When Catherine Houston was born on 10 August 1841, in Hancock, Illinois, United States, her father, John Houston Sr, was 25 and her mother, Christena Ettleman, was 19. She married George Ettleman on 17 February 1859. They were the parents of at least 4 sons and 1 daughter. She lived in Deloit, Holt, Nebraska, United States in 1910 and Lake Township, Holt, Nebraska, United States in 1920. She died on 2 January 1929, in Holt Township, Gage, Nebraska, United States, at the age of 87, and was buried in Holt Township, Gage, Nebraska, United States.