Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-20
SAM HOUsToN's GENEROSITY.
How the Famous Texan Treated I
Man Who Had Settled ON His Land.

How the Famous Texan Treated q
Man Who Had Settled ON His Land.
Many are the stories told of Sam Houston,
the first president and afterward the first
Representative from Texas. There was
stretch of country near Quincy, Illinois,
known the Indian tract" Sam Houston
had title to a great deal of it, real estate
fact which it would seem many of the
earlier settlers of that region-a careless
pioneer brood-were unaware of. One Of
them, writer for The Star was told.
came to Richardson, Representative at
that time from the Quincy district, and
asked him IL he knew Sam Houston. Rich
ardson said he did, whereupon his con-
stituent confided to him that he had in
advertently settled on 16O acres of Hous-
tons land, ana that every dollar he was
worth stood in barns, house, fences and
other improvements on the land. He had
just learned, after living there eight years,
that Houston had title to it, and that he
did not. He wanted Richardson to see the
cCnQueror of Mexico and make the best
terms he could AS it stood, he was abb
solutely at Houstcn's mercy.
Richardson, on his return to Congress,
net Houston, and told him the story.
"And now, Houston" said Richardson.
1.-The question is, what will you take and
give this friend of mine Quit-claim deed
to the 160 acreS?"
What sort of a man is this constituent
Of yours who has blundered upon my
land?" asked Houston.
Good square. honest man." replied Rich
ardson.
When 1 turn him off my land" said
Houston, hopefully, Il reckon he and his
family will be beggars.'
utterly ruined" responded Richardson.
Houston thought moment. whats this
farm worth now?'' he asked.
improvements and all, about $6,000.'
What was the bare 16O worth when
your fellow went on it?''
About 50 an acre; $500 in all, -
Good fellow, this man Of yours Rich
ardson?'
Tell him to send me $500, and I'll make
him deed"
In the course of time on came the $500
in New York draft Richardson sought
Houston, who promptly made a deed. and
haLded it to Richardson. Then he took the
draft and, after he had looked at il a
moment turned it over and Endorsed it,
You say, Richardson, this man of yours
is a good fellow?"
"First-class man every way" responded
Richardson.
Send him back this draft" said Hons
ton. land tell him Sam Houston's changed
his mind. What can he buy a good young
horse for In that country. as good a saddle
horse as you have out there?'
Two hundred dollars ought to do ft's
said Richardson.
Well. them said Houston, you give
him back the draft and tell him to buy a
flst-class saddle horse, about four years
old, and keep him for me- When Congress
adjourns I'll go home with you, and when
l get my visit out I'll take the horse and
ride him down to Texas
Richardson complied with this new ar
rangement, and the man in Illinois received
back his draft and bought a saddle horse.
Just before adjournment Houston came
over to Richardson. E
That fellow that's got my horse out in
Illinois, you say, is a tp-top good man?'
"One of the lest men in my district" re-
piled Richardson. :
We'll" said Houston, with a sigh EFT
would have liked first rate to see him and
also my horse. But I've got to go straight
to Texas IS affairs turn out. I'll tell you
what you do, however, when you get home
Go over and see this man for me, and say
to him to sell the horse and do what he
pleases with the morey. And, by the way,
Richardson, 1 wish you'd write me and tell
me If it was a good horse or not"
The curious can read the copy of Sam
Houston's deed to the 160 acres in the
record of the Quincy land office.