Biography of James H. Houston - Craighead Co, AR

***********************************************************
Submitted by: Unknown < >
        Date: 26 Sep 1998
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
***********************************************************

SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas.
Goodspeed Publishers, 1889.

page 336

James H. Houston was born in Shelby County, Tenn., October 1,
1849, and is now a farmer of Greenfield Township, residing about six
miles south of Jonesboro. His father was William Bird Houston, a
prominent and highly esteemed citizen of Poinsett County. He was a native
of Tennessee, and came with his family to Arkansas, about December, 1856,
locating in the northern part of Poinsett County, where he engaged
extensively in farming and stock raising. He was a Democrat, belonged to
the Masonic fraternity, and was a member of the Methodist Church. When
about twenty-five years of age he was married, in his native State, to
Harriet Jane Steelman, also a native of Tennessee. To them were born
thirteen children, the four surviving making their home in Arkansas. They
are: James H. (the subject of this sketch), Melinda (widow of S. Harris,
son of Capt. Harris, who has several times represented Poinsett County in
the State Senate), John F. (married to Emma J. Allen, deceased), and
William Bird, Jr. (married to Elizabeth Kelsoe, deceased). The father
died in 1872, the mother in 1867. James H. was seven years old when his
parents came to this State, but he returned to Tennessee to school after
the war. He owns 130 acres of land in Poinsett County, much of it under
fence. He moved to Craighead County in August of 1887, locating at his
present residence–the old McCarty homestead. February 15, 1880, Mr.
Houston was married to Lucinda J. Stephens. To them were born three
children, all deceased: Cora M., Lorenzo B. H. and John H. Mrs. Houston
died August 22, 1886, and he was married again August 4, 1887, to Melinda
Josephine McCarty, a daughter of Michael and Melinda (Weer) McCarty, the
former a native [p.336] of Ohio, the latter of North Carolina; the former
is deceased, but the latter is still living, aged seventy-one years. Mr.
and Mrs. Houston have had one child, a daughter, now deceased. Mr.
Houston is a member of the Methodist Church, has taken great interest in
Sunday-school and church work, and is a leading member of the
denomination to which he belongs. He is a member of the Agricultural
Wheel, and a prominent and enterprising citizen.