Evening star., 1936-07-12

1olS, WneQ ne Claimed tIe lAnQ 1OG |
Spain. Coronado is believed to have |
camped there. Cabeza de Vaca and
his companions were among the first |
white pioneers. The expedition of |
fernando de Soto in 1542 traversed
Eastern and Central Texas. La
Sale established . fort and settle |
ment on the Texas coast in 1885 and |
attempted to found French colony |
there.
Father Massanet launched the mis-
sionary enterprise that evolved In the |
old missions that stand in glory to-
day, the proud heritage Of Texas. |
The good priests pioneering spirit Is
responsible and he is held in grateful
remembrance.
And SO history records that Texas
Commonwealth much larger than
France and six times the area OF |
Pennsylvania, one of the Districts |
neighboring States-has existed under |
half a dozen flags-Spain, France,
Mexico, that of her own republic,
the Confederacy and the United
States. i
l.
the only links between Virginia and
Texas, for Mr.. Eckenrode recalls that |
one of the most noted of Virginians
who took part in the founding Of
Texas was Big Foot" Wallace, a
famous scout. A memorial Is about |
to be erected to him in Rockbridge |
County, Va.
Samuel Houston was sprung from
Ulster Scots in the northeastern part
of Ireland. who came first to Phila-
delphia and later found their way
down into Virginia. His father, Maj.
Sam Houston, was a veteran of the
Revolution, but while on a frontier
post inspection in 1907 he died. He
left his widow, Elizabeth Paxton
Houston, with six sons and three
daughters.
Duty in the village store CALLED
young Houston and he found 1t much
more to his liking to consort with
the Indians across the river and he
| imbibed the language and customs
of the Red Man, near Maryville, Tenn.
In the Creek War Houston was
wounded at Horseshoe Bend, in Ala
bama, and he bore these scars the
rest Of his days. After the War Of
1912 he was subagent among the
Cherokees, a post secured after he
had been presented to Jackson.
Records in the War Department
here reveal that he was feet inches
| tall, had brown hair and keen, gray
eyes. His prowess as stump speaker
brought him into prominence.
His standing in Washington Hous-
ton characterized as:
Five years since came to this
place without education more than
ordinary, without friends, without
cash and almost without acquain-
tances, consequently without much
credit. and here among talents and
distinction I have made my stand or
rather the people have made it for
me-"
TN WASHINGTON he aided in lay
the groundwork for the new party
that was to usher Jackson into the
White House. His great charm and
dignity became proverbial and these
were traced to his association with
the Indians. His mysterious separa-
ton from his wife. the wealthy Eliza
Allen. Is one Of the conundrums of
American history, even to this day.
When Houston lived in the Indian
country, he came annually to Wash
ington to plead the cause Of the Red
Man. In April, 1882, he personally |
assaulted Representative Stanberry of
Ohio. This was followed by a note |
worthy trial in the House of Repre-
sentatives, but little came Of it.
Houston was shot through the ankle |
in the San Jacinto engagement, in
which he commanded about 800 men
and won an undying place in history
by routing Santa Ana. As Sena-
tor here, his clothes were still un-
usual and ostentatious. He was q
prolific letter writer and some of them
are still preserved here. On the eve
Of the Civil Wa1 he fought for the
preservation Of the Union and ever he
was a champion Of the Indians, IN
Congress and out Of it. He advocated
a protectorate over the whole of Mex
leo. For time, he became involved
in the Know Nothing party.
This unusual man had a most re-
markable career. At Timber Ridge
Church, near Lexington, Va, he saw
the light on March 2, 1893, and about
1905 he moved with his widowed
mother to Blount County, Tenn, where
he was adopted by Chief jolly into
the Cherokee Tribe Of Indians. For
brief span he attended MarySville
Academy in Tennessee, and for time
was employed as clerk in a store in
Kingston, Tenn.
Houston enlisted as a private In the
seth Regiment, U. s. Infantry, and
was promoted to ensign in July, 1913.
He served under Gen. jackson in the
Creek War as a sergeant in the 7th
Regiment, U. s. Infantry, and was
made lieutenant in May, 1914. He
studied law in Nashville, Tenn, and
in 1918 was admitted to the bar and
commenced practice In Lebanon,
Tenn, being made district attorney
in 1919. A year later he became
adjutant general Of the State and In
1921 he was a major general.
As a Democrat he was elected to the
Eighteenth and Nineteenth Congresses,
serving from March 4, 1923 to March
3, 1927. He was Governor of Tennes-
see from 1927 until April Is, 1929,
when he resigned.
He moved to the Territory of the
Cherokee Nation, now part of Okla
homa, and subsequently to Texas, in
1888. He was member of the con.
vention of 1888 at San Felipe de Aus
tin, where separate statehood tor
Texas was discussed. He was COM
mander in chief Of the Texas Army;
first President Of the Republic Of
Texas, 1868; member of the Texas
Congress, 1S38-40 and again President
Of the Republic, 1841-44.
WHEN Texas was admitted to the
w Union Houston, uae elentad es |