, which occurred on one of these voyages, his wife and two sons settled in New England. H. L. House's great-grandfather was Eleazer House, a native of Connecticut, who came to Ohio in 1823 and settled near Sandusky, Erie county, near where the Soldiers' Home now stands, where he bought a farm, improved it and lived there the remainder of his life. H. L. House's grandfather, Selah House, was born near Hartford, Connecticut, on February 15, 1808, and was fifteen years old when he came to Ohio with his parents. A year later he returned to Connecticut, where he remained several years, during which period he worked at stone cutting in a quarry. He married, in 1827, Miss Mary Loveland, who was born near Hartford, Connecticut, on March 18, 1804. The Loveland family was an old and prominent one in New England, several of her uncles having been soldiers in the Revolutionary war. Following their marriage Selah House and his wife came to Ohio and settled on a piece of wild land in Erie county, where they spent the balance of their days, the father dying November 5, 1878, and the mother July 15, 1876. They had eight children, Emily, Harriet, George L., Ira F., Alfred W., Henry H., Charles L. and Truman F. George L. House, father of H. L. House, was born May 6, 1834, and was reared on the Erie county farm and attended the winter terms of school until he was twenty-one years of age. He then married and began farming in that county. In 1865 he removed to Sandusky county and bought a farm near Fremont, comprising one hundred and twenty-five acres. In 1886 he rented his farm and moved to Ottawa county, Ohio, where he remained about a year and a half engaged in merchandising. In 1887 he came to Deshler and engaged in merchandising. At that time the town gave little sign of its present prosperity. In 1896 Mr. House and his son H. L. erected the first good brick business block in the town, being one hundred by one hundred and ten feet in size and standing on the most prominent corner in town, being considered the best business block in Henry county. One-half the block is still owned by H. L. House, but the corner store room was sold two years ago. George L. House retired from active business in 1901. In 1890 he and his son-in-law, G. H. Heflinger, purchased the Deshler electric light plant, which they ran until 1901, when they sold it. He was also interested in the Deshler Manufacturing Company, which while it was operated gave employment to thirty men. In 1888 Mr. House completed his present fine residence, one of the best in Deshler. On March 30, 1856, Mr. House married Miss Mary A. Lambert, who was born in Sandusky county, Ohio, in 1836, the daughter of Joseph Lambert, a native of Germany, and to them have been born four children, Merrit S., of Deshler, Homer L., of Deshler, Ettie E., the wife of George H. Heflinger, of Deshler, and Frank J., of Deshler. George L. House has served as a member of the city council and the school board, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity.