130 Douglass Houghton. — A. Winchell. 
Douglass Houghton was the son of Judge Jacob Houghton' 
of Fredonia, New York. His mother was Mary Lydia Douglass, 
of New London, Conn., from whomhe received his name. Judge 
Houghton had removed to Fredonia from Bolton, Mass., in 
1812. His ancestors came to America about 1758. The Amer- 
ican family is descended from an honorable English stock 
residing in Bolton, Lancaster, from the time of the conquest. 
The name was originally De Houton. The present head of 
the famil}^ is Sir Henry Bold Houghton, a member of Par- 
liament. 
The date of Douglass Houghton's birth was September 21, 
1809. His early constitution was delicate, but his intelligence 
was bright, and his nature was sympathetic and sensitive. He 
was reared amid the influences of books and high ideals. He 
was destined for an education, in the hopes of both his parents. 
His father, though settled in the wilderness of Chautauqua 
county, was able to command the conditions which brought 
the realization of his hopes. The Fredonia academy was 
organized in 1824, and Douglass was among its earlier pupils. 
Though faithful to study during his academic career, tradition 
represents him as party to many of those pranks to which 
nature instigates so many of those whom she has chosen for 
distinction and influence. The boy who leads in pranks is 
father to the man who leads his State. Douglass, by the edu- 
cational maxims of hie time, was consigned to the usual 
routine of Latin drill ; but by the bent and appointment of a 
forceful intelligence, he was destined to a life of scientific devo- 
tion. 
This destination early revealed itself in many ways. Back 
of the orchard, a few rods from the residence, the Houghton 
boys made an excavation in the bank, and roofing it over, 
dedicated the simple structure to the uses of a laboratory and 
study. After some months, it became also, a powder factor}^ — 
the requisite machinery and water power having been devised 
by the young Houghtons. One day an explosion occurred in 
^The sources from which the present notice is drawn are a sketch 
by his co-laborer Bela Hubbard, in Amer. Jour. Sci., ii., v, 217-1?27, 
May, 1848 ; a memoir recently published by Prof. Alvah Bradish (Svo. 
302pp., Detroit, 1889) ; personal communications from Mr. Hubbard 
who still resides in Detroit, and traditions preserved in the memory 
of surviving relatives and friends. Of Prof. Bradish's memoir I shall 
speak more particularlj-. 
