The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-27
Houston's Separation
 From His First Vie

Nashville Banner.
 The following data is taken from a | reliable paper on the interesting sub- ! Ject of Gov. Sam Houston's separation from his wife. presented to the Tenfie-
 ssee Historical Society through ex- l Governor. James D. Porter:
 Tn 1921 General William Carroll
 was elected Governor of Tennessee. He was second in command to General
 Jackson in the battle of New Orleans. He was a man of great popularity and ! served three successive terms, which was the limit under the Con sSitution l of Tennessee. In 1927 Geieral Hous- ton was elected Governor. On the | 2srd of January. 1928. Governor Hous- ton married Miss Eliza H. Allen. a ] member of q large and influential | family in Sumner and Smith Counties. | General Carroll. after being out of the i Governors chair for two years. was | again eligible. and declared himself
 . candidate in opposition to General
 Houston. who was c candidate for TO. 1 election. During the canvass between
 Carroll and Houston Honston's wife
 left hinl.-in April. ls29--and went back
 to her fathers house. (She was c lady of refined feelings, sensitive and quick to resent harsh words or cruel treatment She had been reared by
 kind indulgent pareptss she he'd TO. ceived much attention, and was ac. cust5med to associ&ka Rith the most refined and gentle society. Upon the contrary, Houston had spent his life from the age of 1e to 21 years among the Cherokee Indians. He had adopt ed their manners and become as one of them. He had seen much of the rougher and wilder ciass of people. He was of a jealous disposition. and was not willing for his wife Go enter RnefefY hmt tuntRfaH that nha eh0HRld eonfine herself at home. This was 30 contrary to what she had been aecus- toned too that she resented the treat ment; and finding that she and her husband were not congenial and that she could not live happily with him ther's home. The news of the separa- tion quickly spread and aroused an angry and indignant feeling against Governor Houston.)
 "rhe canvass for Governor had op. ened. Colonel Willoughby Williams
 who was one of Governor Houston's warm supporters wrote an account of Judge J. c. Guiid's history. Early Times in Middle Tennessee Colonel Williams says: The first meeting be- tween them Carroll and Houston)
 took place at Cockrill's Springs ct battalion muster in April. 1929. was at that time Sheriff of the county as
 we'll as colonel of Militia, and at the request of Governor Houston drilled | the regiment that day. He desired me l to acquaint myself fully with the pop ular feeling and tell him after speak ing, which did; the sentiment was | greatly in his favor, it afforded him
 hutch satisfaction. and he left the grounds for the city in fine spirits l Saturday afternoon. I was registering | y,,y v.av,,a Yv, kha Nanhx,flfa Inn fha SoI.
 lowing Monday when Mr. Carter, the clerk saids Have you heard the news?' He replied. 's1overnoF HouS-
 ton and his wife have separated. and ] I was greatly shocked, having never
 suspected any cause for seperation. !
 went to. his room at once and found him in company with Dr.. Shelby. He I was deeply mortified, and refused to explain the matter. I left him with l Dr. Shelby for a few moments, and on
 returning said to him: Governor, you must explain this sad occurrence | to us, you will saerifice yourself and your friends" He replied: T can
 make no explanation. I exnorate the | lady fully. and do not justify myself. | am a ruined man. will exile myself l and now ask you to take my resIgna- | tion to the Secretary of State." re- piled. You must not think of such
 a thing" when he said: Tt Is my fiS-
 ed determination. and my enemies ! when am gone will be too magnani-
 nous to censure my friends" Seeing \ his determination. l took his resigna- tion to the Secretary of State, who re- ceived it. The following morning he
 went in disguise to the steamboat, ac-
 companied by Dr. shelby and myself | "Governor Houston wrote to his | wife's father that he exonerated her l from any blame. He sought reconcI-
 lation but his wife refused to return
 to him.
 "A public meeting of the leading l citizens had been held in Galiatin, Sumner County. in which resolutions
 favorable to his wife had been passed ] He saw that public feeling was strong | against him. and that continuance | of the canvass would tend to Increase | the discussion of his separation from ] his wife and increase the public feel. | ing against him, and that he would ba | overwhelmingly defeated in his race | for Governor. He had been disap. pointed in his efforts to reconciliation | with his wife. Disappointment in his
 ambition, he became desperate and felt
 as he said to Colonel Williams, that he was "a ruined man and he 'exiled himself at once and returned to his friends the Cherokees. His wife. | while resenting his treatment, was really attached to him. and for many years lived a secluded and retired life. She was highly respected and beloved in the community whera she lived. Governor Houston always spoke of her l in affectionate terms and fully exon. erated her from any wrong or blama in the separation, There was no myS-
 tery or romance about the separation.