Lorenzo William (Ren) Housel and Mina Harriet Finch
Husband Lorenzo William (Ren) Housel [26887]
Born: 30 Dec 1873 Christened: Died: 4 Sep 1935 - Rochester, Olmsted County, MN Buried: - Union Cemetery, Humboldt, Humboldt County, IAMarriage: 18 Jun 1902 - Nichols, Tioga County, NY [MRIN:9024]
Wife Mina Harriet Finch [26886]
Born: 19 Aug 1874 - Tioga County, NY Christened: Died: 6 Jul 1966 - Humboldt, Humboldt County, IA Buried: - Union Cemetery, Humboldt, Humboldt County, IA
Father: Parley Finch [26884] (1844-1927) Mother: Mary Delphine Wait [26883] (1842-1882)
Children
1 F Mary Delphine Housel [26888]
Born: 7 Nov 1903 - Nichols, Tioga County, NY Christened: Died: 5 May 1984 - Fort Dodge, Webster County, IA Buried: - Union Cemetery, Humboldt, Humboldt County, IASpouse: Theodore R. (Ted) Brown [26889] (1901-1935) Marr: 10 Dec 1927 - Marshalltown, IA [MRIN:9025]. (Divorced on 4 Apr 1930)Spouse: Charley Christensen [26890] (1901-1944) Marr: 2 Sep 1931 - Humboldt, Humboldt County, IA [MRIN:9026]
2 M William Parley Housel [26900]
Born: 11 Apr 1908 - Humboldt, Humboldt County, IA Christened: Died: 7 Sep 1978 - Humboldt, Humboldt County, IA Buried: - Union Cemetery, Humboldt, Humboldt County, IASpouse: Harriet Evelyn Hilpert [26901] (1911-2003) Marr: 16 Dec 1933 - Keokuk, IA [MRIN:9028]
General Notes: Husband - Lorenzo William (Ren) Housel
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=52918455
Birth: Dec. 30, 1873, USA
Death: Sep. 4, 1935
Rochester
Olmsted County
Minnesota, USA
Lorenzo W. HOUSEL was born to William Charles and Josephine (FENDERSON) HOUSEL
His 1930 issued passport says he was born in Van Ettenville, NY., but other sources cite "Snow Shoe, PA"
He worked his way through Yale as a newspaper reporter. After earning his law degree from Yale, he hung up his newspaper reporter's hat with the intent of being a full time lawyer. But instead he became a reluctant candidate for the Connecticut State Legislature when he won the run-off primary a friend had entered his name in. It was said that the familiarity of his name from his years as a newspaper reporter, and his championing of blue collar issues during that time, resulted in his election.
While in office, he backed populist causes, like a 5 day 40 hour work week. This won him many friends amongst the voters, but it was clear that his progressive ideas would not be allowed to make any headway in the turn of the century Connecticut State Legislature. Toward the end of his term, and with his fiancee, Mina Finch, awaiting his now delayed return from college, he resigned his seat and returned to his hometown of Nichols, Tioga, NY.
The family story was that Lorenzo and Mina had planned their lives together from before the time he went off to Yale. And so with his return, they married, and set off on the second part of their plan; For Lorenzo to join her father at his law offices in Humboldt, Iowa.
It was thought that Lorenzo's time as a Democrat in the Connecticut Legislature, and his position as the son-in-law of an important Republican not long retired from the Iowa Legislature would create important inroads for the Democrats in the Iowa Executive branch. So Lorenzo quickly played a prominent role in Iowa politics. By the 1920s he had been a candidate for Lieutenant Governor twice (an electable position at that time), and in 1928 was the Democratic Party Nominee for Governor. Iowa however, does not often vote Democratic, and this was the case in the 1928 elections. It was still a year before the 1929 stock market crash, and Republican Herbert Hoover with his strong Iowa ties, was still President of the United States. In 1932, Lorenzo ran once again for Governor. But this second time, every Democrat who had aspirations for higher office also placed their name on the Primary ballot. Another candidate won the Primary and became the Democratic nominee for Governor.
Throughout their time together, Lorenzo and Mina traveled extensively. Their joint passport was stamped with exotic ports of call like: Hawaii, Nicaragua, Egypt, Israel, Turkey, Paris, London, etc. Together they survived a devastating earthquake in Nicaragua; made a friend of the bartender on the steamer that took them on a cruise up the Nile; purchased a signed sketch of the Cathedral of Notre Dame from a minor street artist in Paris.
Lorenzo died at a relatively young age in Rochester, Minnesota where he was being treated for a heart ailment that he had dealt with for most of his life.
Someone wrote a little more about Lorenzo on Wikipedia.
That link is here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._W._Housel
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SOURCE: 1935-1936 Obituary Record of Graduates of Yale University, p 69-70
Lorenzo William Housel, B.A. 1897.
Born December 30,1873, in VanEttenvilIe, N.Y.
Died September 15,1935, in Rochester, Minn.
Father, William Housel, a farmer in Nichols, N.Y, Sergeant 52d Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry during Civil War; son of John Housel, of Milton, Lewisburg, and Williamsport, Pa. Mother, Josephine (Fenderson) Housel; daughter of John and Lucy (Clements) Fenderson, of Williamsport and Lock Haven, Pa, and Owego, N.Y.
Owego (N.Y.) Free Academy.
Reporter New Haven Journal-Courier 1893-98; attended Yale School of Law 1897-1900 (LL.B. 1900); practiced law in New Haven 1900-02 and in Humboldt, Iowa, since 1902; member of firm of Finch & Housel 1902-27 and had since practiced independently; representative in Connecticut Legislature 1900-02; auditor of New Haven County 1901-02; member Second Infantry, Connecticut National Guard 1898-99; alderman in Humboldt; president Humboldt Commercial Club; trustee First Methodist Episcopal Church, Humboldt, 1914-20, and First Congregational Church, Humboldt, 1930-34.
Married June 18,1902, in Nichols, Mina Harriet Finch (Eimira College ex-'97), daughter of Parley and Mary Delphine (Waite) Finch.
Children: Mary Delphine (Bryn Mawr ex-'27) (Mrs. Charles Christensen); and William Parley, '29.
Death due to coronary sclerosis. Buried in Union Cemetery, Humboldt.
Survived by wife, daughter, son, and two grandsons.
Family links:
Parents:
William Charles Housel (1843 - 1902)
Josephine Fenderson Housel (1854 - 1926)
Spouse:
Mina Harriet Finch Housel (1874 - 1966)*
Children:
M. Delphine Housel Christensen (1903 - 1984)*
William Parley Housel (1908 - 1978)*
Siblings:
John F. Housel (1872 - 1874)*
Lorenzo W. Housel (1873 - 1935)
Francis F. Housel (1875 - 1881)*
Inez Housel (1878 - 1881)*
Robert Charles Housel (1889 - 1939)*
*Calculated relationship
Burial:
Union Cemetery
Humboldt
Humboldt County
Iowa, USA
Created by: CC-Genealogy
Record added: May 27, 2010
Find A Grave Memorial# 52918455
General Notes: Wife - Mina Harriet Finch
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=52918859
Birth: Aug. 19, 1874
Tioga County
New York, USA
Death: Jul. 6, 1966
Humboldt
Humboldt County
Iowa, USA
Though the name Mina is not her real name, it is the only name that she used. Mina was born to Parley FINCH and his wife Mary Delphine WAIT at Wait's Settlement in Tioga County, N.Y.
After the death of her mother, her father sent her to live with her Aunt Almira Russell in Windham, Bradford Co, PA. Upon graduation, Mina attended Elmira College, in Elmira, N.Y (then, a women's college). When her future husband was delayed in returning from Connecticut, she enrolled at the Drake Music Conservatory in Des Moines Iowa (where her father served as a state legislator).
Her marriage to Lorenzo W. HOUSEL occurred at Nichols, NY in the home where her Aunt Almira now lived. She and Lorenzo removed to Humboldt, Iowa where Lorenzo joined Mina's father in his local law practice.
Mina had a sharp mind for much of her life. And it is her research that provided a fine foundation for much of the family genealogical history.
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A founding officer of the Nichols, New York "Order of the Eastern Star."
Family links:
Parents:
Parley Finch (1844 - 1927)
Mary Delphine Wait Finch (1842 - 1882)
Spouse:
Lorenzo W. Housel (1873 - 1935)
Children:
M. Delphine Housel Christensen (1903 - 1984)*
William Parley Housel (1908 - 1978)*
Sibling:
James William Finch (1873 - 1911)*
Mina Harriet Finch Housel (1874 - 1966)
*Calculated relationship
Burial:
Union Cemetery
Humboldt
Humboldt County
Iowa, USA
Created by: CC-Genealogy
Record added: May 27, 2010
Find A Grave Memorial# 52918859
Notes: Marriage
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=52918455