Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-07-22
Saw nOrsrON,s RROrnEis.
Nearly 100 Wears OId-Some OF
the Story Obtained From
Him.

Chicago News.l
Next to being great man oneself,
the next best thing is, perhaps, TO be
a great mans brother, or in some sim
liar way an adjacent Of celebrity. Such
a fate is not an uncommon one, but
there are very few cases so singular as
that of an old gentleman now living in
this city at No. 62S Madison street,
who while being full brother to no
less parsonage than'the late eminent
General Sam" Houston, mas never
seen, or even as much as heard from
his distinguished brother. The circum.
stances which brought about so Gu
rious an estrangement were learned in
an interview with the old gentleman
yesterday at his home. His name is
John Houston, and he Is fast verging
on his Tooth year. Nearly a century
of laborious existence has palsied his
limbs aud brought him to the couch
upon which he must soon close his
eyes in death. His voice is weak and
ALTERING, and his mind wanders aim
lessly about among the countless
"reminiscences of life that has been
prolonged far past the period allotted
to man. His story, such as could be
obtained was gathered by fragments
from long desultory talk, in which
he would wander from one topic to
another, utterly without conference.
The Houston family, as appears
from his story, is of Scotch extrac-
ton, but, like many others, was driven
from home during the persecution in
Cromwells time, and took refuge in
the north of Ireland, from which To-
cality many Of Erin's most distin:-
guished sons have emanated. Here
they lived, as it would seem, in poor
circumstances, as peasant farmers.
Mr.. Houston himself has a marked
Scotch accent, and is particular to lay
stress on his CALIFORNIAN origin. Il
mind" he said, seeing my faether's
faether wearing the Scotch bonnet"
in 70 or 80 (meaning 1889 or
1900, / don't know which, my faether
came ava from home to the States.
He was too puir to tax US a, and sac
Just left me and my eldest brither
there. Sam was yet unborn. There
we're in the family who came to Amer
lea Robert, who, on arriving at man
hood, moved to Cincinnati, where he
went into the grain business aud
amassed a considerable fortune, and
raised family, some of whom are now
living, and Daniel, who settled in Port
Hope. Ontario. Sam was born in
ROckbridge county, Virginia, in 1893. I"
Meanwhile the brothers at home
grew to manhood and married. John s
children, as they arrived at mature
years, leaving the parental roof,
sought the four corners of the earth.
One came to America ana settled in
the West, another located in Dublin,
third in Edinburgh, and two sailed
for Australia, where they now reside.
AS the father came first to the
middle age, and afterwards into de-.
clining years, he found himself alone,
and without the means of support
He was a sawyer, and not able in la
borious middle age to provide against
the needs of old age. Already an old
man, he felt con strained to leave the
home of his father and take a Journey
across the sea. He came to America
and lived for time with grandchild
in the West. He has since lived with
his daughter, Mrs. DormaG, at the ad-
dress above given.
He was asked why he had never
sought ont his brothers after his ar
rival in this country.
"Eh. mon" was his reply, they
were rich and | was a puir old man,
and rich folk are no fond of their puir
kin, so ! just kept ava fra them" 1t
seems, however, that he started on one
occasion to attend some meeting which
"Sam" was to address. 1t was during
the old gentleman's residence in Chi
cago. and the meeting was held at &
hall down town.
"A German" said the old man,
"who was weel acquaint wi him,
(meaning SAM gi' me a line TO him,
and tawd me to just gang and see him.
But when | got 'maist till the place, |
war cen ia en- badly, and l could gaze
nae Further. | wanted a drink of
whisky, but ! stacheFed SO that the
folk thought | was the worse O liquor
aud Wa'd give me none. But they gie
me wee drap of lemonade, and sac l
got home.
OF General Sam famous career as
President Of the Republic of Texas.
during the brief existence Of f that
government, and of his record in
Congress during the early years of the
history OF the young State, the old
man seems 10 know nothing, except in
the most general way.
Sam was great warrior" is his
succinct commentary on the great
mans career. He knew more and
seemed 10 care more for the other
brothers, ROBERT and Daniel. Sam
is to him q myth, or a dim memory.
a strange providence forbade that he
| shozld see the younges' and greatest
member Of tie family, and thousands
of miles were between the to during
the period Of either'E usefulness. As
the end Of life draws near, the old
man sUecumbs to tho hand Of death
that is bearing dOVl upon him, ard
gives his feeble thoughts to the recoi-
lection Of his own life. For Sam
he has scarcely a word.