Oscar Nelson Houck

Advertisement

Oscar Nelson Houck

Birth
North Carolina, USA
Death
28 Jun 1898 (aged 19)
Burke County, North Carolina, USA
Burial
Morganton, Burke County, North Carolina, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
View Source
Suggest Edits
Oscar was the oldest son of the Rev. W.Kelley Houck and Nina V. Nelson Houck. He had just joined up to go fight in the Spanish American War when he was stricken with appendicitis. A local doctor performed an operation on the porch of the family home but it was too late; his appendix had already ruptured.
His father recounted Oscar's death in a letter to his niece: "Oscar our oldest son had enlisted in the Spanish American War and the day his company left here he was sick and the doctor would not let hi go and he grew worse day by day and died in about 10 days after that with appendicitis. He was engaged to a fine girl and was to marry if he got back. He was one fine boy."
In his obituary, his grandfather W.R. Nelson wrote, " He was perfectly conscious till in a few minutes of his death . . .he said, "Papa, I would as soon die now as any time."
His funeral was conducted by the Reverend J. H. Brendle and Presiding Elder Jones.
He is buried beside his brother Eugene and his sister, Maudie. His father had helped establish Bethel Church at the turn of the century. At that time, there was no city cemetery and you buried in the churchyard or the back yard.

Although she never knew her brother, his sister Mabel recalled family stories. "Oscar had one of those penny-farthing bicycles with a big wheel on front. I don't know how he rode it, though, because there weren't many paved roads back then!"

He was often up to mischief, and caused his parents some worry because of his "wild ways". Although he was involved in church activities, apparently he couldn't resist "sowing a few wild oats", as they said in his times.
Oscar was the oldest son of the Rev. W.Kelley Houck and Nina V. Nelson Houck. He had just joined up to go fight in the Spanish American War when he was stricken with appendicitis. A local doctor performed an operation on the porch of the family home but it was too late; his appendix had already ruptured.
His father recounted Oscar's death in a letter to his niece: "Oscar our oldest son had enlisted in the Spanish American War and the day his company left here he was sick and the doctor would not let hi go and he grew worse day by day and died in about 10 days after that with appendicitis. He was engaged to a fine girl and was to marry if he got back. He was one fine boy."
In his obituary, his grandfather W.R. Nelson wrote, " He was perfectly conscious till in a few minutes of his death . . .he said, "Papa, I would as soon die now as any time."
His funeral was conducted by the Reverend J. H. Brendle and Presiding Elder Jones.
He is buried beside his brother Eugene and his sister, Maudie. His father had helped establish Bethel Church at the turn of the century. At that time, there was no city cemetery and you buried in the churchyard or the back yard.

Although she never knew her brother, his sister Mabel recalled family stories. "Oscar had one of those penny-farthing bicycles with a big wheel on front. I don't know how he rode it, though, because there weren't many paved roads back then!"

He was often up to mischief, and caused his parents some worry because of his "wild ways". Although he was involved in church activities, apparently he couldn't resist "sowing a few wild oats", as they said in his times.

Family Members

Parents
Siblings

See more Houck memorials in:

Flower Delivery