Mary E. White and Samuel Dexter Houston

SAMUEL DEXTER HOUSTON, son of TABITHA KIMBALL and SAMUEL DEXTER HOUSTON, was born July 11, 1852 in Iowa,⁴⁷¹⁸ and died November 9, 1925 in Electra, Wichita, Texas.⁸⁴³ He is buried in Sunset Cemetery, Manhattan, Riley, Kansas.^{843, 706}

He married MARY E. WHITE on June 3, 1877 in Concordia, Cloud, Kansas.⁶⁹⁰⁴ She was born June 7, 1862 in Michigan,⁷⁰⁶ and died February 1, 1910 in St. Louis County, Missouri.⁷⁰⁶ She is buried in Saint Peter's Cemetery, Normandy, St. Louis, Missouri.^{6896, 456}

• Samuel Dexter Houston was also known as Bill Williams. He used the name Bill Williams when he moved to Electra.

• Personal Information
• Work History
• Marriage Announcements and News
• Marriage Information
• Newspaper Articles
• Obituaries

• Census Records

• Memorial for Mary E. White on FindAGrave

• Descendant Reports
  • Samuel Houston Descendant Report (Ancestor of Samuel D. Houston)

Children of MARY E. WHITE and SAMUEL DEXTER HOUSTON:

1. HELEN HOUSTON, b. May 21, 1878, Concordia, Cloud, Kansas;¹⁴⁸⁶ m. CHARLES ELMORE QUICK in June, 1900; d. March 22, 1963, Hillcrest Haven, Electra, Wichita, Texas.¹⁴⁸⁶
2. JOSEPHINE ROBERTA HOUSTON, b. August 19, 1880, Cloud County, Kansas;^{706, 11582} m. JOHN DEEMS BECK; d. January 1, 1965, St. Louis County Hospital, Clayton, St. Louis, Missouri.⁷⁰⁶

Personal Information

• Mary E. White was also called Matie.

Work History

• Samuel Dexter Houston was an attorney.⁹²⁶⁹

Concordia Empire, June 8, 1877¹¹⁵⁸¹

Last Sunday morning there was a quiet, unostentatious wedding at the Truesdell House, S. D. Houston, Jr., Probate Judge of Cloud county, and one of Concordia's able young attorneys, and Miss Mary White, sister of Mrs. Truesdell, being the high contracting parties, and Rev. Mr. Haviland officiating minister. After the bridal feat the happy couple started for Clay Center by carriage, on the way to Junction City and Manhattan for a short bridal tour and visit.

Deck has often been instrumental, in the line of official duty, in conferring happiness upon others, and has not himself fallen a victim to the connubial epidemic. It must have been "catching"! However, the Empire extends congratulations and good wishes to the young people.

Kansas Star, December 14, 1895⁶⁹⁰³

Mrs. M. E. Houston was granted a divorce last Friday from S. D. Houston, Jr., and the custody of her children.

• Samuel Dexter Houston and Mary E. White were divorced in December, 1895 in Kansas.⁶⁹⁰³

Concordia Empire, May 2, 1889⁶⁹⁰⁵

THE TRADES DISPLAY.

It is Pronounced by Everybody the Most Successful Entertainment Ever Given in the City.

The Trades Display was given according to programme last Thursday evening in the opera house. Sixty five ladies were in line. They assembled in A. E. Lasnier's carpet store and at 8 o'clock, under command of Mayor D. L. Brown, they formed in two companies, with Ella Smith and Ella Marlatt as orderlies, and, led by the drum corps, marched up Sixth St. to the west side of Broadway, crossed over and returned to the opera house. Here about one half the hall had been reserved for the parade and the remaining half, the gallery and the stage were packed with people till you couldn't breathe. The companies filed in with all their rich trappings, unique emblems and glittering paraphernalia, and for the space of half an hour went through a marching drill with a precision and grace that greatly surprised as well as delighted everybody present. After the parade supper was served, consisting of hot biscuit made in the hall on a gasoline stove furnished by Groesbeck & Belisle for the occasion, cake, honey, and ice cream, while all present amused themselves studying the costumes of the participants. It was a sight not soon to be forgotten and one whose effect under the electric light can not be understood from any description we can give. Each lady represented some business firm in the city as a living advertisement, and so faithfully and appropriately was it done as to excite surprise and pleasure the more closely the costumes were studied. It was impossible for our scribe to get anything like a complete account of the decorations of the different ladies, but the following will give a general idea of the character of the display:

H. N. Hanson's Bargain House was represented by Ella Smith and Mattie Crumrine. Miss Smith represented the clothing department and wore a silk hat, black cutaway coat, vest, standing collar and Windsor tie and black trecho plaited dress skirt and carried a fine banner with "Bargain House Clothing" on one side and "Hanson's Clothing Department" on the other. Miss Crumrine represented the dry goods department and wore a man's straw hat turned up in front covered with lace handkerchiefs and trimmed with black velvet with "H. N. Hanson" painted on front. Her dress was covered with lace flouncing and ribbons and she carried a long handled silk parasol of the latest style.

Mrs. LaRue, the milliner, was represented by Miss Lottie Pearson and Miss McKee. Miss Pearson was a veritable flower garden, being literally covered with flowers and wreaths of the present spring styles, and Miss McKee was decked in equal profusion with plumes and ribbons of all the shades of the rainbow. The combinations were most tastefully made and the effect was very pleasing.

A. E. Courville's "The Model" was represented by Misses Wilma Dawson and Stella Chapman. Each wore a turban cap neatly inscribed "The Model." Miss Dawson wore a pale blue suit with a sash and Miss Chapman a navy blue suit with panels decked with cards of fancy buttons and fancy notions. Each of them carried a basket of handkerchiefs bearing the compliments of A. E. Courville which they distributed among the spectators.

The Daylight was represented by Miss Babe Sturges, who wore a Scotch cap of paper with "The Daylight" on the front. Her dress and trimmings were made of paper.

Wiard Bros., jewelers, were represented by Mrs. W. B. Harper and Mrs. Dr. Sawhill. Mrs. Haper wore a garnet velvet dress elaborately trimmed with jewelry, watches and silverware and festoons of watch chains and rings. She carried a shield covered with silver spoons and jewelry. Mrs. Sawhill represented the music department and was decked out with musical instruments of various kinds and carried a music rest.

The Times was represented by Miss Belle Hayden. She wore a suit made of copies of the Times, and a gold paper cap with the inscription "The Times."

Charlie Crans' Crescent flour and feed store was represented by Mrs. E. J. Sampson who wore a scarlet and white dress made of flour sacks, a broad scarlet band at the bottom with "Crescent Flour and Feed Store" painted on it in white letters and a fancy girdle to which were hung numerous miniature sacks of flour. On the back were a crescent and a large owl. On one arm was the word "Crans" and on the other "Flour." The head gear was a golden fan with the words "Crescent Flour." Her hair was dusted white with flour. She wore a corsage bouquet of millet and carried a wand surmounted with a large ear of corn.

Betournay & Reid, grocers, were represented by Miss Anna Colburn who was elaborately decorated with chestnuts, peanuts and candy. She carried a basket filled with packages of Tycoon tea which she distributed through the audience.

Beauchamp's Pharmacy had Misses Etta and Mable Starr who were lashed to huge painted mortars almost as tall as the ladies themselves. The mortars bore the inscription "Go to Beauchamp's Pharmacy." Their dresses were decked with barber brushes for epaulettes, smoking cases of meerschaum for cuffs and necklaces of perfumery bottles.

Groesbeck &Belisle's hardware store was represented by Mrs. D. M. Stackhouse and Mrs. S. D. Houston, jr. Mrs. Stackhouse wore a black dress, the front trimmed with tin tea spoons, side panel with fancy fine stoppers, another panel with win skimmers, back with nutmeg graters and cuffs of the same. For a breast pin she wore a door plate with a key for pendant, and picture nails for hair pins. her head dress was an inverted strainer with a tea pot on top. On her wand were two oil cans soldered together for a battle ax. Mrs. Houston was dressed with similar decorations having an inverted cake dish with tea pot on top for head gear with a battle ax surmounted by a little pump. Each of the ladies carried a large shield made of a section each of zinc, tin, copper and sheet iron,—an artistic piece of work by E. A. Belisle. This exhibition was exceedingly striking under the brilliant electric light.

The Citizens National bank was advertised by Misses May Caldwell and Maud Brown who were dressed alike with pink and blue sashes inscribed "Citizens National Bank," belts stamped with 20-dollar gold pieces broad white haps looped up with the same, a ten-dollar bank note for a neck-tie and cuffs made of five-dollar bank notes. It is needless to say their costumes were scrutinized with interest.

Rigby & Wilson, the furniture dealers, were represented by Miss Nannie Rigby who wore a dress made of curtain material, a cape of oil cloth and a small gold framed mirror for a breast pin. Her wand was surmounted by a little wooden chair.

E. J. Sampson's music and machine store and "The Novelty" were represented by Miss Maud Willard who wore a red cap with gold front inscribed "White is King." Around her neck and sleeves were black velvet bands covered with rubber bobbin winders and glass presser feet for bangles. She carried a banner "The Pack and Organ." Her dress was draped with hand painted doilies and the sash had a fringed border of filling silk. In large red letters on the drapery was the word "Sampson."

J. H. Beach, hardware and grocery, was represented by Stella O'Harra, who was decked out tastefully with advertising cards of different wares, but particularly of the Quick Meal gasoline stove.

W. C. Scott, the liveryman, was represented by Miss May Scott, who was rigged out with a fancy riding habit.

Whipp & Stackhouse, abstractors, were represented by Miss Mae Colburn, who wore a knapsack made of a large abstract tied with a blue ribbon and containing the firm name; skirt covered with abstract blanks, a red cap with fancy inkstand, hair pinned with pencils and pens, dress looped with business cards and back decorated with abstract of title to the presidential chair showing all transfers from Washington to Harrison.

The Mill company was represented by Miss Lotte Hannum, who wore a dress made of sacks representing all the brands of flour made out our mill, with sash containing firm name and "Patronize home Industries."

Al Barcelo, liveryman, was represented by Miss Jennie Barcelo who was dressed in a fancy riding habit with whip for a wand.

Mrs. Harris' greenhouse was represented by Miss Nettie Bennett who was decorated all over with flowers of the finest kinds.

Shafer & Richey, painters, were represented by Miss Minnie Groff, who was decorated with brushes, plaques and artists' materials, a scarf with "Shafer &Richey" painted on it and a crown trimmed in gold and bronze.

The EMPIRE was represented by Miss Della Shivers, who wore a pink toboggan cap with the "EMPIRE" in raised silver letters, a pink sash inscribed "THE EMPIRE," a white dress decorated with colored paper, a pick apron of the front page of the EMPIRE of that date and carried a green and pink banner with the inscription "The EMPIRE; the paper hat tells you the facts."

S. P. McCrary, grocer, was represented by Miss Rose Sterling whose dress was decorated with dried apples, bananas, cigars, fruits, ring candies, etc., and pewter coffee medals for a necklace, with a picture of a white elephant on the front. She carried a banner containing the firm name and "White Elephant" on one side and "Snow Flake" on the other.

J. S. Shearer was represented by Miss Lois Barrington, who carried a music roll for a knapsack and was decked all over with fancy cards, albums, papers and toys.

The Blade was represented by Miss Fannie Hagaman, who was wrapped about with a banner bearing the inscription "The Blade always Leads."

Taylor & Neitzel were represented by Miss Emma Neitzel, who wore a rich velvet dress decorated with brushes, combs, puffs, perfumery bottles and other druggists' sundries. She distributed perfumed moss roses and little bottles of perfumery.

Benj. Lake, the harness man, was represented by Pearl Hall, who had a dress of fly nets decorated with bridle ornaments, rings, etc., and carried a banner inscribed "No flies on this girl as she represents Benjamin Lake."

Charley Mashall, the "Iron Clad," was represented by Miss Hattie Judy, who wore a fancy slipper for a head dress, infant's shoes for epaulettes, button hooks for cuffs and dress decorations, a kangaroo skin apron and golden slippers and carried a fine banner with "C. H. Marshall 1882" on one side and "Marshall's Shoes 1889" on the other.

John Jones, harness maker, was represented by Miss Starling, who wore a dark green dress trimmed with white celluloid rings arranged in pyramids, a surcingle for a sash fastened at side with blanket pin and rosette, collar and cuffs of different colored celluloid loops, mane comb in her hair, hat trimmed with gilt chain and inscribed "Jones' handmade harness." Her wand was covered with leather and tipped with a red tassel.

E. C. Whitcher's restaurant was represented by Miss Dora Clark, who wore a girdle of doughnuts, a necklace of candy and peanuts with decorations of fruits and cigars, and a cap lettered "Delmonico."

Will DeVinney was represented by Mrs. F. F. Brackes, who wore a sash inscribed Will DeVinney, Printer," and distributed buttonhole bouquets for all the gentlemen present.

Okey the restaurant keeper was represented by Miss Nellie Short, who was decorated in appropriate style and carried a transparency with the following inscriptions: "Home made candies." "Okey's ice cream." "First fruits of the season," and an illustration "First Call."

Caudle, the "Elite" man was represented by Miss Ruby Paradis. She wore a sash with a picture photographed on each end of it. THe front panel of her dress was lined, with a picture photographed on it and the back was silk and contained a photograph. THe collar and other parts of the dress also contained pictures, mostly large size and easily recognized even in the crush.

Hinman & Bollinger's dry goods store was represented by Miss Marlatt, who wore a pink skirt covered thickly with lace flouncing looped with ribbons of great variety. Her bonnet was made entirely of ribbons and was of more than twenty colors. She wore a beaded wrap and carried a gold headed parasol.

Martin Bros. Grocers were represented by Miss Etta Chamness, who wore a pink dress decorated with labels of all kinds of canned goods, a blue sash with the firm name in gold letters and a crown trimmed with oranges, lemons and other fruits.

The Hardware & Cornice Co., had Miss Olive Sterling to represent them. She wore a dark dress thickly decorated with teaspoons, cake tins, cake cutter, pepper boxes, key rings, brass chains, etc., with spoons crossed for a bow, wire dish rags for epaulettes, cork screws and graters on the sleeves, a tall tin plug hat and carried a large banner bearing the firm name.

Betournay & Taylor Grocers, were represented by Miss Minnie Barcelo who was trimmed out with nuts, candies and fruits.

Paradis & Demers meat market was represented by Miss Ella Demers, who wore a black dress with a butcher's apron, and on the apron a picture of a knife and steel painted with "meat market" painted below, and a cap inscribed with the firm name.

The Bankers Loan & Trust Co. was represented by Miss Emma Clark who wore a white dress and a cap with "Bankers Loan & Trust Co" on it, a pink sash, blank bond on one side of the dress and carried a banner with firm name on one side and a $10,000 bond of the company on the other.

The Bon Marche was represented by Mrs. W. W. Bowman and Miss Heminway. Mrs. Bowman wore a chantilly lace dress black mitts and ribbons lettered "Bon Marche." Miss Heminway had on a Nile green surah silk, with cream silk and China silk drapery and long mitts.

Herwick & Co., grocers, were represented by Miss Rosa Hull, who wore a white sash containing the firm name and "ice cream" in large letters in front. Her dress was decorated with peanuts, cany, lemons, bananas and other toothsome delicacies from the store.

The Cloud County bank was represented by Miss Cora McCrary, who wore for an apron, a banner containing the name of the bank. Her dress was trimmed with checks and the sash was made of bonds. Her crown contained the firm name.

Robinson & McCrary, Hardware, was represented by Misses Stella McCrary and Cora Shivers. They were dressed alike in black, their dresses covered with tin tools, imitating carpenter's tools. They wore dog collars and padlocks, tin crowns with name of firm, copper bracelets, garland stove ads and carried small hoes.

Cobb & Lamb, Clothiers, was represented by Miss Maggie Shipley, who wore a gent's white straw hat with black band with firm name in white letters on it, black basque, vest front, Piccadilly collar and dress draped with suspenders, silk handkerchiefs and Windsor ties.

L. A. Bartlett was represented by Miss Hattie Hall, who was decked out with harness trappings, bridle bits, rings, brushes, etc.

J. H. Tyner was represented by Misses May Tyner and Lulu Hannum. Miss Hannum wore a silk muffler decorated with rose buds for a cap. Her dress was festooned with ribbons and one panel and puff in front was made of silk handkerchiefs. Miss Tyner wore a cap of ruching, epaulettes of buttons, valenciennes lace overskirt, and silk parasol.

The Butler Wind Mill Manufacturing Company was represented by Mrs. J. M. Brumbaugh, who wore three decorative banners, one representing plumbing, one farm machinery and one the Butler wind mill.

C. C. Freeman's Jewelry store was represented by Misses Anna and Agnes Bowman, who were both decked out with jewelry, diamonds, watches, necklaces, gold chains, silver plate and ornaments of all kinds.

F. L. Holcomb's Implement and Harness stores was represented by Miss Minnie Pottinger, who was decorated with harness trimmings, tinware and cuttery, etc.

Rawlings & Son, Merchants, were represented by Misses Ella Marlatt and Gertie Smith. Miss Marlatt wore a black cutaway coat, white vest, standing collar and silk hat and carried a banner with brass G. A. R. buttons, bearing the legend, "Rawlings & Son the Clothiers." Miss Smith wore a bodice of handkerchiefs, Empire style; panels of dress with decorated with Windsor ties; standing collar and Derby hat.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 2, 1910⁶⁸⁹⁶

CURRIE—Entered into rest, after a lingering illness, on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 1910, at 11:30 a. m., Mattie Houston Currie, dearly beloved mother of Mrs. John D. Beck (nee Houston), and Mrs. Charles E. Quick (nee Houston), beloved aunt of Josephine Marshall of Concordia, Kan., and our dear grandmother, at the age of 47 years.

Funeral will take place from the residence of her daughter, Mrs. John D. Beck, 6743 Robbins Avenue, St. Louis County, on Thursday, Feb. 3, at 2:30 p. m., to St. Peter's Cemetery.

Concordia (Kan.) papers please copy.

Wichita Falls Record News, November 10, 1925⁹²⁷¹

BILL WILLIAMS SUCCUMBS TO SUNDAY BURNS

Electra Attorney and Well Known Character Passes Away Monday

ELECTRA, Nov. 9.—Bill Williams, prominent attorney, died early Monday morning in the Electra hospital where he was carried from his residence Sunday morning after his night clothing caught fire from a gas stove and burned badly about the body, arms and face.

Beck Houston, who assumed the name of Bill Williams some 15 years ago, came to Electra from Denver, Colo. After working in the C. L. Aven insurance office for almost a year, he established a law office where he has been very successful. Williams or Houston is claimed to be a relative of General Sam Houston, the first governor of Texas. it is claimed that he was a graduate of three universities—Michigan, Kansas and Harvard. A telephone message received by C. L. Aven late Monday afternoon from a brother, L. N. Houston, an attorney in Okmulgee, Okla., instructed the Totten Brothers undertaking establishment to take the best care of the body and that he would arrive in Electra Tuesday afternoon at which time funeral arrangements will be completed.

It is said that Judge Williams was the father of two daughters, one of which was killed in an automobile accident in St. Louis. The other lives in St. Louis. He was 65 years of age and had many friends in the city.

Wichita Falls Record News, November 12, 1925⁹²⁶⁹

BILL WILLIAMS' ELECTRA NAME WAS A FANCY

A Chance Meeting With a Stranger Led to Strange Choice of Address

HIS BROTHER RELATES

And So It Was "Judge Williams" Thereafter Instead of S. D. Houston Jr.

ELECTRA, Nov. 11.—Judge L. N. Houston of Okmulgee, Okla., arrived late last evening in Electra to take charge of the remains of his brother, Samuel Dexter Houston, generally known in Electra as Judge Williams, who died Monday morning as a result of serious burns which he sustained Sunday.

In an interview with the correspondent of the Record News Judge Houston expressed himself as being very grateful for the kindly treatment accorded his brother in his misfortune here. Judge Houston has been here to see his brother on several occasions and upon his first visit here his brother explained to him, he said, the circumstances in connection with the reason why he was going under the name of Judge Williams in this community. The deceased had been obliged to leave Denver, where he had engaged in the law practice, on account of the high altitude there and went south into Texas looking for a location.

How it Happened.

He arrived in Electra one day and while sitting in the lobby of one of the local hotels some man approached him and gave his name and in turn asked the judge his name. The judge who was always more or less reticent to strangers, and not expecting to remain in Electra simply said, "Bill Williams." The stranger then took it upon himself to introduce a number of his acquaintances, among whom were several prominent business men to "Bill Williams." The following day the judge continued his search for a location going to Wichita Falls, Fort Worth and other points, and being more favorably impressed with the future prospects of Electra he then returned and was met by his newly formed acquaintances who continued to address him as "Mr. Williams." In this somewhat embarrassing situation he then decided to let his name go as "Bill Williams," and he has been a citizen of Electra and engaged in the practice of law ever since under that name.

Close Friends Knew.

He became known to the people of Electra as "Judge Williams" and continued to use the name Williams, after he had made a number of his close friends acquainted with facts and told them his name was S. D. Houston. In fact, his license to practice law was issued in his right name,—Samuel Dexter Houston.

For a number of years and prior to his going to Denver he was located in Kingfisher, Okla., where he was a prominent attorney. Kingfisher is about 100 miles north of Electra.

"Judge Williams" at the time of his death was past 73 years of age. The greater part of his early life was spent in Manhattan, Kan., with his parents, his father being Samuel D. Houston, Sr., one of the framers of the constitution of that state.

Studied Extensively.

Samuel D. Houston Jr., took an eight-years course in college at Manhattan and followed this with a three year course at Harvard and then a two-year course at Ann Arbor to prepare himself for his profession. Two brothers and two sisters survive him besides his daughter. His youngest brother, Judge L. N. Houston leaves tonight with the remains for Manhattan, where they will be interred in the family plot in the cemetery at that place on next Friday. The family will hold funeral services at that time in Manhattan.

Judge Houston will return to Electra within a few days to take charge of his brother's affairs. He was accompanied by his son-in-law, John P. Cook of Oklahoma City.