Wilson and Hough Family Histories

When Robert M. Wilson married M. Joy Hough on October 5, 1945, two Centennial Farm Families were joined and they are still joined as Robert C. Wilson owns and operates portions of the Hough Family Farm.

William Hough came to Gloucester, Mass. in 1640 and was one of the first settlers. His descendants moved to New London, Conn. and then to Lebanon, N.H. in 1778 and where the Hough Family continues to raise fruit and was selected as a Historic Farm by the USDA.

When the Erie Canal opened Walter Hough and three cousins sought land to the West. They chose quarter sections near the Clinton River, in what became Almont, Michigan, because it was conducive for apple production.

The Hough family has been uniquely involved in Agricultural Innovations. Walter Hough’s Grandson Walter K. Hough and his son Charles Hough built one of the first Controlled Atmosphere (CA) Apple Storages in Michigan. Son Wells Hough build one of the first Dairy Milking Parlors in Michigan. Son Dr. Frederick Hough introduced scab resistant apples and over 60 other fruit cultivars around the world.