The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-28
STORIES TOLD OF
SAM HOUSTON
His Life Among the Indians After His
Marriage.
The" WASHINGTON OF TEXAS
His Strange Departure From Teno
ncssec said Have Given
Himself up 10 Dissipation.
His Career.
THE WASHINGTON OF TEXAS.

people Of his state as the wash ng ton
of Texas" was born So Virginia In 1893.
Ills widowed mother removed 20 Ten
nssseo when be was nine years old.
Here nc lab0red on the farm ana went TO
school until bee was lc. There was set
tlcment Of Cherokeos about illne miles
from his home. where he made frequent
visits aud learned 20 speak the Chero-
kee language. lie was adopted as a son
by John Jolly. a Chief and formally ad-
mittcd % tho trib Hc was equal 10
them IN feats OF strength, agility boat
ing and horsnmanship. ~ lived
with them three years. until the war OF
1912 broke out when he enlisted as a pri-
waite soldier was intimate with General
Jackson. promoted to first lieutenant and
resigned In ISIS He was elected twice TO
Congress from Tennessee and in 1927 was
Governor OF that State In January, 1873,
he married the belle OF Nashville Miss
Virginia Fraser I'm about two months
after his marriage he Governor Of Ten
nesseec suddenly resigned, left his wife
and disappeared. This act caused a great
sensation through the country. Houston
was regarded at the time as the most
promising public man in the South. lie
had won distinction In Congress his
administration as Governor was success
full and his popularity was unb0unded.
He had the friendship Of jackson. and
many thought that Houston would one
day occupy the Presidential chair But
he flung away an opportunities. all the
honors that had been showcred on him;
flung away the pleasures and comforts
OF civilized life and took up his residence
among the Indians.
HE WAS RETICENT
friends Of the cause OF this most strange
act OF his life when any Of them would
touch upon this subject he would curtly
say; sir. let Us speak Of something
else" But Il became known afterward
that Virginia loved John Endlcott and
was secretly engaged TO him. but under
the pressure OF her ambitious parents
influence had accepted Houstons atten-
lions. and he married her without the
least suspicion of the facts, so carefully
had the designing mother drilled the
daughter and these points being known
led TO the reasonable surmise that Hous-
ton discovered his wife's sorrow and she
confessed the facts 10 him. John En-
dicott. AT the time. was the Governors
private secretary. II is also said that
Houston afterward wrote to her a very
kind letter. I'm which ne advised her TO get
a divorce, which she did and married
her lover.
Houston spent the night. until day
break. in his office, wrote his resignation
60 the legislature went through his pa
pers. destroying some and re-arranging
others, ana having concluded his affairs
went back TO his house and found that
Virginia had gone 10 her mother. lie
then went 90 The stable. mounted his
horse and left the town
We next hear Of him at Cairo. at
the mouth OF the Ohio river, a small
trading post at that time Here he
purchased a boat and loaded IL with a
stock OF groceries and goods for the In
dian trade, also salt. bacon, whisky. to-
hacco. etc. He had some experience when
a youth in a grocery store. and hoated
down the Mississ ppi i'm his little store
boat until he reached Montgomery's
Point. at the mouth OF the White River.
He stopped al many places TO trade and
hunt the abundant game In the cane
brakes along the river lie had for COM
panons a negro servant a white man
who had river experience. and two large
hear dogs. He stayed several DAYS at
Helena with James Bowie and his broth
or. Resin. who lived there. and at Mem
phis. where he was recognized by some
who knew him and sent Intelligence 10
Nashville Of his presence. With great
labor ne worked his boat up the
Arkansas River 10 Little Rock. stopping
along 10 rest and trade. lie would ex-
cnange his furs. deerskins and beeswax.
when ne could, for groceries. At Lit
tie Rock he met Wharton and Elias
Rector. Captain Pennywb and other dis
i.nguishcd citizens Of this State. and AT
Van Buren, he met Major John Henry.
with whom he formed q strong friend
ship. While trading al Webbers Falls
he met John Jolly his foster father.
who was one OF the old settlers. and
lived on the Wan Greek The greeting
was warm and afectlonate between the
old CHIEF and the boy he had befriendcd
81 the ola nation.
AMONG FRIENDS AGAIN.
Houston was now at home among his
friends lie was wild with JOY dressed
himself IN Indian costume. joined their
hunting parties and was foremost at heir
leats and games. The Cnerokees knew
his nehting qualities. lie had fought
against them as an officer I'm the army
under jackson. and fought with them
against tho Creeks in the bloody and des-
rerate fights of Horse Shoe BEND and
Talladega
~ warrior they admired him. There
were many rowing bands of Osagcs get I'm
the Cherokee coUntry with whom they had
conflicts. and Houston was always fore
most I'm the light re seemed % court
the widest excitement and danger So
war. hunting and tcvciry probably az
distraction Of the mind from the 'orrow
he had FED from In Nashville. fof he had
d,votedy loved Virlinia Fraser until tho
cruel blow fell that drove him from her
side
Houston was a frequent visitor 10 Fort
Gibson. Fort Smith. Fort Coffce and Van
Rurcn. lie knew many Of the officers.
Was always welcome to their hospitality
and always wound un his visits I'm
Wild orgy Of dissipation. lie became ac-
uusnied with he Interesting ROGERS fam
ilv living near Fort Gibson cant John
Rogers the elder brother. was vicc-chicf
of the old Settlers then The eldest s's-
ter. Maria. WIS married 10 John Drew.
an eminent Cherokee. who lived on BAYOU
Nerard near the Cherokee agency. Do
rrestic disaefeemcnt led 20 separation
She marie IKE Daniels. lived for several
years on iht resent Payne place. opp0s-
ite Fort smith. and died near North Fork
of Canadian River an ar these Rogers
girls we're handsome ard snrlghily women
The ancestor OF this family commanded
Il company royal'sts in our Revolution.
7Ie was noted for his bravery ana caused
the patriots under Francis Marion much
trouble In Geht with them he was
separated from his men and chased BY
Marfons men to high blur On the river
lie was riding a hish-spirited mare ana
could not escape As they were advanc-
Ing with Wild cheers "a capture him. he
lenred his horse over the brink and inro