The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-01-03


 this family commanded a company of royallsts in our revolution. He was mo- ted for his bravery, and caused the pa triots under Francis Marion much trou- ble. In fight with them he was sep arated from his men and chased by river. He was riding high-spirited mare and could not escape. As they were advancing with wild cheers to capture him, he leaped his horse over the brink and into the river far below, swam over safely, turned and shouted defiance and escaped to the Cherokee
 country Tallihina was the young un- married sister and Houston courted and married her. He built q cabin near by, went to housekeeping, had a small cornfield, and dealt in groceries. When he was absent Tallihna attended to the business It is a fact that Houston's career was wild and dissipated. He drank ntemperately and when he had whiskey in his store was liberal and ex- travagant with it, so much so that the Indians in the vicinity were demoral- ized, which led to brawls and bloodshed among them. While he lived there Tallihina and Houston were frequent guests of the officers and their ladies Of Fort Gibson, where they were very popular and always welcomed, and they finally removed from Fort Gibson and settled at "Wilsons Rock" on the west side of the Arkansas opposite to Fort Coffee then occupied by the mili- to, dl1 Jo1y a r1t t1i n Bonneville. Here he built a house and store room and lived until he left for Texas Tn his wild and insane orgies with his Cherokee associates he was dangerous and would have been killed but for his great popularity, and on such occasions they would surround and tie him until he became sober. At one time, when crazy drunk he as- saulted John Jolly, his best friend, and beat him severely. He was secured, af- ter a fierce struggle, during which he was knocked senseless and thought to be dead, and the old chief mourned over him piteously, but he recovered in a few days after the tender care they gave him. His remorse for this act caused a change in his life. He be- came sober and at called convention of the Cherokees he publicly apolo- gized for his errors, begged them to for get his faults, said he intended to leave the nation and shook hands with all in token of amity.
 Over the river at Fort Coffee. Hous ton had frequent and friendly inter- course with the officers of the post. It was here that he received his mail af- ter his retreat was known, and letters came to him from Washington, Nash vile and Little Rock. The invasion of Texas was being organized by Colonel Travis. Houston was in communica- ton with the leaders of the movement and he decided on his course in that direction, although he had thought of joining Bonneville's exploring exped- tion. He had lived among the Chero- kees about three years The fever of excitement that led him there had burned out. There was an affectionate parting between him and Tallihina. He mounted his Indian pony and came down to Van Buren and Fort Smith, stayed a few days at Captain Rogers hotel and started on his road to Texas. Major John Henry, of Van Buren, and Major Elias Rector, of Fort Smith, ac- companied him on the road as far as Boggy depot in the Choctaw nation where they parted. Houston was poor, ill dressed and riding a small pony. John Henry dismounted from his fine horse and exchanged for the pony and Major Rector gave him a fine pair of pistols. This was in the year 1892.
 For his brilliant and successful career in Texas as soldier and statesman his name is bright in the history of our country.
 Houston did not forget his Cherokee wife, and after the excitement of the Texas campaign he wrote and asked her to re1oin him. This she refused to do, saying that she would never leave her people, and felt that she would not be contented or happy away from them. She was comfortably situated in her home, had two negro servants and lived five or six years there. She died from an attack of pneumonia and was buried near her home at Wilson's Rock. She had no children.
 Tn the year 1S42 the writer accompa-
 
 Judge Daniels, on visit to the grave where they planted some flowers and rose bushes. Subsequently there was slab placed there by MT. Wilson, who ived many years in the vicinity.
 The writer met General Houston when he was a member of congress in S55, spent several evenings in his com 1any and learned much of Houston's career during the three years that he ived among the western Cherokees.
 Houston was a stern Jackson man md could not reconcile his mind to the dea of secession and disunion. The Texans forgot all he had done for them, n the frenzy of che secession move nent, and he was invited to resign rom his high position. He did so and ived for several years ostracised and gnored in his home at Huntsville, where he ditd-Fort Smith Elevator. N FNGT TTSJ OFFICER'S OPINION I