45
WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1837
Augustine, Texas. There, the father died that same year, leaving a widow and nine children-six girls and three boys. Although he was still a very young man when the Fredonian War broke out, Alexander Horton was stubbornly opposed to the contentions of Haden Edwards, and joined the opposition against him. He was also a member of the company of soldiers, James W. Bullock commanding, who drove the Mexican garrison from Nacogdoches on August 2, 1832; he was a delegate from San Augustine to the Consultation in 1835; he was one of the four men who went with Houston from San Felipe to Gonzales in 1835; he was with Houston on his retreat from the Colorado in 1836, and served as his aide at the battle of San Jacinto. In 1838, he served as chairman of the board of land com- missioners, and in 1839 he was appointed customs collector at San Augustine. Durlng 1839, also, he took part in the war against the Cherokees. From 1872 to 1873 he was a member of the House in the Texas Legislature. Horton was equally popular in local as in state politics; and, for several years was mayor of San Augustine. In 1837 he married Mrs. Elizabeth Cooper Latten. To them were born one son and two daughters. After the death of his first wife, Horton married Mary Harrell, in 1847. They had seven children. The Civil War left Horton a poor man, but did not destroy his usefulness, and he continued to engage in active life until he was past eighty years of age. He died in 1894, at the age of eighty-four. See Alexander C. Horton, "The Life of Alexander A. Horton and the Early Settlement of San Augustine County," in The Quarterly, Texas State His- torical Association, XIV, 305-314; also, "Notes from the Life of Col. A. Horton, written by his son and copied from the original by George L. Crocket," [a typed copy is in The University of Texas Library]. E. W. Winkler (ed.), Secret Journals of the Senate, Republic of Texas, 1886-1845, 114, 116. George L. Crocket, Two Centm·ies in East Texas, 84-85, 181-182. Dixon and Kemp, H6roes of San Jacinto, 48. William C. Binkley, Official Cor- 1·espondence of the Texcm Revolution, I, 40, 298, 427.
To MRS. CATHERINE DUANE MORGAN 1
Columbia, Texas, 31st January, 1837. Dear Madam: Since I had the pleasure to address you last, I have visited the army and met with your noble sons, and I really think if asked for your jewels you might well give the answer of Cornelia and point to your boys. 2 I was much pleased with both, but felt a peculiar interest in Georg-e,S he being so young an adventurer in our cause. Their standing in the Army is very high and they bear the stamp of worth, honour and valour upon their manly features. The indi- cations of their future usefulness and distinction are palpable as any I have ever met with. The Army was in fine health and improving in discipline daily. The troops at this time have abundant supplies and so far as we can learn the enemy are not yet on the advance.
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