Rev. Milton Thomas Hough and his wife, Martha Jane Alcorn

Milton Thomas Hough ca 1861

Milton Thomas Hough was born 6 February 1840 in Scott Co., Indiana.  He was one of 10 children of Emsley Hough and his wife, Belinda Kimberlin.

Milton is found on the 1850 census with his parents in Lexington Township, Scott Co., Indiana.  He was 9 years old and born in Indiana.  The 1860 census shows him in the same place, still with his parents, and now 20 years old.

Milton served in the Civil War as a Private starting in 1861.  On 7 June 1862, he enrolled in Co. E, 54 Regiment, Indiana Infantry (for 3 mos).  By 16 September 1862, his rank was corporal.  He apparently left the company at that time but the pension records are not decipherable for details.  One story is that he was "stricken with sunstroke and left behind upon the field of Chattanooga, where he lay for 3 days and nights upon the ground before medical aid could reach him."  He was sent to a hospital in Madison, Indiana.  He was unfit for field service, so he was placed on hospital duty in Madison until mustered out of service in 1865.

While serving in the Army during the Civil War, Milton wrote the following letter to his cousin, Jake Kimberlin.  There are several large black stains on the photocopy of the letter and so sections are not decipherable:

"June 28, 1862.   Camp Morton, Ind.  Mr. J. R. Kimberlin.   

Dear Cousin, I seat[several unreadable words] your [several unreadable words] impatiently [unreadable] on the 25th inst and found me well at that time but I have been very sick for one day and Knight [sic] but this 28 morn of june I am able for drill, but not well.
  I hope this may find you [unreadable] well and prosperous.  Well Jake I wish you was here with me so we could talk of old times.  I received a letter from em & [unreadable] the same day I received yours.  Emm wrote me a nice letter [unreadable] made my day when I read it.  she had not much to say about you and Em C.  She said Em was stayin at a widowers on the road from Charlestown to Alban [unreadable] miles from Alb[unreadable] surrounded [unreadable] in camp [unreadable] there is no girls out there [unreadable] with only some I or any person its that thinks any thing of himself.  Jake I tell you this is a wicked place.  too wicked for me  no meeting on Sunday no Lords people.  Think not Jake that I am dissatisfied.  I am well satisfied  this is not hard soldiering at all my objection is the evils and the temptations by which I am surrounded.
  I am det[unreadable] perform the duties that visit upon me just the same as if I were at home.  there is but few that does not sware [sic] and play cards [unreadable] boys sware [sic] in camp [unreadable] ...war at when home [unreadable]give [unreadable] you jake when I get home if ever I am permitted too get home.  I don't think we will leave here till we are discharged.  I have been to church once at Indianapolis and heard a Christian preacher [unreadable] and it comforted me.  I have nothing of importance to write but Jake you must excuse me and pardon all mistakes.  I miss thee and thy presence as a friend and cousin.  give my respects to both your sisters and franky and to all inquiring friends [unreadable] Molly [unreadable] she [unreadable] I [unreadable]her write [unreadable] to write on.  Jake I want you to go see em [unreadable] soon and kiss Em Stark for me.  but you know what.  write soon ever your Cousin and Friend M.T. Hough    Mr. J. R. Kimberlin
O yes Jake I forgot to tell you if is all right about that money[unreadable]"

In June 1863, Milton appeared on the list of Class I persons subject to military service from the Second Congressional District of Indiana.  He was shown in Lexington Twp. in Scott Co., was 23 years old, a farmer, not married, and born in Indiana.  On 12 December 1863, he enrolled in Co. K, 66 Indiana Infantry Volunteers.  And on 4 January 1864, he was mustered in as "Pvt K-66, Ind Vol Infantry; no residence given."


On 8 January 1864, Milton married Martha Jane Alcorn in North Vernon, Jennings Co., Indiana.  The Elder Swincher officiated.

Martha Jane was usually called "Mattie."  She was the daughter of John Gaylor Alcorn and his wife, Rachel M. Mann.  Mattie was born 17 May 1839 in Madisonville, Hamilton Co., Ohio.

Martha Jane (Alcorn) Hough

Mattie is found with her parents on the 1850 census in Jennings Township, Scott Co., Indiana and on the 1860 census in the same place.

Martha Jane "Mattie" (Alcorn) and Milton Thomas Hough ca 1864.  This may be their wedding photo.

Milton was apparently sick for much of 1864.  His pension papers report that "while absent sick he was reported transferred to Co. I 59, Indiana Inf., but he never joined that Company" and that he only held the rank of Private.  He was apparently in the hospital with bronchitis and fever from about May to November 1864.  On 7 June 1865, he was honorably discharged at Madison, Jefferson Co., Indiana, and mustered out.

One of his obituaries states that he attended "Butler College" (probably what is now Butler University) to become a minister after he was discharged from the military.  I need to try to confirm this.  He did, however, become a minister.

from the Hough family Bible

By November 1865, Milton and Mattie were living in Seymour, Jackson Co., Indiana.  Their daughter, Rosalie Love Hough, was born there on 21 November 1865.

On 9 April 1869, their son, Homer Harrison Hough, was born at Clear Spring, Jackson Co., Indiana.  Clear Spring is a small town about 20 miles west of Seymour.

By the 1870 census, the family was living in Rockville, Adams Township, Parke Co., Indiana. The family was listed as: Hough, Milton T., 30, M, W, Minister, born Indiana; Mattie J., 31, F, W, Keeping House, born Ohio; Rosettie, 4, F, W, born Indiana; and Homer H. 1, m, w, born Indiana.

They didn't stay in Rockville long, however.  On 3 January 1875, their daughter, Stella Naomi Hough, was born in Clarksburg, Decatur Co., Indiana.

Stella Naomi Hough, age 3 (ca 1878)

In 1880, Milton, Mattie, and their children were living in Marion, Grant Co., Indiana.  The census shows the family as: Hough, Milton T., wm 40, married, minister; Mattie J. wf 40 wife, keeping house; Rosalie, wf 14, daughter; Homer, wm 11, son; Stella N, wf 5, daughter.


By 1885, they had left Indiana and moved to Kansas.  The family was listed on the 1885 Kansas State Census in Lyons, Rice County as: M.T. Hough, 45, m, w, married, minister; M.J. Hough, 45, f w married; H.H. Hough, 16, m w; S.N. Hough 10 f w.

On 11 March 1885 in Lyons, Kansas, Milton and Mattie's daughter, Rose, married Joseph J. LaFlower.

The Hough Home at Lyons, Kansas

Martha Jane (Alcorn) Hough

Martha Jane "Mattie" (Alcorn) Hough died 19 January 1889 in Holton, Jackson Co., Kansas.  She was 49 years old.  She was buried in Holton Cemetery, Holton, Kansas.

page from Hough family Bible

By September 1889, Milton was living in Fairbury, Nebraska.  Then on 17 September 1889, only 8 months after Mattie died, Milton married Mary Victoria "Vic" Cain in Atchison, Jefferson Co., Kansas.  At the time of her marriage to Milton, Vic's residence was listed as Nortonville, Kansas.  They were married by A.J. White, pastor of Atchison Christian Church.


Vic Cain was born 2 September 1861 in Weston, Missouri.  Her parents were Lassel Cain and Susan Scott.


Milton and Vic's daughter, Inez Vida Hough, was born 20 October 1890 at Pleasanton, Kansas.

from the Hough family Bible

Rev. Milton Thomas Hough

In June 1891, Milton filed for an invalid pension based on his service in the Civil War.  He was living in Pleasanton, Linn Co., Kansas.  On 24 February 1892, Milton filed a claim that a "tumor of spersmatic (?) cord was incurred while on a forced march in the line of duty during the late Civil War between 1861 and 1865.  Also that grinsy(?) was incurred in some degree before 1861, but that he believes it was aggravated while in the service of the Union Army during the war of the rebellion and that neither grinsy(?) nor tumor of spersmatic (?) cord is the result of vicious habits and that both are to the best of his knowledge and belief of a permanent character."

In 1892, Milton wrote his will.  He named his wife, Vic, as executrix.  He left $400 to his daughter, Inez, and $200 to each of his other three children: Rose, Homer, and Stella.  He left the rest of his property to his widow, Vic.

On 14 June 1893, Milton performed the marriage ceremony for his daughter, Stella, to George Howland Healey in the Christian Church at Tipton, Missouri.

Milton and Vic's daughter, Inez, only lived to be 4 years old.  She died 17 November 1894 in Holton, Kansas of diphtheria.  She was buried in Holton Cemetery.  I have not found a picture of her.

The 1895 Kansas state census shows Milton and Vic in Holton, Jackson Co., Kansas.  The family was: M.T. Hough, 55, mw born Indiana; Vic Hough, 33, f w born Missouri and Edith LaFlower, 16 fw born New York.  Edith was the step-daughter of Milton's daughter, Rosa.

The 1900 census shows Milton and Vic living at 602 Dakota Street, Holton, Jackson Co., Kansas.  The census information states that Milton was born in February 1840 in Ohio and that Vic was born in September 1861 in Missouri.  The family was just Milton and Vic.  He was 60; she was 38.  They had been married 11 years.  She had had one child but none were living.

On 27 October 1900, Milton Thomas Hough died of "paralysis" in Holton, Kansas.  He was 60 years old.  He was buried 29 October 1900 at Holton Cemetery.

An obituary appeared on 31 October 1900 in the Morning News, Grant Co., Indiana, which stated that he was 60 years old at death, and called him  "A man of simple habits, pure life, great faith, hope and  trust."  Funeral services were conducted by D. Stewart at the Christian Church.

An obituary appeared in the Holton Recorder on 1 November 1900 that read:

The Hough siblings: Rose, Homer and Stella; ca 1900 (probably taken at the time of their father's funeral)

"Rev. M. T. Hough, who for the past thirty days has been suffering from spinal trouble and other complications, departed this life last Saturday, October 27, 1900.

In 1861 he enlisted in the Union army, and while upon the field of battle was stricken with a sun stroke and lay upon the battle field of Chattanooga for three days before any medical aid could reach him. Being rendered unfit for field service he was sent back to serve in Madison hospital where he remained until he was mustered out in 1865. Shortly thereafter he entered Butler college, Ind., to prepare himself for the ministry. He spent thirty years in the ministry of the Christian church.

The deceased was twice married, the first time to Miss Mattie J. Alcorn, of Scott county, Indiana, who departed this life February, 1889. He was married the second time to Miss Vic Cain, of Nortonville, Kansas, who with three children by the first union, two married daughters and one son, survive.

The members of the G.A.R. and M.W.A. both orders of which the deceased was a member attended the funeral. The inclement weather prevented as large an attendance at the cemetery as there otherwise would have been."

An obituary published 2 November 1900 in The Tribune stated:  "Milton T. Hough was born in Scott Co., Indiana, Feb. 6, 1840, being at the time of his embrace into rest, sixty years of age. His boyhood days were spent upon his father's farm. He left its simple duties for the first time to answer his country's call in 1861."

On 7 March 1901, Vic (Cain) Hough filed a pension claim that listed her property.  This may have been property inherited from Milton.  She listed Lots 44 and 46, Arizona Avenue, Holton, Jackson Co., Kansas that she had recently sold for $300.  She still owned Lots 3, 5, and 76 all located on Pennsylvania Ave., Holton, Kansas and with an assessed value of $2,000.


On 30 June 1902, Vic married Andrew Jackson Way in Jackson Co., Kansas.  Andrew died 23 February 1935 in Holton, Kansas.  Mary Victoria (Cain) Hough Way died 19 August 1947 in Holton, Kansas.  She was 85 years old.   She was buried in the Milton Hough family plot in Holton Cemetery, though there is apparently no marker on her grave.

I have not found a photo of Vic.

Milton Thomas Hough, b. 6 Feb 1840 at Scott Co., IN, d. 27 Oct 1900 at Holton, Jackson Co., KS

+Martha Jane Alcorn, b. 17 May 1839 at OH, m. 4 Jan 1864, d. 19 Jan 1889 at Holton, Jackson Co., KS

├── Rosalie Love Hough, b. 21 Nov 1865 at Seymour, Jackson Co., IN, d. 29 Jul 1933 at a friend's home unexpectedly, Pleasanton, Atascosa Co., TX

│   +Joseph J. LaFlower, b. 14 Jan 1855 at Two Rivers, WI, d. 7 Nov 1928 at San Antonio, TX

│   ├── Vera Stella LaFlower, b. 27 Dec 1888 at Biggsville, IL, d. Aug 1974 at a nursing home, Jourdanton, TX

│   │   +Nathaniel Clark Buck, b. circa 1878, m. 30 Sep 1908 at Christian Church, Coffeyville, KS, d. before 1920

│   │   └── Nathaniel Clark Buck Jr, b. 16 Feb 1911 at Novata, OK, d. 9 Nov 1988 at Corpus Christi, TX

│   │   +J. Claude Wilson, b. before 1900, m. 5 Feb 1920 at Christian Church, North Pleasanton, TX, d. 1947 at TX

│   │   +Charles W. Martin Sr, m. 2 Oct 1954 at Christian Church, Corpus Christi, TX, d. before 1963

│   ├── Vida Mable LaFlower, b. 22 Sep 1890 at Lyons, KS, d. 8 Jan 1988 at Atascosa Co., TX

│   │   +Russell L Mahan, b. 1 Sep 1889 at Coffeyville, KS, m. 27 Jan 1909 at the home of Mr & Mrs J J LaFlower, 1169 Spruce Street, Coffeyville, KS

│   │   +Adolph Richard Eckert, b. 30 Jan 1883 at TX, m. circa 1918, d. 20 Sep 1971 at Pleasanton, Atascosa Co., TX

│   ├── Grover B. LaFlower, b. 6 Sep 1892 at Lyons, KS, d. 20 Dec 1960 at VA

│   │   +Elizabeth (--?--)│   │  

│   │   +Virginia Turner, b. 24 Dec 1904, d. Mar 1976 at 32734 Gotha, Orange, FL

│   └── Marvyan J. LaFlower, b. 6 Nov 1894 at Kildare, OK, d. 26 Feb 1896 at Arkansas City, KS

├── Homer Harrison Hough, b. 9 Apr 1869 at Clear Springs, Jackson Co., IN, d. 8 Dec 1932 at Pocatello, ID

│   +Clara C. Holmack, b. circa 1882 at IA, m. 24 Oct 1907 at Pocatello, Bannock Co., ID

│   +Laura J. Crowe, b. 20 Apr 1883 at KY, m. 4 Mar 1913 at Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., UT, d. Jul 1974 at Tacoma, Pierce Co., WA

│   ├── Vera F. Hough, b. circa 1916 at ID

│   └── Dorothy C. Hough, b. 16 Nov 1918 at ID

│       +Ray Willilam Bettis

└── Stella Naomi Hough, b. 3 Jan 1875 at Clarksburg, Decatur Co., IN, d. 19 Jun 1974 at Greenview Nursing Home, Indianapolis, Marion Co., IN

    +George Howland Healey, b. 14 Nov 1873 at Rensselaer, Jasper Co., IN, m. 14 Jun 1893 at Christian Church, Tipton, Moniteau Co., MO, d. 13 Feb 1945 at Indianapolis, Marion Co., IN

    ├── Henry Sylvester Healey, b. 16 Nov 1894 at Sedalia, MO, d. 10 Aug 1896 at Brookston, IN

    ├── George Warren Healey, b. 27 Jan 1896 at Brookston, White Co., IN, d. 12 Feb 1995 at Palm Springs, Riverside Co., CA

    │   +Ada Mae Brewer, b. 14 Dec 1897 at South Bend, IN, m. 22 Nov 1917 at Hattisburg, MS, d. 3 Dec 1966 at Palm Springs, CA

    │   └── George Warren Healey Jr, b. 31 Oct 1918, d. 20 Jan 1940 at Chicago, Cook Co., IL

    │   +Mildred H. (--?--), m. 25 Mar 1968 at Palm Springs, CA

    ├── Vera Voynne Healey, b. 6 Jun 1898 at Brookston, White Co., IN, d. 7 Dec 1975 at Turtle Creek Convalescent Center, 55 W. 33rd, Indianapolis, Marion Co., IN

    │   +William Robert Braden, b. 28 Sep 1898 at Mulberry, Clinton Co., IN, m. 24 Feb 1923 at Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY, d. 18 Jun 1979 at Richmond, Wayne Co., IN

    │   └── living child

    ├── Ivah Maud Healey, b. 14 Aug 1900 at Brookston, White Co., IN, d. 10 Jan 1989 at Indianapolis, Marion Co., IN

    │   +Roy Dallas Parks, b. 15 Dec 1892 at Antioch, Green Co., IN, m. 3 Feb 1925 at Indianapolis, Marion Co., IN, d. 25 Jun 1957 at Cold Spring Rd. Veterans Hospital, Indianapolis, Marion Co., IN

    ├── Adna Julian Healey, b. 23 Dec 1905 at 10:15 a.m., Rensselaer, Jasper Co., IN, d. 9 Aug 1997 at Mckenzie Willamette Hospital, Eugene, Lane Co., OR

    │   +(--?--) (--?--), m. before 1931

    │   +Tommie Kight, b. 6 Dec 1906 at San Angelo, TX, m. 2 May 1932 at Yuma, AZ, d. 10 Sep 1998 at Eugene, Lane Co., OR

    │   ├── James Howland Healey, b. 5 Jun 1942 at Los Angeles, CA, d. 16 Mar 2002 at local hospital, Las Vegas, NV

    │   └── living child

    └── Homer Max Healey, b. 20 Feb 1915 at Rensselaer, Jasper Co., IN, d. 19 Jan 1990 at 9:50 p.m. at Kings Daughters Hospital, Madison, Jefferson Co., IN

        +Elizabeth Dillon Rea, b. 22 Nov 1909 at Madison, Jefferson Co., IN, m. 29 Sep 1935 at Madison, Jefferson Co., IN, d. 4 Apr 1978 at Houston, TX

        ├── living

        └── Patricia Harper Healey, b. 27 Jan 1942 at Mexico City, Mexico, d. 30 Dec 2003 at San Diego, San Diego Co., CA

        +Martha (--?--), m. circa 1988

+Mary Victoria Cain, b. 2 Sep 1861 at Weston, MO, m. 17 Sep 1889 at Atchison, Jefferson Co., KS, d. 19 Aug 1947 at Holton, Jackson Co., KS

└── Inez Vida Hough, b. 20 Oct 1890 at Pleasanton, KS, d. 17 Nov 1894 at Holton, Jackson Co., KS