William Boyle Houston, p. 164

WILLIAM BOYLE HOUSTON. The Houston family of Canonsburg, Washing county, are descended from the family of that name in Lancaster county, same State, who emigrated from Scotland to Ireland and thence to this country, settling in Lancaster county, Penn. We quote the following from "The Encyclopedia of Contemporary-Biography of Pennsylvania:"

"The Houstons of Pennsylvania come of a race noted for its physical and mental strength. They trace their lineage far back into the days of chivalrous Scotland, when the destinies of the land of heath and heather were dominated by the tyrannical Edward I of England. The Houston came into existence during the life of the valorous Wallace. Its origin, however, goes back to the time of Sir Hugh de Pavinan, the Laird of the Lands of Kilpeter in Strathgrief, and comes in a direct line through the oldest sons down to the present time. The baronetcy is now held by George Ludovic Houston, of Johnstone, Renfrewshire, Scotland. The younger sons of the original family migrated from their native land to the North of Ireland, in the early part of the seventeenth century, and are now scattered through the Counties of Antrim, Tyrone, Donegal and Londonderry. From them came that branch of the family that settled in Lancaster county, Penn., between the years 1725 and 1730, and from the Lancaster county Houstons, branch out the Houstons of Virginia and Tennessee, and the famous Sam Houston of Texas, the hero who battled with Santa Anna, and who was the first president of the Republic."

The following is from the "History of Lancaster County:"

"The Houstons of Lancaster county, Penn., are the descendants of John Houston, who had six sons and two daughters born at the farm immediately facing Gap Station on the Pennsylvania Railroad. The sons were Daniel, John, William, James, Thomas and Samuel. The daughters were married, one to Rev. Alexander Proudfit, the other to Mr. John Johnson. Both daughters had large families. The five elder boys (Samuel was too young) were soldiers in the Revolutionary war, and with the exception of James, who was killed at Paoli, fought through the war. After the war Daniel went to Franklin county and afterward to Washington county; William went to Trumbull county, Ohio; Thomas went to Rockbridge county, Va. The youngest son, Samuel Nelson, remained in Lancaster county, Penn. He was distinguished for his splendid physical manhood. After graduating from Burlington College he gave his attention in his early years to the study of materia rnedica and pharmacy. But he did not repress the martial nature which was within him, for he became an active member of Capt. Shippen's troop of horse in Lancaster county, and took part in the war of 1812.

"Dr. John Houston, the second son, studied in the University of Edinburgh, where he graduated in 1766. He studied medicine with Dr. Shippen, of Philadelphia, and began practice in York county, Penn., then a frontier town. In 1773 he married Susannah Wright, of Columbia. He entered the Revolutionary army as a surgeon. His eldest brother, Daniel, also a Revolutionary soldier, moved from Lancaster county to Franklin county, where he remained a short time, then moved to Washington county, settling in the neighborhood of Cross Creek township. His son, Daniel, born in Franklin county, was a man of more than ordinary intelligence and executive ability, a worthy representative of the Scotch-Irish Covenanters. He was tall, broad-shouldered, erect and possessed of great strength. He early engaged in buying and shipping wool, flour and pork; loading boats with flour and wool at the mouth of Cross creek, and boating to New Orleans. Few people have any idea of the courage, endurance and strength required to make such a trip. There were no canals or railroads. The river was full of malaria, and the channels were not marked as now; worse than this, he was compelled to guard against robbers and murderous savages both white and red on the return walking back. Mr. Houston made many trips of this kind, and was always successful. He had the confidence and respect of all. He was gentle and severe, firm and unchangeable when satisfied he was right; he had a mind for equity, and was chosen executor and guardian by many of the best families, both alone and as an associate with others. The Rev. James I. Brownson informs us he knew Daniel when he (Rev. James I. Brownson) was a boy. He says: 'Daniel Houston was a man of strict integrity, possessed of great mental and physical strength, of a fine face and presence, strong in his likes and dislikes, a firm friend and generous to those worthy his confidence.' Daniel Houston and Dr. Brownson's father were friends, and were also administrators for the same estates. Daniel Houston was opposed to slavery and was, no doubt, connected with the underground railway, but he had his own views. Dr. Brownson asked him if he was going to the Abolitionist meeting at Pittsburgh; he said: No! he was in favor of colonization. His religious views were the same as his ancestors, and he always adhered to the Seceder Church. At Houstonville a Seceder church was erected on a lot given by David Houston, his son, on the Daniel Houston farm. This church is still standing, in the possession of their son, William B. Houston. Daniel Houston was one of the organizers of the old Franklin Bank of Washington, Penn, now known as the First National; was the largest stockholder, and at one time president of the bank. He was also a trustee of Jefferson College, Canonsburg. Daniel Houston was progressive and public-spirited. When the Chartiers Railroad was projected many years ago, Daniel Houston took great interest in it and subscribed some $6,000 to help put it through. The company that then had charge of the work failed, however, and the enterprise remained in a dormant condition for many years. Finally, the Pennsylvania Railroad Company offered to complete the road on condition that the people would take stock to the amount of $250,000. D. C. Houston (son of Daniel) at once took hold of the project, subscribed liberally himself, and worked untiringly to induce people to take stock and secure the road. Owing to his efforts and the confidence the people had in him, $87,000 was secured.

"Daniel Houston married Miss Betsey Clark, who was born on the old homestead farm of her father in Canton township, now owned by Samuel K. Weirick. She was a daughter of David and Hannah Baird Clark [Baird was originally Bard, and was Scotch]. David Clark was born near Mercersburg, Franklin Co., Penn., and was a son of James Clark and Nancy (Reed) Clark; they were of Scotch descent. James Clark was born in the North of Ireland, and came with his brother, Thomas, to Pennsylvania. Thomas settled in one of the southern States. James Clark was married in Lancaster county, Penn. Daniel Houston was a great reader, and while his early opportunities for obtaining an education were limited, he made the most of these opportunities and became a careful, safe and successful business man, and was universally trusted and respected as an upright, honorable man. Rev. David Riddle, president of Jefferson College (of which Daniel Houston was a prominent trustee), preached his funeral sermon, and in recounting his many sterling qualities as a friend, citizen, neighbor and business man, said: 'You might as well try to move the Alleghany Mountain from its base as to shake the integrity of Daniel Houston.' Daniel Houston and wife, Betsey (Clark) Houston, had three children one son and two daughters, David, the son, being the only survivor, the girls dying in childhood.

"David Houston was born on the old farm of his father in Independence township, was educated in the common schools and at Jefferson College; in early life engaged in mercantile pursuits, but later retired from mercantile life and looked after the estate inherited from his father, who was a large landowner. For many years David Houston was a director in the First National Bank of Washington. He was a resident of Canonsburg at the time of his death, which occurred May 27, 1888, when he was in his seventy-third year. He was a public-spirited, charitable, generous, whole-souled Christian gentleman, was active in his efforts to secure the location of the Chartiers Valley Railroad, and for many years, and up to the time of his death, a trustee of Washington and Jefferson College, a trustee of Jefferson Academy, president of the Oak Spring Cemetery Company, and held other positions of trust. Mr. Houston and his father served continually as directors of the First National Bank of Washington, Penn., from its organization; and the discharge of their duties was marked by a regularity in attendance, by uniform courtesy to other members of the board and by a watchful care over the interests of the institution. The funeral services of Mr. David Houston were held in the Chartiers U. P. Church, of which he had for many years been an honored and worthy member. His liberality in the church and his charities to those in need are well known. No one in trouble or need appealed to him in vain. He was always ready with sympathy and something more substantial when needed. In 1840 he married, at Washington, Penn., Miss Louisa Bell Sweitzer, who was born in Brownsville, Penn., a daughter of Dr. Louis Sweitzer, of Doylestown, Bucks Co., Penn., who graduated from a medical college in Paris, France. He and his wife had children as follows: William, who became associated with a dry-goods firm of Philadelphia, Penn. (he afterward went to California, where he engaged in the mercantile and real estate business on his own account, and in which he was successful; he contracted a fever, and while convalescing started for Philadelphia, but died en route, and was buried at sea); Dr. Louis, Jr., who became a physician and practiced medicine at Claysville, Washington county; Alonza B., who, previous to his emigration to Gonzales, Tex., acquired the profession of law and medicine, after which he spent some time in the military academy at West Point and was classmate of Gen. U. S. Grant (he had been a member of the National Congress of Texas from the county in which he was a resident at the time of his death, and he enjoyed the undivided confidence and esteem of all who knew him, he died aged thirty-three years and some months); Mary A., who married Samuel Wise, of Vincennes, Ind.; Elizabeth, who died young; Emma, who married, January 24, 1836, Col. Marmatel Boyle, a nephew of Gen. Boyle, of Kentucky (she was considered one of the most beautiful women of her day; they had two children one son who was a prominent judge, of Vincennes, Ind.); Cecelia L., who was married September 19, 1837, to John Imbria, of New Castle, Penn., and they had two sons, prominent business men of Philadelphia, Penn.; Louisa Bell, wife of David Houston; Harriet, who was married to John Vowell, of Washington, Penn; and two children: Louis Sweitzer Vowell, a druggist of Washington, Penn., and Bessie, wife of F. O. Graper, of Toledo, Ohio. David Houston and wife had six children three sons and three daughters: Miss Elizabeth, of Canonsburg; Mary wife of Rev. W. F. Brown, D. D., also in Canonsburg; Louis Sweitzer, who died aged twenty-four years; William Boyle, executor of the estate, Canonsburg; Harriet, who died unmarried aged twenty-two years, and Daniel, who died in childhood, aged three years." Immediately after the death of Daniel Houston his son David took possession of the farm, and in 1871 divided a large portion of it into lots, which were soon sold, and now a thriving town, named Houstonville, is seen, where a few years ago were cultivated fields. The remaining part of this farm is now in the possession of Mr. W. B. Houston, and thus continues to bear the family name. The first survey of lots of Houstonville, was made by Thomas H. Johnston, and the first house was built by Mr. A. T. Haft in 1871.

Text taken from page 164 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).

Transcribed April 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published April 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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