The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1913-03-12
ONE CABINET MEMBER
FORMER CAROIlSIAN
David PrsskIIH HOEstsz Grzd1sted At
seuth CarslIBa College and Tasght
SebooI in gpzrtanburx.

School in Spzrtanbarg.
S1artanb1rg, March 5.-oId resi-
dents 0; spaFtanb1rE were delighted
YESTERDAY wien theT learned that Dz-
yid franklin Houston. = former resi-
dent % this city. had been appointed
Secretary Of Agriculture in President
Wilson's cabinet
Jr, Houston Was superintendent Of
schools in Spzrtzubarg IA 1888. 1880
and 1884, and taught in the Magnolia
Street Scbooi. Which was abandoned
ss q school house only few months
ago. He boarded for a while At the
home Of the late BrS. Homer McGow-
an, on East Main street, and later al
the home Of the late Judge David John
sos. Ir.. On No-sA cs4rct street Sam
uei 7. NcCrayy, Esq,, was aIeo living
al Judge Johnson's bone at that time,
and he aud Prof Houston became
close friends.
In recalling bis friendship with
Prof Houston. Nr. MccraTy remarked
yesterday that his power Of concen-
tration Of mind was remarkable.
Time and again" said Mr. McCrayy
Il have seen Prof Houston sit down
/ in a straight-backed chair. cross his
legs and open a book and read for
three hours without the slightest
change in bis position"
Was Crack Tennis Player.
Prof. Houston at that time gained
the reputation Of being the beat ten
mis- player in spartants:g. He was
fond Of society and social affairs. but
devoted much OF his time to study.
| After ne had been in Spartanburg
ahree years he borrowed money and
vent TO Harvard University with the
/ intention Of taking a postgraduate
course, and then of studying law and
returning TO Spartanburg as the law
partner Of Mr. Mccrayy. He had not
( been at Harvard long when he won
the scholarship which yielded AN in
come amply sufficient TO pay his ex.
Denses He wrote TO &r. AcCraYy
that he had become interested in po-
litical economy and had decided to
give IT his attention instead Of the
/ law.
After leaving Harvard, Prof Hous-
ton went TO Texas TO accept posi-
ton IN the Agricultural and Mechani-
cal College. Some time aftefward he
returned TO Spartanburg for visit,
bringing his bride with him. Mr.. and
Hrs. Houston again visited Spartan
burg last summer.
Born In North Carolina.
Prof. Houston was born at Monroe.
y. C., and spent his early life on a
farm. In tine autumn of 1882 he en-
tered the Darlington IS. CJ Male
Academy, Of which ID. f. Hydrlck, of
Spartanburg. now a judge OF the Su-
preme Court, was then headmaster. In
speaking Of Mr.. Houston yesterday af-
ternCon. Judge Hydrick said that as a
student he was bright, painstaking
and industrious.
He was a young man OF high tone
said Judge Hydrlck, always to be
depended upon and never delinquent.
placed great reliance In him and
made him my assistant recognized
In him the ability TO handle boys and
his cooperation was of much help to
me In the government OF the school,"
Judge Hydrick said that Mr. Hous-
ton felt at one time when he was at
the Darlington school that he ought
to gut school and go to work as he
feared that his education was perhaps
financial burden upon his father.
Judge HydrIck had a talk With hir1;
and dissuaded him from his purpose
and also saw Mr.. Houston's father and
had him advise his son to continue in
school
Attended University.
Mr. Houston iest the Darlington
school in 1885 and entered the Uni
versity OF South Carolina, graduating
thercfrom at the completion OF his
course.
Some time afterward some OF the
Spartanburg school trustees met Judge
Hydrick and asked him TO suggest a
capable man for the superintendency
OF the Spartanburg schools. He had