Houghton was born in Sterling, Ma on April 15, 1825. His father, Samuel Houghton was prominent in the Whig party of Massachusetts. After school in Worcester, Ma., F.T. Houghton became interested in mercantile pursuits, C.W. Warren & Co. of Boston, A.T. Stewart & Co. of New York, and Venancio Sanchez & Co. of St. Augustine, Florida. With 6 other passengers, he sailed for California, via Panama (Jan. 1849) from St. Augustine. Houghton arrived in San Francisco on August 7, 1849 and immediately went to the big bar on the Mokelumne River, eventually employed as pilot for Captain Sutter on the first steamer on the San Joaquin River. Houghton was voted one of the first members of the Board of Supervisors for Tuolumne County, during which he was engaged in keeping a hotel and store at Tims Springs.
From the description of Autobiography and Reminiscence of Frederick T. Houghton, Hornitos, 1901. (The Society of California Pioneers). WorldCat record id: 55987618
