Life in Huntsville
In March of 1847, Sam Houston and his wife Margaret purchase land in Huntsville, Texas, for the purpose of constructing a house and establishing “roots” to raise an ever-expanding family. On the grounds of what is now the Sam Houston Memorial Museum, the Houston’s constructed what became the General’s favorite home, which he proudly named “Woodland”. While somewhat upscale for the period, Woodland was a “typical double-pen log house usually called a ‘dogtrot’ or ‘dog run’”, a design typical of many East Texas dwellings of the time. It included a separate kitchen, again, typical of most dwellings of the period, and a separate “Law Office”, an extremely modest log cabin adjacent to the main living structure where some of the most important decisions of Houston’s career were made.
Houston and his family lived in Woodlands until 1859 when he was again elected Governor of the State of Texas. He moved his family to the State Capital in Austin and was reluctantly forced to sell his home in Huntsville for $4,000 to pay for his campaign expenses.
In 1861, Governor Houston refused to take the oath of allegiance to the Confederate States of America and was deposed as governor. In April 1861, less than one month later, Civil War began between the Northern and Southern States – as Houston had predicted.
In 1862, Houston returned to Huntsville and attempted to repurchase Woodlands. He was unsuccessful in that effort and subsequently rented a home referred to as the Steamboat House – named for its unique design – which he and his family occupied until his death on July 26 of the following year – 1863.
http://www.texasescapes.com/EastTexasTowns/HuntsvilleTexas/Woodland-Home-of-Sam-Houston.htm
www.huntsvilletexas.com
http://www.shsu.edu/~smm_www
Houston and his family lived in Woodlands until 1859 when he was again elected Governor of the State of Texas. He moved his family to the State Capital in Austin and was reluctantly forced to sell his home in Huntsville for $4,000 to pay for his campaign expenses.
In 1861, Governor Houston refused to take the oath of allegiance to the Confederate States of America and was deposed as governor. In April 1861, less than one month later, Civil War began between the Northern and Southern States – as Houston had predicted.
In 1862, Houston returned to Huntsville and attempted to repurchase Woodlands. He was unsuccessful in that effort and subsequently rented a home referred to as the Steamboat House – named for its unique design – which he and his family occupied until his death on July 26 of the following year – 1863.
http://www.texasescapes.com/EastTexasTowns/HuntsvilleTexas/Woodland-Home-of-Sam-Houston.htm
www.huntsvilletexas.com
http://www.shsu.edu/~smm_www
Houston's Law Office at Woodland
Woodland - Houston's Huntsville Home
Margaret - Houston's Third Wife