The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1909-12-30

When the Texas Legislature appro-
priafed SO 900 for a monument 70
General Sam Houston. 70 be erected
cYes his grave AZ Huntsville. Il stipu-
lsted that the monument should be OF
Texas granite and that the appropria-
ton should become void Sept. ]. 1903.
oddly enough. writes H. b Chamber
lain in the Chicago Record-aerald.
sculptors eager 10 secure the honor OF
making the monument neglected 70 IN
form themselves OF essential conditions
and submitted plans for monuments
10 be developed Ia bronze. Until Aug.
/. Just one short month before the ex-
piraflon OF the allotted time. but one
plan IN accordance with ideas ex-
pressed IN the measure making the
appropriation had been presented. This
plan. by Frank Teich OF Ilano, pro
posed the erection OF q plain shaft.
Another sculptor. Pompeo coppini Of
San Antonio. who had designed a
bronze monument. was given second
opportunity by Governor Campbell %
prepare neu plans Tor one OF granite.
sam Houston was born IN Virginia
Of irish-scotch stock His father. who
died uhen he was a lad Of IS, served
IN the Revolutionary War. and AZ It's
close was appointed Major and Assist
anf Inspector General 81 frontier
troops He has been described as q
man OF large frame. commanding pres,
enne. fntomifable courage. aud pas
sion Tor military life The mother was
also remarkable FOR her magnificent
physique ana forceful character. After
Der husbands death she removed with
her family Of six sons and three daush
ters 70 Tennessee. then the fronrer.
uhere white pioneers came into close
contact with savage life. The educa-
ton eained in q Few aonths az an
ola feid school Was eary rudi-
meniary. This. uith sion Or two
AZ tie Academy q g vile. was al
ne schooling that the man destined
10 be Governor 81 two States President
o. a republic. Congressman and Unit
"a States Senator ever had The com
mand q strong. dlEnined and stirring
English which vas bis. must have
hoeu due 10 the quality q his reading.
for be zas man o. few books As
boy BE- dcroured Popcs translation
o. she Mad when IN command Of the
Texas army be studied caSar's Com
menisrles. a. did Miles sinndish. an
Indian fghter Of an earlier day. later
he read and appreciated Shakespeare
and pcrused the Bible 80 constantly
that its phraseoiogy tinged his oratory.
Even the former president Of Harvard
College would admit that his choice
OF books was good
when the war between England and
the United States broke out. young
Houston marched away with the Ten
ncsaee Volunteers as ensign To pun
ish the Creeks for the massacre At Fort
Hims. Ala. volunteer troops under
Jackson and Coffee were sent TO Ala
bama. Houston's regiment was with
them. and at Toho-peka. the most
holly contested battle ever fought BY
Indians against disciplined white sol
diers. he displayed such conspicuous
COURAGE a. 10 win General Jackson's
i,feione frlcndship. He was promoted
to ilcntenantcy for his bravery. and
when his wounds. which never entirely
healed. permitted him 10 report FOR
duty. nc was sent as agent 10 the Cher
okco Indians. While In Washington
on business connected with the sale or
Cherokee lands he was rebuked for
appearing before Calhoun. Secretary Of
war in Indian costume instead Of IN
hls uniform. A little later he success
fully defended himself against charges |
Affecting his ofiiciai conduct. but the 1
cpirlt OF the inquiry instituted by Cal
noun offended him. and be resigned.
having served in the army ave years.
He determined 10 become a lawyer.
. profession which In those days meant
notifies even more thar now. After
ak months OF study IN the Law ONCE /
az James rrimble at Nashville he was
admitted to the Tennessee bar. and /
went to Lebanon to practice. Within
A year he was appointed adjutant gen.
erai OF the State. with the rank of
colonel. and was elected prosecuting
attorney for the Davidson district.
which necessitated his removal TO
Nashville. In 1923. when 80 years OF
age. he was elected representative to
Congress from Tennessee, and served
two terms. leaving the House to be-
como Governor OF Tennessee.
Houston was elected first President
Of the Republic OF Texas The consti-
tuition OF the new republic made him
Ineligible for reelection for two sue
cecding terms. Az the end Of the per
Iod he was reelected and found the
finances In bad shape His frst step
was to inaugurate an economical ad-
which rescued the State
from collapse. From the first there
had been strong desire for annexa-
lion to the United States When this
vas finally accomplished, Houston and
Thomas j. Rusk were elected Senators.
He served two terms In the Sonata.