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'''Leonidas Campbell Houk''' (June 8, 1836 – May 25, 1891) was an Eastern [[Tennessee]] Unionist and [[Republican]] who fought against fellow Southern Confederates during the [[American Civil War]] and later represented the state's 2nd congressional district from 1879 until his death in 1891.
==Political career==
===U.S. House of Representatives===
After running as a [[Democrat]] in the 1868 elections for the House of Representatives against incumbent [[Radical Republican]] Horace Maynard and losing by a landslide,<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=627167 TN - District 02 Race - Nov 03, 1868]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 25, 2021.</ref> Houk was victorious when running for the seat a decade later in the 1878 midterms as a Republican,<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=627276 TN - District 02 Race - Nov 05, 1878]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 25, 2021.</ref> and re-elected six times.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=233331 Candidate - Leonidas C. Houk]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 25, 2021.</ref>
In late May 1891, Houk visited a drug store and mistook a bottle of toxic [[arsenic]] for a glass of ice water, which he drank.<ref name=knoxvillefocus>Hill, Ray (October 6, 2013). [https://knoxfocus.com/archives/congressman-leonidas-campbell-houk/ Congressman Leonidas Campbell Houk]. ''The Knoxville Focus''. Retrieved August 25, 2021.</ref> He died in pain the next day, which came as a shock to the district's constituents.<ref>May 26, 1891. [https://www.nytimes.com/1891/05/26/archives/death-of-congressman-houk-took-arsenic-by-mistake-for-a-glass-of.html DEATH OF CONGRESSMAN HOUK.; TOOK ARSENIC BY MISTAKE FOR A GLASS OF ICE WATER.]. ''The New York Times''. Archived version available [https://archive.is/sD7ZC here]. Retrieved August 25, 2021.</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=H000818 Profile] at the ''Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
*[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8039036/leonidas-campbell-houk Profile] at ''Find a Grave
{{DEFAULTSORT:Houk, Leonidas}}
[[Category:Tennessee]]
[[Category:American Civil War]]
[[Category:Republicans]]
[[Category:Former Democrats]]
[[Category:United States Veterans]]
==Political career==
===U.S. House of Representatives===
After running as a [[Democrat]] in the 1868 elections for the House of Representatives against incumbent [[Radical Republican]] Horace Maynard and losing by a landslide,<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=627167 TN - District 02 Race - Nov 03, 1868]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 25, 2021.</ref> Houk was victorious when running for the seat a decade later in the 1878 midterms as a Republican,<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=627276 TN - District 02 Race - Nov 05, 1878]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 25, 2021.</ref> and re-elected six times.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=233331 Candidate - Leonidas C. Houk]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 25, 2021.</ref>
In late May 1891, Houk visited a drug store and mistook a bottle of toxic [[arsenic]] for a glass of ice water, which he drank.<ref name=knoxvillefocus>Hill, Ray (October 6, 2013). [https://knoxfocus.com/archives/congressman-leonidas-campbell-houk/ Congressman Leonidas Campbell Houk]. ''The Knoxville Focus''. Retrieved August 25, 2021.</ref> He died in pain the next day, which came as a shock to the district's constituents.<ref>May 26, 1891. [https://www.nytimes.com/1891/05/26/archives/death-of-congressman-houk-took-arsenic-by-mistake-for-a-glass-of.html DEATH OF CONGRESSMAN HOUK.; TOOK ARSENIC BY MISTAKE FOR A GLASS OF ICE WATER.]. ''The New York Times''. Archived version available [https://archive.is/sD7ZC here]. Retrieved August 25, 2021.</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=H000818 Profile] at the ''Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
*[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8039036/leonidas-campbell-houk Profile] at ''Find a Grave
{{DEFAULTSORT:Houk, Leonidas}}
[[Category:Tennessee]]
[[Category:American Civil War]]
[[Category:Republicans]]
[[Category:Former Democrats]]
[[Category:United States Veterans]]