Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1900-01-03


riding d high.spiritcd mare and could
not escape. As they were advancing
with wIlu cheers to capture him, ne
leaped his horse over the brink and IN
to the river far below, swan over safely
turned and shouted defiance and
escaped to the Cherokee country.
Tallihina was the young unmarried
sister and Houston courted and mar
ried her. He built cabin near BY,
went to housekeeping, had small
cornfeld. snd dealt in groceries. When
he was absent rallihina attended to the
business. 1t is a fact that Houston'S
career was wild and dissipated. He
drank Unexpectedly and when ne had
vbiskey in his store Was liberal and
extravagant withit, so much 50 tnat
the Indians in the vicinity were de
moralized, which led to brawls and
bloodshsd among them. While he
lived there TalIihins and Houston were
frequent guests Of the officers and
their ladies at Fort Gibson, where they
were very popular and always ws'cOme
and they finally removed from Fort
Gibson and SO tie at Wilson Rock, "
on The west side + the Arkansas OPP
posite 10 Fort Coffee, then occupied by
the military and commanded by Capt.
Bonneville. Here he built house and
store room and lived until he left for
Taxas. In his wild and insane orgies
with his Cherokee associates he W's
dangerous and would have been killed
but for his great popularity. And Oh
such occasions they would surround
and tie him until he became sober. AT
one time, when crazy drunk, he assault
ed John Jolly, his best friend, and beat
him severely. He was secured, aite
fierce struggle, during which he was
,nocked senseless and thought to be
dead. and the old chief mourned over
him piteously, bit he recovered in a
few DAYS after TIE tender care they
gave him. His remorse for this act
caused change in his life. He be-
anne sober, and at called convention
| of the Cherokses he publicly apologlzsd
for his errors, begged them to forget
MIA faults said Re intended to leave the
nation and shook hands with all In
token of amity.
Over the river at Fort Coffee, Houf
ton had frequent ard friendly inter
! conrsss with the officers Of the post. 1t
wa. here that he recsiyOd bis mail alter
H.. rslrsst vas known, and letters came
to hun from Washington, Nashville and
Little Rock. The INVASION o. Is1a'
was being organized BY Col. Travis
Houston was In com munication with
he leaders of the movement aud ne
decided on his course in thai direction,
although he had thought OF joining
Booneville's exploring expedition: de
had lived among the Cherokees aboul
three years. The fever OF excitement
hat led him there had burned out
There was an affectionate parting BE-
Tween Tallihina. He mounted his In
| dian pouv and came down to Van
Buren, and Fort Smith, stayed a few
| avs at Capt. Rogers hotel aud started
Ion bis road to Texas. Maj John Henry
| Of Van Buren,, aud Maj. Elias Rector
| Of Fort Smith accompanied him on th'
| road as far as Bosgy Depot in the Cho'
| taw Nation, where they parted. Hous
ton was poor, ill dressed and riding
small pony. John Henry d smonnte'
| rom his fine horse and exchanged TO
| the pony, and Maj. Rector gave him
fine pair of pistols. This was IN IN
| year 1882.
| For his brilliant and successlu
rareer in Texas as soldier and states
n an his name is bright in the hlssor
Of our country.
Houston did not forget his Cheroke
, wife. and after the excitement OF I'd
Texas campaigs he wrote and aafe
her to reioin him. This she refused
j do, saving that she would never lea'
e her people, and felt that she would M
t be sontentsd or happy away from 'he
:, ESne was comfortably situated IN n
: fhome, had two negro servants and live
five or six years there] She died fro
d an attack OF pneumonia, and was bur,s
: ear her home at Wilson's hocx. 81
Q had no children. oil ,rsr
In the year 1912 the writer accom-
! panied her sister, Maria. and husban
Judge Daniels, on visit to the gra'
o where they planted home flowers al
n rose bushes subsequently there WI
slab placed there by Mr.. Wilson,wt
= flived many years in the vicinity.
The writer met Gen. Houston wis
o he was member of Congress in lSo
e spent several evenings in his compa.
s and learned much OF Houston's care
! during the three years that he hive
among the Western Cherokees.
. Hcrston was a stern Jackson ms
o and could no. reconcile his mind 10 y
o idea of sece ssion and disunion III
o Texans forgot all he had done Tor tie
a