Sam Houston and the American Southwest
Sam Houston and the American Southwest
Sam Houston was born from Scottish-Irish decent. His forefathers were immigrants that had settled in Pennsylvania and migrated south towards Virginia. Houston’s grandfather, John Houston, established the successful Timber Ridge plantation and his father, Samuel Houston, was a member of the revolutionary army, attaining the rank of major. Sam Houston was born in 1793 the middle child of eight siblings. Sam’s father military service took its toll on the Houston’s plantation causing it to be neglected, and in 1806 the plantation went bankrupt. Sam’s father sold Timber Ridge and the moved west to Tennessee. Samuel Huston did not survive the trip and passed away during the traveling. The rest of Houston family made the move. Tennessee was frontier country, but had been settled for over a decade. As a child Sam was rambunctious. He did have any formal education and did not like the monotony of work. He tried farming and book keeping, neither suited his taste. Though Sam had no formal education he loved to read, and throughout his childhood he read and remained restless in his mundane life. Once Houston became bored with pioneer life he ran away and began living with the nearby Native American Cherokee Indians. During his time with the Cherokee Indians Houston learned to speak the Cherokee language and their customs. Houston befriended the Cherokee Chief Oo-loo-te-ka and through his mentoring he gained the approval of the rest of the tribe. Sam learned from the Chief that it was better to seek peace during situations and war second; this knowledge would serve Houston later in his political career. When Houston was living with the Cherokee Indians he was tracked down by his family and asked to come back home. Sam chose to live between the two worlds. He would stay with the Indians, but would return to the white settlements to visit, barter, and trade. During his time living with the Cherokee people Sam became indebted to the
Sam Houston was born from Scottish-Irish decent. His forefathers were immigrants that had settled in Pennsylvania and migrated south towards Virginia. Houston’s grandfather, John Houston, established the successful Timber Ridge plantation and his father, Samuel Houston, was a member of the revolutionary army, attaining the rank of major. Sam Houston was born in 1793 the middle child of eight siblings. Sam’s father military service took its toll on the Houston’s plantation causing it to be neglected, and in 1806 the plantation went bankrupt. Sam’s father sold Timber Ridge and the moved west to Tennessee. Samuel Huston did not survive the trip and passed away during the traveling. The rest of Houston family made the move. Tennessee was frontier country, but had been settled for over a decade. As a child Sam was rambunctious. He did have any formal education and did not like the monotony of work. He tried farming and book keeping, neither suited his taste. Though Sam had no formal education he loved to read, and throughout his childhood he read and remained restless in his mundane life. Once Houston became bored with pioneer life he ran away and began living with the nearby Native American Cherokee Indians. During his time with the Cherokee Indians Houston learned to speak the Cherokee language and their customs. Houston befriended the Cherokee Chief Oo-loo-te-ka and through his mentoring he gained the approval of the rest of the tribe. Sam learned from the Chief that it was better to seek peace during situations and war second; this knowledge would serve Houston later in his political career. When Houston was living with the Cherokee Indians he was tracked down by his family and asked to come back home. Sam chose to live between the two worlds. He would stay with the Indians, but would return to the white settlements to visit, barter, and trade. During his time living with the Cherokee people Sam became indebted to the