Sam Houston Jr. – Saved by a Miracle

Sam Houston Jr. was born in Washington-on-the-Brazos, Texas, on May 25, 1843, the first child of the legendary Texan hero, Sam Houston, and his wife, Margaret Lea. His childhood was typical of the time, educated at home by his mother and governesses, and later at the preparatory school at Baylor University. Despite his father’s misgivings, he showed an early interest in the arts, particularly sketching.

However, his life took a decisive turn in 1861 when the Civil War broke out. Aged 18, Houston Jr. enlisted in Company C of the 2nd Texas Infantry. Sam Houston Jr. faced a near-death experience in the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862, where he was critically injured and subsequently abandoned on the battlefield.

Miraculously, his Bible, a gift from his mother Margaret bearing her inscription, blocked a second bullet. A Union Army clergyman discovered him in a state of severe distress in the middle of the field. Along with the inscribed Bible, the clergyman also found a letter from Margaret in the pocket of the wounded soldier. This personal touch offers a glimpse into the close relationship he shared with his mother, a bond that would only deepen after his father’s death in 1863.

After his release, he faced the enormous challenge of adjusting back to civilian life. His decision to study medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in 1867 suggests a desire to heal, perhaps a reaction to the horrors he witnessed during the war. He graduated and practiced in various Texas towns, including Belton and Waco. However, this did not define the rest of his life.

In 1875, he married Lucy Anderson and took another significant turn in his career path. He stopped practicing medicine and dedicated himself to writing poetry and short stories. Here, we can see the same artistic spirit that had fascinated him as a child. Despite his father’s documented distaste for fiction, Houston Jr. published a collection of adventure stories in 1892. His literary pursuits reveal an imaginative and creative side to him that sharply contrasted with his earlier military service and medical profession.

Tragedy struck when Lucy died in 1886. Following her death, Sam Houston Jr. moved back to Independence to live with his sister, Margaret Lea Houston Williams. He continued to reside there until his death on May 20, 1894, a few days shy of his 51st birthday.

As historians, we interpret Sam Houston Jr.’s life as one characterized by resilience and reinvention. From his early artistic leanings to his experiences as a soldier, then as a physician, and finally as a writer, he continuously adapted to his circumstances and pursued his interests. His life may not have been as publicly impactful as his father’s, but it presents a dynamic and human story of survival, adaptation, and the pursuit of personal fulfillment amid the historical turbulence of the 19th century.