Houston FAMILY
Submitted by:
Dale Thomas
James B. Houston was born 8 Oct. 1812 in Georgia and died 9 Oct. 1864 of
Civil War injuries at Franklin, Heard County, Georgia. He was married 4
June 1835 in Coweta County, Georgia to Ann Watkins. I have been unable to
find the parents of James B. Houston. However he was mentioned as a
grandson in the will of his grandfather John Houston, a Revolutionary War
soldier and pensioner. John Houston had a son Hugh Houston, and since James
named his first son Hugh Watkins Houston, this Hugh might have been the
father of James.
James Houston operated a hotel in Franklin and was listed in the 1860 census
of Heard County. His wife drew a Georgia state pension based upon her
husband's service and death in the Civil War. In the pension application
she says he served as a member of Benson's Glenn's Squadron, enlisting in
April, 1864.
In the application Ann Watkins Houston stated: "He came home from Atlanta,
Ga sick of typhoid fever. He lived about 3 weeks when he died on the 9th
day of October 1864 at his home and was very low during the intervening
time, from his return from the army to the date of his death. He was 52
years old and she is satisfied that he contracted the disease that caused
his death while doing service for the Confederacy. Deponent (Ann) was
with him all the time during his illness and followed to his grave."
Ann Watkins was born 30 May 1820 probably in Laurens Co., SC and died 30
March 1903 at Saginaw, Tarrant Co., Texas. She was visiting a daughter at
the time of her death. Ann's parents were James Watkins and Permelia Pinson
of Coweta County, Ga.
James and Ann had the following children:
- 1. Hugh Watkins Houston born 5 May 1836 in Coweta Co., Ga and died 20 June
1917 Heard County. He is buried in the Liberty Hill Cemetery, Troup Co.,
Ga. He married Nancy West Wilder. Nancy's mother was Mary Caroline Wilder
born Feb 1809 SC and still living at the time of the 1900 census in Heard
County. Nancy had been married first to a Brittan who died during the Civil
War.
- 2. Viginia W. Houston born 5 Sept. 1838 in Coweta Co., Ga and died 6 June
1903 Franklin. She is buried in the Bevis Cemetery. Virginia married
William Echols. The family was listed in the 1880 census at Rockalo
District 987 Heard County. There may be descendants still living in Heard
County.
- 3. James W. Houston born 20 Nov 1840 Coweta Co., Ga and died 12 Sept. 1861
at Culpepper Courthouse, Va. He was a 1st lieutenant with the 7th Ga.
Regiment. He never married.
- 4. John C. Houston born 1 Feb 1843 Coweta Co., Ga. He married Susan and is
listed in the 1880 census at West Vernon District 735, Troup Co. There may
still be descendants in the area.
- 5. Emma Henry Houston born 30 July 1849 and died 26 Sept. 1922 at Rose Bud,
White Co., Ark. She is buried at the Mt. Bethel Church Cemetery, Rose Bud.
Emma married John E. Vickers Dec. 1872 in Heard Co. They moved to Keller,
Tarrant Co., Texas after their marriage and in 1900 to Elk City, Oklahoma.
- 6. Sarah Elizabeth Houston born 1 Aug. 1853 Coweta Co., Ga and died 7 July
1908 at Saginaw, Tarrant Co., Texas. She married Mal Hurst.
© Copyright 2001 Dale Thomas
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