The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-07-12
HousroN's GENEROSITY.

Row the Famous Texan Treated n Mau
who Had Settled on His Land.
Many are the stories told or sam
Houston. the first president, and AFTER
wards the first representative irom
Texas. There was a stretch OF coun-
try near Quincy, ILL.,, known as the
"Indian tract" Sam Houston had IL
tle to a great deal of ii, real estate
fact which it would seem many or
the earlier settlers of that region
careless pioneer brood--were una
ware of. One of them came to Rich
ardson. Representative to congress at
that time from the quincy ulstrlct,
and asked him If he knew sam Hous-
Ton. Richardson said he did, where-
upon his constituent confided to him
that he had inadvertently settled on
one hundred and sixty acres OF Hous-
tons land, and that every dollar ne
was worth stood in the barns, house,
fences and other Improvements on the
land. He had just learned, after liv-
Sng there eight years, that Houston
had title to it, and that he did not
He wanted Richardson to see the con-
uuerori of Mexico, and make the best
terms he could. AS 1t stood, he was
absolutely at Houston's mercy.
Richardson. on his return to Con-
gress, met Houston, and told him the
story.
And now, Houston" said Richard
son. 1.-The question is, what will you
take and give this friend Of mine
quit-claim deed to that one hundred
and sixty acres"
What sort of a man Is this con-
stituent of yours who has blundered
pom my land?' asked Houston.
Good square, honest man." replied
Richardson. =
when l turn him off my land"
said Houston hopefully. Il reckon he
and his family will be beggars."
Utterly ruined" responded Rich
ardson.
Houston thought moment. What's
this farm worth now?" he asked,
Improvements and all, about six
thousand dollars"
What was the bare one hundred
and sixty acres worth when your fell
low went on it?"
About five dollars per acre; eight
hundred dollars in ALL"
Good fellow, this man of yours,
Richardson"
BEST in the world"
"Tell him to send me eight hundred
dollars and I'll make him a deed"
In the course of time on came the
eight hundred dollars in a New York
draft. Richardson sought Houston,
who promptly made deed, and hand
ed it to Richardson. Then he took the
draft. and, after he had looked at 1t
a moment, turned It over and endors-
ed it.
you say. Richardson. this man OF
yours is good fellow?"
"First-class man every way" re-
sponded Richardson.
Send him back this draft" said
Houston, "and tell him Sam Hous-
tons 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?"
1.-TWO hundred dollars ought to do
It," said Richardson.
well then" said Houston, you
give him back the draft and tell him
TO buy a first-ciass saddle horse, about
four years old, and keep him for me,
When Congress adjourns I'll go home
WIN you, anu Wueu get my NlSll Jul,
I'll take the horse and ride him down
to Texas"
Richardson complied with this new
arrangement. and the man in Illinois
received back his draft and bought a
saddle horse. Just before adjourn
anent Houston came over to Richard
son.
THAT fellow that's got my horse
out in Illinois, you say, is a tiptop
good man."
zone of the best men in my district"
replied Richardson.
"Well," said Houston, with a sigh,
"I would have liked frst-rate to see
him and also my horse But I've got
to go straight to Texas, as affairs
turn oM. TIL tell you what to do
however, when you get home Go
over and see this man for me- and say
10 him to sell the horse and do what
he pleases with the money And, by
the way, Richardson, ] 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 one hun.
dred and sixty acres in the record OF
the Quincy land office.