Margaret Moffette Lea Houston

Margaret Moffette Lea Houston (HMEK1)

Location: Huntsville, TX 77340 Walker County
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Country: United States of America
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N 30° 42.906', W 95° 33.173'

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Inscription

April 11, 1819 - December 3, 1867

Margaret Moffette Lea was born on her family's farm in Pleasant Valley, near Marion, Alabama. She graduated from Judson Female Institute in Marion in 1837, and in 1839 she met General Sam Houston. Houston, who had completed his term as the first president of the Republic of Texas, was visiting Alabama for business ventures. Despite their 26-year age difference, the two married in 1840. During their marriage, Margaret was successful in curbing the general's use of alcohol and encouraging him to become a dedicated church member.

The Houston's owned residences in Houston City and in Cedar Point. In 1841, Gen. Houston was elected to his second term as president of the Republic of Texas. For the first time, Texas had a first lady, as Margaret joined her husband at the temporary capital of Washington-on-the-Brazos. During the presidency, the couple had the first of their eight children. After the term, the Houston family moved to a plantation named Raven Hill (14 mi. E). While her husband later served as a U.S. senator, Margaret Houston managed the plantation and participated in church, social and literary activates. She also underwent surgery and treatment for breast cancer.

The family later lived in Huntsville at their Woodland Home and in Independence. Margaret Houston continued to raise her family and, when General Houston became governor, again served as first lady. The couple later moved to the Steamboat House in Huntsville. After her husband died in 1863, Margaret Houston returned to Independence, where she provided for her children until her death from Yellow Fever in 1867. Today, Margaret Moffette Lea Houston is remembered as a First Lady and the matriarch of one of the most significant families in Texas history.
Details
HM NumberHMEK1
Tags
Marker Number14506
Year Placed2008
Placed ByState Historical Survey Committee
Marker ConditionNo reports yet
Date Added Thursday, September 11th, 2014 at 10:47pm PDT -07:00
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Locationbig map
UTM (WGS84 Datum)15R E 255525 N 3400811
Decimal Degrees30.71510000, -95.55288333
Degrees and Decimal MinutesN 30° 42.906', W 95° 33.173'
Degrees, Minutes and Seconds30° 42' 54.36" N, 95° 33' 10.38" W
Driving DirectionsGoogle Maps
Area Code(s)409, 936
Closest Postal AddressAt or near 1863 State Hwy 75, Huntsville TX 77340, US
Alternative Maps Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing Maps, Yahoo Maps, MSR Maps, OpenCycleMap, MyTopo Maps, OpenStreetMap

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