George Francis Houck

George Francis Houck (July 9, 1847 – March 26, 1916) was Chancellor of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland from 1882 to 1908. He also wrote Volume One of the 1903 A History of Catholicity in Northern Ohio and the Diocese of Cleveland from 1749 to December 31, 1900, an overview history of Roman Catholicism in northern Ohio beginning with Catholic missions in the American frontier of the Ohio Country, one of the first settled parts of the Midwestern United States, and concluding with a history of the Cleveland diocese through the end of the 19th century.

Early life Houck was born July 9, 1847, in Tiffin, Ohio. His parents were John and Odile (Fischer) Houck. They were natives of Germany. His father immigrated to this country from the Grand Duchy of Baden when he was four years old, his mother when she was ten years old. They were married February 16, 1846. For forty years John Houck was a shoe merchant in Tiffin. For two years, when Houck was eighteen years old and his father was sick, Houck took complete charge of the business.

In July 1877, Houck was appointed chaplain of St. Vincent's Charity Hospital, Cleveland. and he is buried at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Tiffin, Ohio.

Historical writing In 1888 Houck wrote A Memoir of the Life and Labors of the Right Rev. Amadeus Rappe, D.D., First Bishop of Cleveland. "Go and do in like manner", from the parable of the Good Samaritan who binds up wounds, translated for the 21st century as: "Jesus said to him, 'Go and do likewise. Horstmann was an organizing member, Horstmann wrote, in his approbation, that he understood this work to be a model history for other dioceses and took credit for proposing a diocesan history. Houck's other works did not include an approbation.

Works or publications Houck's newer published works are revisions and expansions of his older works. His subjects are northern Ohio Catholic Church history and biographies of Catholics in northern Ohio.