Marker Inscription
Gen. Sam Houston's widow, lived here with their 8 children, 1863-1867. House built in 1830s.
Historical Marker
Houston, Margaret Moffette Lea (THC #5477008352)
The roadside stories worth pulling over for.
About this site
Houston, Margaret Moffette Lea is a historical marker in Independence, Washington County, dedicated in 1965. It is one of 156 historical markers documented in Washington County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 368 historic sites cataloged across the county.
The site sits at 30.3193, -96.3451 near Independence. The nearest cataloged historic site is Houston, Mrs. Sam, House (historic place), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Site of Independence School, Old Baptist Church, and Houston-Lea Vault and.
This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5477008352. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.
History
Margaret Moffette Lea Houston, born in Alabama in 1819, was the third wife of Sam Houston and served as First Lady of both the Republic and the State of Texas during his terms as president and governor. She died of yellow fever at Independence in December 1867, and because the contagion made it impossible to carry her body to Huntsville to lie beside her husband, she was buried at Independence per her wishes. A historical marker honoring her was erected in 1965.
Sources: hmdb.orgen.wikipedia.orgtxssdac.org
Also at or near Independence, Washington County
“Houston, Margaret Moffette Lea” names 2 distinct records in Washington County. This page is the historical marker dedicated in 1965 in Independence. The others:
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Nearby in Washington County
Historic Place
Houston, Mrs. Sam, House
Independence · 1970
Historical Marker
Site of Independence School
Independence · 1989
Historical Marker
Old Baptist Church
Independence · 1936
Cemetery
Houston-Lea Vault and
Independence
Historical Marker
Houston-Lea Family Cemetery
Independence · 1965
Historical Marker
Houston, Margaret Moffette Lea
Independence · 1965
Museum
Texas Baptist Historical Museum
Independence
Historical Marker
Lea, Nancy Moffette
Independence · 1970