Born in Ohio in 1836, John J. Van Houten learned to be a printer in Des Moines, Iowa, and by 1860 was living in Winterset, Madison County, Iowa. He worked briefly in Audubon City for the Audubon County Pioneer newspaper, then moved to Lewis, Cass County, Iowa in January 1861 and became foreman of the Cass County Gazette, the first newspaper published in the county.

He enlisted on August 1, 1862, in Company I, 23rd Iowa Infantry, as first sergeant, and was mustered into service on August 28, 1862. Promoted to second lieutenant in June 1863, and to captain the same month, Van Houten was mustered out of service with the regiment on July 26, 1865, in Harrisburg, Texas.

After duty in southeast Missouri, the 23rd Iowa fought in the battles of Port Gibson, Champion Hill, Big Black River Bridge, the siege of Vicksburg and Fort Blakely.

Following the war, Van Houten worked for merchant Joseph C. Yetzer in Atlantic, Iowa, and became well known to the citizens of Cass County. “No man had more friends” than Van Houten, according to a county history.

He died October 19, 1884, and is buried with his parents in Woodland Cemetery, Des Moines, Iowa.

Carte-de-Visite by unknown photographer.

Image Courtesy Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield; WICR 31872