Houghton also founded his own publishing company, Hurd and Houghton, with partner Richard M. Hurd in 1864, with George H. Mifflin joining the partnership in 1872.

In 1878, Ticknor and Fields, now under the leadership of James R. Osgood, found itself in financial difficulties and merged its operations with Hurd and Houghton. The new partnership, named Houghton, Osgood and