Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-07
Sam HOustOn's Generosity.
washington Starr

washington starr
Many are the stories told OF Sam Hous-
ton. the first president and afterward the
first representative from Texas. Therd
was a stretch of country near Quincy,
ILL.,, known as the Indian tract" Sam
| Houston had title to u great deal of It,.
"A real estate fact which IL would seem
many of the earlier settlers of that re-
gion-a careless pioneer brood-were I'M
] aware of. one of theIi, a writer for the
Star was told, came to Richardson.
representative at that time from the
Quincy District and asked him If he
knew Sam Houston. Richardson said he
did, whereupon his constituent confded
to him that he had inadvertently settled
on 100 acres of Houston's land. and that
every dollar he was worth stood in barns,
house, fences, and other iInproveme nts
on the land. He had just learned. after
living there eight years. that Houston
had title to il, and that he did not. H.
wanted Richardson 10 see the conqueror
of Mexico and make the best terms he
could. AS it stood, he was absolutely
at Houston's mercy.
Richardson, on his return TO Congress.
met Houston, and told him the story.
"And now, Houston" said Richardson.
, 'the question is, what will you take and
give this friend of mine quit-claim deed
TO the 100 acres?'
what sort of a man is this constituent
Of yours who has Numbered upon my
land?" asked Houston.
Good, square, honest man." replied
Richardson.
when / turn him off my land" said
Houston. hopefully. II reckon he and his
family will be beggars."
Utterly ruined" responded Richard
son.
Houston thought a moment. whats
this farm worth now?" he asked.
improvements and all, about 5000"
what was the hare place worth when
your fellow went on it?'
About So an acre-$s0o in all"
Good fellow, this man of yours, Rich
ardson?"
BEST in the world"
'"rell him to send me $500, and I'll make
him a deed"
In the course of time on came the $500
in a New York draft. Richardson sought
Houston. who promptly made a deed,
and handed it to Richardson. Then he
took the draft. and, after he had looked
at II a moment, turned 1t over and en-
dorssd IL.
"You say Richardson, this man OF yours
is a good fellow?"
''First-clsss man every way" responded
Richardson.
''Send him back this draft" said Hous-
ton, "and tell him Sam Houston's changed
his mind. What can he buy good young
horse for in that country. as good sad
dle-horse as you have out thereY
1.-TWO hundred dollars ought to do IT,"
said Richardson.
"Well, them" said Houston. "ycu give
him back the draft, and tell him to buy
a first-class saddle-horse. about years
old and keep him for ;he. When Gen.
gress adjourns I'll go home w'yh you. and
when / get my visit out III take the
horse and ride him Gown 10 Texas
Richardson complied with this now ar
rangement. and the man in Illinois re-
ceivcd back his draft. AMI bought sad
dle-horse. Just before adjournment Hous-
ton came over to Rich lr,ison.
THAT fellow that's got my horse cut
in Illinois, you say. IL a sip-top. good
man?''
lone of the best men IN my district"
replied Richardson.
We'll" said Houston. with a sigh. Il
would have liked first rate 10 see aim.
and also my horse But I've got to 30
straight to Texas rs affairs turn out
III tell you what you do. however, when
you get home. Go over and see mis- man
for me. and say to him to sell the horse.
and do what he pleases with the money.
And. by the way. Richardson. I wish
you'd write me and tell me II 1t was
good horse. or not
The curious can read the copy Of Sam
Houston's deed to the 100 acres In the
record OF the quincy land crfice.