Temple Lea Houston

(August 12, 1860 - August 15, 1905) Born in the Texas Governor's Mansion, the eighth and last child of Sam Houston (1793-1863) and his wife Margaret; educated at Baylor University, Texas A&M, and in a law office, Temple Houston came in 1881 to this region as district attorney for the 35th Judicial District. He married Laura Cross of Mobeetie, 1882. Tall and handsome, he resembled his father-- a fact cited when he ran for the Texas Senate in 1884. He won, and was seated before reaching legal age for the office. While serving in the Senate, he built a home near "Panhandle City." During his two terms, he became a leader in spite of his youth, advancing legislation favorable to frontiersmen in this area. When a new capitol was dedicated in Austin in 1888, he made the major speech, taking pride that lands in the Panhandle had paid for the magnificent building. Amid the ovations of that day were pleas that he run for Governor or United States Congressman, but he declined. About 1893 he moved to Oklahoma and gained added fame as a lawyer and orator. Thus the fledgling of "The Raven" became a legend in his own time. He was the father of two daughters and three sons. The Oklahoma Historical Society has honored him by placing a marker at his grave in Woodward.

Temple Lea Houston is a historical marker in Panhandle, Carson County, dedicated in 1976. It is one of 42 historical markers documented in Carson County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 46 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 35.3462, -101.3804 near Panhandle. The nearest cataloged historic site is Pioneer Dugout (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Texas Panhandle Pioneers - The Simms Brothers, Old County Bookmobile, and Purvines Ranch Home.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5065005220. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.