Sam Houston

Born March 2, 1793, in Rockbridge County, Va.; son of Samuel and Elizabeth Houston. Moved to Tennessee in 1807 with widowed mother and her family. In 1813 joined U.S. Army under Gen. Andrew Jackson, with whom he formed lifetime friendship and political ties. In Tennessee, taught school, kept a store, served in U.S. Congress, was state governor. In 1829, after his young bride left him, resigned as governor and went westward. Settling in 1833 in Nacogdoches, became a leader in cause of Texas independence from Mexico. Elected March 4, 1836, to command the Army of the Republic, engineered retrograde movement that led to victory of San Jacinto, which won Texas independence. President of the Republic, 1836-1838 and 1841-1844, he was senator after annexation. In 1859 he was elected governor, and served until secession. In 1861 he declined to take oath of office in Confederacy, retiring instead after a quarter-century of service to his state. However, he did not oppose Confederate army enlistment of his young son, Sam Houston, Jr. While the Civil War continued, he died on July 26, 1863, at his home, "Steamboat House," Huntsville. With him was his family, to hear his last words to his wife: "Texas--, Margaret, Texas--".

Sam Houston is a historical marker in Huntsville, Walker County, dedicated in 1967. It is one of 69 historical markers documented in Walker County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 110 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 30.7265, -95.5473 near Huntsville. The nearest cataloged historic site is Oakwood Cemetery (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Henderson Yoakum, John William Thomason Jr., and Branch, Anthony Martin.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5471008457. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.