Emory A. D. Houston

Emory A. D. Houston, b. 1905 AL, d. 1961 AL.  Searching for any descendants.   Any help appreciated!

Fannie Houston, b. bet, 1864 - 1867 m. Willie W. Powell

Fannie Houston was one of the 10 children from the first marriage of my grandfather Joseph C. Houston.  She married Willie W. Powell.  I will appreciate any further information about this couple, or their two children, birth or death dates, descendants, or anything!

The following is a letter from Fannie Houston dated Nov. 1898 addressed to Mr. J. C. Houston, Phenix, AL

The letter is old and obviously handwritten and not very clear, and I've done the best I can at reading it and copying it here.  I have copyed the capital letters, spelling, etc, exactly as handwritten.

Postmarked Nov 12, 1898  ELMVIEW, TEX.  on the front. On the back, postmarked HOWE, TEX NOV 12, 1898 REC'D.

Mr. J. C. Houston, Phenix, Ala   Elm View Tex. Nov 1898

Dear Pap and Family,

I guess you think I'm not going to write to you anymore. You will please forgive me for waiting so long to write.  We are enjoying the best of health. hope this will find you all enjoying the same. Willie is most done gathering wehave had a nice fall for gathering. it has not raind any here to amount to anything since July.  Cotton is not hardly worth picking it is selling at 3 @ 4 cts.  Corn is going up a little. Willie sold 100 bushels at 20 cts. per bushel. papa I have got part of my money at last and I guess I'll get the balance sometime soon. You said I seem to think that you was the caus of me not getting it  Oh, No I did not think that. I did think it was the hardest mater to get any hereing from I had gave it up and I thought I would never get it.  papa did Lizzie ever pay the money back that she borrowed from you.  I think you could have put that money to a better use than to send it here to Murry to spend cureing his old   (?-see note below)   for I know that is the way it went him and Lizzie done so bad that thay sold ever thing they had and left here in August and said thay was going back to Ala. so I don't know where thay are and dont care. Jhonnie why dont you and Oliver write to me I would be so glad to just get one word from you. well I will close write real soon. Your love, Fannie

I have scanned the portion of the letter above because I can not make out the word or words in one sentence, so I'm hoping someone can help me here!  Here is the image:

It is the middle line that is in question:  "to spend cureing his old Pack? Back? Porche?  Also I'm not sure about the word "cureing" ... I notice the image above is rather small and not clear so I've made a special page online with just that image...full size:   http://www.cdagro.com/TNG/oldletter.html
Will appreciate if anyone can tell me what those words are!   Thanks, Dean

Newly Updated Online Genealogy Tree - April 25, 2010

Today I have updated the online tree at http://www.cdagro.com/TNG/index.html which includes over 100 names added within the past thirty days.  Our tree now has 7059 individuals.

Searching for Nancy Houston, b. 1834, m. Soloman T. Strickland

I've hit that familiar "brick wall" with Nancy Houston, born 1834, married Soloman T. Strickland.  Nancy was the daughter of Samuel H. Houston.  Any information on this family or descendants of Soloman T. Strickland will be greatly appreciated!

Will from the father of Sarah Germany, b. Aug. 20, 1811, Pike County, GA

Will from the father of Sarah Germany:

Pike County, Georgia Court of Ord.
Book B  Page 101


In the name of God amen. 
I William Germany of the county of Pike and State of Georgia do make and ordain
this my last will and testament in manner following:

First, my will is that my just debts be paid out of my estate both real and personal. 
I leave to my beloved wife Mary Germany during her natural life or widowhood and
then to be equally divided amongst my children.  Secondly, Mary Germany formerly,
now Mary Walker one eleventh part & Sarah Germany formerly now Sarah Houston one
eleventh part & James B. Germany one
eleventh part & A. Melvina Germany formerly now Melvina Cochran one eleventh
part & William Lander Germany one eleventh part & Elizabeth Geremany formerly
now Elizabeth Hughs one eleventh part - Emily Jane Germany one eleventh part -
Bridget Cornelia Germany one eleventh part - Hilliard Germany one eleventh part &
my son, Joseph Germany an equal portion with the rest and five hundred dollars and
Above to his part and my will is that if my son Joseph should die without an heir the part
of my estate that I leave to him shall be equally divided amongst the before mentioned
children.

My will is that my Estate both real and personal remain in the hands of my beloved wife,
Mary Germany.

My will is that my son James B. Germany shall act as Executor over my Estate and after
My debts my Executor will sell if there remains an overplus of possible property to sell
Off so much as he may consider surplus.

This thirty first October ---
Eighteen hundred and forty two
                                                                                         William Germany

Witnesses:
Henry J. Bailey
Miles Joins
J.H. Harkins

Will was probated on January 2, 1843 in Pike County, Georgia

Actress Kathleen Turner is in our Houston Genealogy Tree

How many of you know that the famous actress Kathleen Turner is a Houston Descendant?  She is in our online tree, and you may view her direct connections to our Houston family at our online page:  http://www.cdagro.com/TNG/


Here is reprinted the facts about her from the "notes" section of our site:


Kathleen Turner


Kathleen Turner AKA Mary Kathleen Turner


Born: 19-Jun-1954
Birthplace: Springfield, MO


Gender: Female
Religion: Methodist
Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Actor


Nationality: United States
Executive summary: Romancing the Stone


Kathleen Turner is a voluptuous, throaty, scene-stealing actress who voiced Jessica Rabbit in Who Framed Roger Rabbit?. She starred in numerous high-profile and critically acclaimed films through the 1980s, including the sizzling Body Heat with William Hurt, Romancing the Stone with Michael Douglas, Prizzi's Honor with Jack Nicholson, Peggy Sue Got Married with Nicolas Cage, and Danny DeVito's The War of the Roses with Douglas again.


Then she made a dull, Disneyfied film adaptation of V.I. Warshawski, which, in combination with crossing the line to middle age, virtually ended her career as a leading lady in big-budget films. She has since been featured almost exclusively in low-profile films and roles, where she still does terrific work in films like Serial Mom or The Virgin Suicides.


He parents were career diplomats, and Turner was born in America but raised in Canada; Cuba (she was there, five years old, when Fidel Castro took power); Venezuela (she still speaks fluent Spanish) and England.


Turner's husband, real estate millionaire Jay Weiss, performs in a rock'n'roll band called, suitably, the Suits, and Turner sings. His brother Stephan was, until his death, married to fashion mogul Donna Karan, which makes Karan Turner's sister-in-law.


Weiss is Jewish, but Turner didn't convert and remains Christian. Their daughter "goes to Jewish classes," Turner says, "and we celebrate all the Jewish holidays. We do the full Haggadah service at Passover, for which I cook." She is a long-time supporter of Emily's List, the political action group that advocates for pro-choice Democratic candidates.


Turner says she has one inflexible rule when reading scripts: If her character isn't integral to the plot, she won't do it. "I mean," she asks, "what's the point of being some guy's addendum?"


Father: Richard Turner (diplomat, d. 1971, cancer)
Husband: David Guc (agent, m. 1977, div. 1982)
Husband: Jay Weiss (real estate magnate, m. 1983)
Daughter: Rachael Ann Weiss (b. 14-Oct-1987)


    University: Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, MO (transferred to U.M.)
    University: BFA, University of Maryland (1977)


    Alcoholics Anonymous 1994
    People for the American Way
    Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Romancing the Stone 1984
    Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Prizzi's Honor 1985
    Miscarriage
    Risk Factors: Arthritis, Alcoholism, Smoking


    FILMOGRAPHY AS ACTOR
    Beautiful (11-Sep-2000)
    Baby Geniuses (12-Mar-1999)
    The Virgin Suicides (19-May-1999)
    Legalese (4-Oct-1998)
    A Simple Wish (11-Jul-1997)
    The Real Blonde (14-Sep-1997)
    Moonlight and Valentino (29-Sep-1995)
    Serial Mom (13-Apr-1994)
    House of Cards (25-Jun-1993)
    Naked in New York (1993)
    Undercover Blues (10-Sep-1993)
    V.I. Warshawski (26-Jul-1991)
    The War of the Roses (8-Dec-1989)
    Switching Channels (4-Mar-1988)
    The Accidental Tourist (23-Dec-1988)
    Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam (Oct-1987) Herself [VOICE]
    Julia and Julia (12-Sep-1987)
    Peggy Sue Got Married (10-Oct-1986)
    Prizzi's Honor (13-Jun-1985)
    The Jewel of the Nile (11-Dec-1985)
    A Breed Apart (1984)
    Crimes of Passion (19-Oct-1984)
    Romancing the Stone (30-Mar-1984)
    The Man with Two Brains (3-Jun-1983)
    Body Heat (28-Aug-1981)


****************************************************************************************
Actress Kathleen Turner reportedly split up with her husband, mogul Jay Weiss, after 21 years of marriage. Kathleen, 51, first met Weiss when she rented one of his New York apartments.


Turner married New York real-estate mogul Jay Weiss in 1984. They have a daughter, Rachel Ann Weiss, born 1988. She was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 1992.

Edmund Napolean Camp b. May 30, 1851 in Coweta County, GA

Following are notes about Edmund N. Camp, b. May 30, 1851 in Coweta County, GA and married Texas Orlean Rollins, b. Jan. 21, 1851 in Heard County, GA


EDMOND N. CAMP, a leading fruit grower of this region, is a grandson of
Abner and Mary (Reynolds) Camp, the former a soldier in the war of 1812,
who about 1825 brought his family from North Carolina to Coweta county,
Ga., among them his three-year-old son, Abner, Jr. The latter was reared
on the farm, and in time married Miss Nancy Holland, whose parents,
Abraham and Nancy (Underwood) Holland were of South Carolinian birth, her
father also having served in the war of 1812. Edmond N., the son of Abner
and Nancy, was born in this county in 1851, and received such education
as was to be obtained in the country schools. In 1872 he married Miss
Orlean Rollins, who was born in Heard county in 1851, and is the
daughter of James and Elizabeth (Houston) Rollins. They have ten
children: James, Andrew, Fred, Wayman, Hugh, Pauline, Lee, Frank,
Victoria and Ralph. The parents are both members of the Methodist
Episcopal church. When on reaching manhood Mr. Camp started in life
for himself he worked for some years as a mechanic at the carpenter's
trade, at wagon making, etc. But he seemed to have a natural fondness
for horticulture, and in 1886 he devoted himself wholly to this, with
an enthusiasm which could not fail of success. He is recognized
throughout this region as the largest and most successful fruit
grower in the state. He now has fifty acres of fine grapes and
thirty of peaches, several devoted to pears and strawberries, has
five acres of quinces and a number in apples. He may well regard
with pride his achievements.

Transcribed from MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA published by the Southern Historical Association, 1895.

Young John Allen & Mary Houston-Missionaries to China

Young John Allen was born in Burk Co, GA on Jan 3,1836. His parents were Andrew Young John Allen and Jane Wooten.His father being a man of more education than was common in Georgia, conducted for some years an academy for the benefit of the children and youth of the community, but subsequently he engaged successfully in cotton planting, in which he accumulated a small fortune.Young John was orphaned as a child and was raised by his maternal Aunt and Uncle, Nancy and Wiley Hutchins.


While attending his first year at Emory College, September 1854, he became engaged to Mary Houston, daughter of Samuel and Sarah Houston, who at the time was less than 16 years of age. He induced her to enter college at Lagrange, Georgia for a period of two years and then she transferred to Wesley College, Macon, Georgia. Graduating with First Honors in 1858.


Young John and Mary were married on July 22,1858 in Atlanta, Georgia by Rev. Osborn L. Smith D.D. In December 1859 they sailed to China, taking with them their young daughter Melvina, who later became Mrs. George R. Loehr. After seven long months aboard the sailing vessel "Seaman's Bride". they arrived in Shanghai, China in July 1860, where they were stationed for the rest of their lives. Mary kept open house, not only for the missionaries of her church, but for the many wayworn travellers of the other denominations as well. Remembering her own hardships on the sea, her heart went out especially to sailors. They always found a welcome at her home.


Mary's husband, Young John taught many Chinese gentlemen to read and write, started the first Chinese newspaper. He was also instrumental in starting the first Chinese young lady's school, The McTyeire Home and School for Girls. Young John also played a role in getting the Soong sisters ( one of whom was Mei-Ling, later the wife of Chang Kai shek) to come to America and be educated at Wesley College.


"During the period 1868-1883, Young John allen became involved in a variety of activities that expanded his views on the scope of missionary work. Beginning as a preacher and teacher, he soon became Editor of two newspapers, and later a third, as well as a translator for the Imperial government"


Dr. Allen passed away on May 30, 1907, after 47 years of distinguished service in China, but his wife continued to live in Shanghai. On May 24, 1927, exactly 20 years to the month of the passing of her husband, Mary also passed to her reward. She was 88 years old and had spent 67 of these years as a missionary to China, a record unprecedented in missionary annals.

David Ross Houston, b. abt. 1774 Charleston District, SC

"David and Hannah (Reagan) Houston, natives of Ireland, came to Lauderdale County in 1813 and settled on their plantation about 13 miles west of Florence on the Waterloo Road, near Gravelly Springs, and adjoining the old Natchez Trace. They had lived in Tennessee until they moved here with their thirteen children. Their home was a large, three-story brick structure built along the typical ante-bellum lines. A huge water tank, located on the roof, caught rain water and furnished the household with running water. This home burned sometime before 1900.

"The Houston cemetery, some signs of the old brick foundations of the mansion, and remains of the once elegant garden house are the only signs today of the old home, the boyhood home of the onetime Governor and U.S. Senator, George S. Houston, one of the thirteen children.

"The Houston land supposedly exended from Gravelly Springs to the Tennessee River where they had a boat landing."

John Houston, Jr. B. April 10, 1760 Ireland

John Houston, Jr. was born April 10, 1760 in Ireland, according to
his pension records. The names of his parents were not
mentioned in the records, but descendants state they were John
and Mary Ross Houston.
He enlisted in the Revolutionary War on March 01, 1776 from
Orangeburg District, South Carolina, in place of his father, in
Captain Flood's Company. From June 01, 1776 one month in
Captain John Sally's company and from July 03, 1776 one month
in Captain Fullington's company, under Major Charles Limming.
He moved to Ninety Six District late in 1779 and served several
more tours of duty up through 1782, serving as a private. During
that time he served as follows; from Mary 05, 1779, four months in
Captain Thomas Dugan's company to range on the frontier; from
March 01, 1780, three months in Captain Dugan's
companyColonel John Purvis' regiment; from in the fall of 1780
until December 15, 1781 under Captains Thomas and James
Dugan and John Virgin, Colonels Joseph Hays and Levi Gaisey;
from March 01, 1782, three months in Captain Henry Keys'
company, under Colonel Jared Smith; from Jun e 06, 1782, four
months under Lieutenant James Stark. During his service he was
in skirmishes on broad River and was wounded at Cross Roads
between Demkins Creek and Encore Rover. Taken prisoner,
remained until Christmas, released on parole, broke parole and
re-enlisted. He was at the seige of Ninety-Six and an
engagement at Bush River.
He married in the summer of 1788, Mary Wilson. She was still
living in 1843. She was allowed pension on her application
executed November, 1835 at which time she was seventy-five
years of age. It is known that in 1836 she received $80.00 per
annum pension.
About 1801 he moved to Jasper County, Georgia, and by 1827
he is found in the tax records of Fayette County, Georgia. In 1833,
he is living in Coweta County, Georgia where by sworn statement
he made application on November 15 for his pension. He died
May 24, 1835 and his will is of record, being dated March 17,
1834 and recorded July 06, 1835, Coweta County, Georgia.

Gov. George Smith Houston

George Smith Houston

1874-1876
1876-1878

George Smith Houston was born on January 17, 1811, in Williamson County,
Tennessee, the son of David and Hannah Pugh (Reagan) Houston. Natives of South
Carolina, the family moved to Tennessee and in ca. 1821 moved to Lauderdale
County, Alabama, where they became farmers. George was the grandson of John and
Mary (Ross) Houston, who emigrated from County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1760.

Houston was educated in the Lauderdale County Academy, read law in the office
of Judge George Coalter in Florence, and completed his studies in Judge Boyle's
law school in Harrodsburg, KY. He was admitted to the bar in 1831, was elected
to the state legislature from Lauderdale County in 1832, and was appointed
district solicitor by Governor Gayle in 1834. In 1837 he was elected as a
solicitor and held the office until 1841. In 1841 he was elected to the US
House of Representatives, a position to which he was reelected eight times,
retiring for only two years in 1849. He retired again in 1861, resigning when
Alabama seceded.

Houston was consistently opposed to secession and ran as a Unionist candidate
for Congress in 1850. He advocated and became a member of the committee of
thirty-three to devise a means to save the union, but when Alabama seceded, he
drafted and presented to the speaker the formal withdrawal of the Alabama
delegation from the US Congress. Houston sympathized with the Confederacy and
contributed to its support.

Houston was elected to the US Senate in 1865, but Alabama was denied
representation. Houston resumed his law practice in Athens, Alabama. In 1874,
Houston defeated the radical incumbent David Lewis and became governor of the
state. Houston was an immensely popular man who became known as the "Bald
Eagle of the Mountains." The conservative Democrats won by a large majority
during the 1874 gubernatorial election, bringing about the victory of the
"White Supremacy" in Alabama. This election was known for its intimidation at
the polls to discourage the Republican vote. Houston, known as the Redeemer
governor of Alabama, won his office with the slogans of "White Supremacy" and
"home rule."

Aside from being a lawyer, Houston also had industrial interests. Before
Houston became governor, he was a close associate of James W. Sloss, one of the
leaders in the industrialization of north Alabama. Houston served as director
of one of the affiliated lines of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. Loss,
who associated with the Alabama Democratic-Conservative Party, and William D.
(Pig-Iron) Kelley (Alabama and Chattanooga Railroad), who associated with the
Republican Party, both vied for the mineral resources in north Alabama.
Alabama was eager to fund the railroads, which brought the state to the brink
of bankruptcy. Financing of the railroad systems accounted for $17,000,000 of
the total estimated $25,000,000 debt incurred by the state after the Civil War.

As governor, Houston advocated a policy which converted the penitentiary into a
source of state revenue and urged economy in every department of state. The
most important measure before the legislature during his administration was the
state debt. The greatest challenge, according to Stewart, was deciding which
debts were valid and which were fraudulent. A committee was appointed to
investigate and adjust the debt. The debt commission consisted of Governor
Houston, who served as ex-officio chairman, Tristram B. Bethea and Levi W.
Lawler. The commission recommended that the state turn over to the creditors
first mortgages on the railroads which gad defaulted on interest payments. New
bonds were issued at a lower rate of interest to substitute for the old
carpetbag bonds. The commission's report was adopted and $8,596,000 in bonds
were issued by the state. (Stewart, p. 126) "Since the debt was always a
potential debt and would have become an actual debt only by the state's
becoming the owner of the railroads endorsed, the debt settlement' took the
form of relieving the state of its potential debt and the railroads of the
threat of foreclosure on mortgages held by the state." (Woodward, p. 10)
Residual obligations were therefore reduced to $12,000,000. Alabama staggered
under the interest payments on the old Reconstruction debt for another twenty
years, resulting in the poor and slow development of such public services as
education.

Also during Houston's two-term administration, the Alabama Constitutional
Convention of 1875 was held. The new constitution was marked by the outlawing
of loans by state, county, or municipal governments to private business and by
prohibiting the building of railroads by the state government. The
constitution became effective in December 1875. "The four main points of the
new constitution, followed assiduously by Governor Houston's administration,
were economy, education, payment or abrogation of old Reconstruction debts, and
a complete reversal of the practices of Reconstruction." (Stewart, p. 126)

Houston was reelected governor in 1876. At the expiration of that term in
1878, he was elected to the US Senate. He served in the extra session of 1879,
but did not return to Washington, DC due to ill health. He died in 1879 at his
home in Athens.

It was the Redeemers who laid the lasting foundations in matters of race,
politics, economics, and law for the modern South. Houston's administrations
reorganized the public school system and established the Alabama State Board of
Health, the first public health department in the South. Cullman County was
also created. Stewart states that by the end of Houston's second term, he
managed to reduce taxes and bring state expenditures under control.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Authorities:
Owen, Thomas M. History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography, 1921.
Stewart, John Craig. The Governors of Alabama, 1975.
Woodward, C. Vann. Origins of the New South, 1877-1913, 1971.
Houston Genealogy Site - Click Here

Notes about Mary Alsis Charlotte Houston b. 04 April 1815 Wildwood, AL

An old record say that she was "posses with a high order of intellectual endowments, and afforded educational and social advantages suitable thereto, she became noted in her early womanhood for excellence in the attainments of a liberal education in general literature, arts and history."

The same record says, "During the life of her distinguished brother, Hon. George S. Houston, as a member of Congress, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Governor of Alabama, later U.S. Senator, she spent much time in our state and national capitals. She thus occupied prominent places in the social life of those great centers, becoming meanwhile an ardent and apt student of political history, state and national."

New Genealogy blog about surnames Moore, Houston, Robertson

Hi to all!

I'm happy to announce this new blog for all cousins and researchers looking into the surnames Moore, Houston, Robertson, Brown, Baugh, Smith, Camp, Ballard, Williams, Harrison, Davis, Milam, Arthur, Walker, and many more. For a complete list of all presently known relatives in the tree, please go to http://www.cdagro.com/TNG/

Welcome and happy hunting!

Dean

click to visit my genealogy website