The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-05-18
STATUE OF
HOUSTON.
Unwilling Of Monuments to Two
Virginians to Take Place To-
day in Statuary Hail.
ONE OF STEPHEN AUSTIN
Both Were Natives Of Virginia,
But Removed to Texas, Where
They Became Famous.
ONE OF STEPHEN AUSTIN
frrom our Regular correspondent.)

(Trom Our Regular Correspondent.)
WASHINGTON, y. G.. May 1.-THE
statues Of two virgInians were placed
in statuary Hall to-day, and will be un-
yelled Tomorrow or Thursday They are
the contributions Of Texas to tho national
hall Of fame, and represent two Of the
Lone Star States greatest men, Stephen
Fuller Austin and Sam Houston. Every
body knows that Sam Houston, the first
president Of tho TEXAN republic, was n
vlrginan. but there are probably many
we'll informed people who do not Know
that Austin, the founder Of the state OF
Teyas, was a native Of the old State. He
was born in Wytho county, near Aus
tinvlle. and was n son Of Moses Austin
who long had dreams Of establishing an
English speaking colony in what IS now
tho state Of Texas. The younger man,
who was born In 1903. carried out the
idea of his father and established the
Texpn colony in 1871 In 1883 he was
sent as commissioner to the city or
Mexico to urge the admission or leSas
ns n state to the Mexican union but he
was imprisoned and kept under arrest
for nearly six months. Tho following
wear he was commissioner from Texas
TO the United States to solicit the recos-
milton Of the State as on independent
republic. He was n man OF great mental
power and personal courage. ana ms
claim to the title OF founder or the great
Commonwealth of Texas Is undlsputed
among people Of the State OF the Lone
Sta:
HOUSTON PRESIDENT OF TEXAN
REPUBLIC.
Sam Houston, the first president OF the
Texan republic, and the Father OF his
Country. sd far as Texas IS concerned,
was born in Rockbrldgo county, not far
from Timber Ridge in 1888 He went to
Tennessee when quite a young man,
where he was adopted into the Cherokee
tribe of Indians, but he served under
General Andrew Jackson In the Creek
war of 1S13-'14. and then studied law and
was admitted to the bar. Domestic trou-
bles are said to have caused his removal
to Arkansas, after having been elected
to Congress from Tennessee as Demo-
crat, and later Governor of the State.
1t has never been known with certainty
why he left Tennessee. Ills departure
was so sudden that not a soul knew he
contemplated going until he was gone.
He went to Texas In 1888, and was elected
a member Of tho constitutional conven-
ton two years later. War with Mexico
followed Immediately upon the adoption
OF tho Constitution, and Houston was
made commander-in-chlef of the Texan
army Of independence. and after having
routed an Overwhelming force OF Mexi-
cans and captured President Santa Anna
at the battle of San Jacinto. Houston
was made president Of the republic. He
served two years and at the expiratio
of his term was elected to the Texan
Congress, and served two years, and
was again elected president OF the repub-
lie, serving from 1871 until 1874. when he
was elected to the United States SEN
ate from Texas, serving from 1876 to
1859, when he was elected Governor of
the State. and served until 1861, when
he was deposed. He died two years later.
Houston was a tremendous Union man
to the last and the only cloud on his
memory, so far as the great majority
of the people of Texas are concerned,
was his refusal to sanction the PROPOSE
ton to take the State out of the Union
which he had tried so hard to have It
enter But even that seems to have been
dspelled. and he is now put forward as