Robert Houssels, a farmer and successful and prominent heather manufacturer, was born in Rhine (Prussia) Germany, near Cologne, February 18, 1834. He was the youngest of eleven children of John P. and Margaret. (Weber) Houssels. Our subject immigrated to America at the age of seventeen and landed in New York; was reared in a rural village and received his preparatory education in the common schools of his fatherland, and finally completed the same in the Mulheim High School. He was apprenticed to the tanner's trade after completing his education, and served three years for his board. He then worked for wages for five years, in Cincinnati, St. Louis and other places, and in 1856 he began tanning in Perry County, Tenn., on his own responsibility, and has succeeded far beyond his expectations, being the owner of 25,000 acres of land, on which he has an iron furance, not now in use. The home place consists of 100 acres, and on this hand is his fine steam tannery and his beautiful home residence. October 28, 1860, he wedded Docia Young, born February 4, 1843, daughter of Samuel Young. They have eight children: John H., Robert S., Julia E., Jennie, Bismarck, Rosina R., Minnie R. and Norma. Mr. Houssels is somewhat conservative in politics, but rather favors Democratic principles. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and a man of liberal and generous disposition, and is always ready to do his part in furthering enterprises for the public good. Mrs. Houssels and some of the children are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.