Representative Jacob Houck

Jacob Houck Jr. (January 14, 1801 – October 2, 1857) was an American lawyer and Democratic politician who served one term as a U.S. Representative from New York from 1841 to 1843. He lived his entire life in Schoharie County, New York, where he built a legal career and held local office before entering national politics.

Houck was born on January 14, 1801, in Schoharie, New York. He attended the local common schools, receiving the basic education typical of rural New York in the early nineteenth century. Demonstrating sufficient promise to pursue higher education, he enrolled at Union College in Schenectady, New York, one of the leading institutions of higher learning in the state at the time.

Houck graduated from Union College in 1822. After completing his collegiate studies, he read law in the customary manner of the period, studying under established attorneys rather than attending a formal law school. Upon completion of his legal studies, he was admitted to the bar and commenced the practice of law in Schoharie, where he developed a professional reputation within the community.

Houck’s legal abilities and standing in the county led to his appointment as district attorney of Schoharie County, a position he held from 1831 to 1836. In this role he was responsible for prosecuting criminal cases on behalf of the state, gaining experience in public service and courtroom advocacy. His tenure as district attorney helped establish him as a prominent Democratic figure in local affairs during a period of growing party organization in New York.

Building on his local prominence, Houck was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-seventh Congress, representing New York in the U.S. House of Representatives from March 4, 1841, to March 3, 1843. As a member of the Democratic Party representing New York, he contributed to the legislative process during his single term in office. His service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history marked by economic recovery efforts following the Panic of 1837, debates over banking and fiscal policy, and the presidency of John Tyler. During this time, Houck participated in the democratic process at the national level and represented the interests of his constituents from Schoharie County and the surrounding region.

After the conclusion of his term in Congress, Houck did not seek or did not secure reelection and returned to private life. He resumed the practice of law in Schoharie, continuing his legal work and maintaining his role as a respected member of the local bar. He remained in Schoharie for the rest of his life, reflecting a career rooted in service to his home community as well as to his state and nation.

Jacob Houck Jr. died in Schoharie, New York, on October 2, 1857. He was interred in Lutheran Cemetery in Schoharie, where he is buried among other local residents of the period. His career encompassed both local legal service and a term in the national legislature, characteristic of many nineteenth-century American politicians who combined professional practice with intermittent public office.