OKGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any
format for profit or presentation by any other organization or
persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must
obtain the written consent of OKGenWeb State Coordinator.

Presentation here does not extend any permissions to the public. This
material can not be included in any compilation, publication,
collection, or other reproduction for profit without permission. Files
may be printed or copied for personal use only.
=====================================================================

Temple Houston
Vol. 3, Page 1920

     In the history of the legal fraternity of Western Oklahoma there has appeared no more
distinguished name than that of the late Temple Houston, who practiced at the Woodward
bar from the time of the opening of the Cherokee Strip, in 1893, until his death, August
15, 1905.  a son of the great Texas patriot, Gen. Sam Houston, his early career was
marked by experiences of the most interesting character in the Lone Star State, and from
early youth his achievements were notable in Texas jurisprudence.

     Temple Houston was born August 12, 1860, in the Texas gubernatorial mansion at
Austin, a son of Gen. Sam and Margaret (Lea) Houston.  Samuel Houston was born in
Rockbridge County, Virginia, March 2, 1793, and was of Scotch-Irish descent.  In 1818
he began the study of law and in 1823 and 8125 was elected a member of Congress, and
in 1827 governor of Tennessee.  On his removal to Texas, in 1832, he was made a
general of Texas troops, and in 1836 defeated the Mexicans at San Jacinto, which
resulted in the independence of Texas, General Houston being elected president of the
new republic.  In 1845 Texas entered the union and General Houston was chosen United
States senator.  He was deposed for adherence to the Union, and died at Huntsville,
Texas, July 25, 1863.  By his second wife, Margaret Lea, he was the father of four sons
and four daughters:  Samuel, deceased; Nancy, who is the wife of James Morrow, of
Georgetown, Texas; Margaret, deceased; Mary, who is the widow of John Morrow of
Abilene, Texas; Nettie, the wife of Prof. James Bringhurst, of San Antonio, Texas;
Andrew J., of Beaumont, Texas; William R., of Kemp, Texas; and Temple.

     Left an orphan at the age of seven years, at the age of thirteen Temple Houston
became a cowboy on the plains of his native state.  With his first cattle outfit he went
with a herd of stock to Bismark, North Dakota, where he engaged as a clerk on a steamer
and went down the Mississippi River.  He was then appointed to a position as page in the
United States Senate and remained in that capacity at Washington, D.C., for three years,
and while there began the study of his profession in which he was later to reach such a
high position.  On his return to Texas, at the age of seventeen years, he entered Bailey
University, from which he was duly graduated, and when only nineteen years of age was
admitted to the Texas bar.  He soon attracted attention and a large practice in criminal
law, and when but nineteen years old was elected county attorney of Brazoria County.
He was district attorney of the Texas Panhandle District when he had just attained his
majority, and at a time when to enter the courtroom unarmed was to take one's life in his
hands, the young attorney made an exceptionally creditable record.  Further honors
awaited him.  He was only twenty-four years old when elected to the Texas State Senate,
a body in which he served with ability and distinction for eight years, but that service
ended his life in Texas, for with the opening of the Cherokee Strip in 1893 he came to
Oklahoma and opened an office at Woodward, this city continuing to be his home and the
scene of his repeated successes until the time of his death.

     Mr. Houston was married February 14, 1883, to Miss Laura Cross, who was born
April 7, 1865, in Louisiana, and to this union there were born seven children: Temple;
Louise and Laura, who are deceased; Sam; Richard; Lucile, who is deceased; and Mary.
Mrs. Houston, who survives her husband and is a lady of many attainments, was
appointed postmistress of Woodward, March 10, 1914.  She has managed the affairs of
this office in a highly creditable manner and in numerous ways has been able to improve
the service.

Transcribed for OKGenWeb by Norma Capehart March 6, 2003.

SOURCE: Thoburn, Joseph B., A Standard History of Oklahoma, An
Authentic Narrative of its Development, 5 v. (Chicago, New York: The
American Historical Society, 1916).