Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 05.djvu/388

 HOUSE

HOUSTON

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Englaiul and Aineiic-an Bank Note ronipanies from 18~)0 to 18.")4; studying musical compusilii)!! at the same time with T. Comer and Carl Berg- mann, and producing various light orchestral works. He owned an interest in the Boston Courier, and from 1854 till 18.-)S was as- sociate editor and musical and dramatic reviewer. He became known as a magazine writer in 1859, and continued contribu- ting to leading Amer- ican and English pe- riodicals until 1899. He was sent by the New York Tribune iu 1859 to record the events of the John Brown invasion in Virginia. and re- mained in the Tribune's servi:(' many years, holding at ditferent periods t'ii3 positions of associate editor, critic of music and t'.ie drama, and special correspondent, in which last-named line of duty he was one of the American pioneers. He accompanied the Federal armies in Virginia, 1861-65, being with the party of Colonel Ells- worth when that officer was shot in Alexandria, at the outbreak of the civil war. He conducted theatrical enterprises in America and England, 1865-68, and collaborated with Dion Boucicault in dramatic authorship. In 1869-70 he was attached to the editorial staff of the New York Times. He went to Japan in 1870. and was engaged as principal teaclier of the English lan- guage and literature in the University of Tokio. 1871-72. In 1874 he accompanied the Japanese expedition to Formosa, as correspondent of the New York Herald, and was the first writer to penetrate and describe the unexj^lored savage regions of that island. In 1876 founded the Tokio Times as an organ for the defence of Japan against aggressions by European powers, con- ducting that journal until 1880, when he visited America to secure the restoration of the notor- ious Simonoseki indemnity from the United States, — a result which was attained in 1883. He served later as correspondent in Japan for several New York papers, especially for the World, and the Associated Press during the war between Japan and China, 1894-95. He was offered decorations by the Japanese government after the recovery of the Simonoseki money, and at the close of the China war. but these testimo- nials were declined. After 1899 he was occupied mainly with the development of foreign music in Japan, and in March, 1900, was appointed

director of the orchestra in the Imperial House- holil, a body of Japanese performers trained in accordance with western nutlioils. Much of his work was accomplished under broken health, dis- ease having been contracted in the battle fields t,f Virginia, and so aggravated by the climate of southern Formosa that after 1880 he w;is unable to walk or stand erect. He published: The Kagosima Affair (1874), Tlw Siviouoseki Affair (1874). The Expedition fo i^or?«o.w(ls75): (fiction). J(i})anese Epi.^odes (1881). Yone Santo, a Child of Japan (18s:)). The Cliff>i of Ilayakama (1891). 77te Mid- niijJd Waining (1892): (drama, in conjunction with Dion Boucicault), Arrah-ua-Po<jiie. or The Wieklow Wedding (1865). lie died in Yotsuya. Tokio, Japan, Dec. 18, 1901.

HOUSE, Timothy, bank-note and historicaL engraver, was born in Boston. Ma.ss., in 1814. His father was a ship master. He studied under the best masters of that period with a diligence and aptitude that secured him a leading position in his calling before reaching his majority. Be- ginning as an illustrator of standard books and magazines, he was afterward employed by the New England and the American bank-note com- panies, in the service of which subsc(nently united corporations he passed the greater part of his life, sparing no exertion in maintaining the high standard of excellence to which bank-note engraving was advanced in his day, and enjoy- ing a reputation of exceptional distinction a» a master of his craft in all its several depart- ments. His work, both in design and execution, was characterized by extreme delicacj- and refinement, and was in such demand that his health was broken by the constancy of his labors, and he died when in the most successful stage of his career. In thirty years he had produced not less than five hundred vignettes, large and small, worthily representing all the varied branches of his art. He was twice married: first in 1835 to Ellen!Maria, daughter of John and Lucy (How- ard) Child, of Boston; and in 1855 to Candace, daughter of Judson Murdock, of Charlestown. He died in NewtonviUe.:VIass.. in 1864.

HOUSTON, David Crawford, engineer, was born in New York city, Dec. 5, 1835. He was graduated at the U.S. Military academy in 1856, and a.ssigned to the corps of engineers as brevet 2d lieutenant, and continued at the academy as assistant professor of natural and experimental philosoi)hy till September, 1857. He was then on construction duty at Hampton Roads, Va., 1857; commanded a detachment of engineers in Ore- gon, 1857-60: was on construction duty at Sandy Hook, N.J.. 18n0-6t; a.ssistant engineer on de- fences of Washington. D.C, 1861; engaged at Blackburn's Ford, Bull Hun, Cedar Mountain, .second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam,