WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1844
343
Being fatigued and much pressed just now with business, I content myself with saying that I shall endeavor to be at Nacogdoches at farthest by the 10th of August, or within a day or two of that time, and shall proceed thence to San Augustine. Nothing but providential interference with my wishes and in- tentions shall prevent me. Sam Houston [Rubric] wHouston's Private Executive Record Book," p. 539, courtesy of Mr. Franklin Williams. \Villiam B. Ochiltree (October 18, 1811-December 27, 1867) was born at Fayetteville, North Carolina. His parents moved to Florida after the acquisition of that territory by the United States, and later to Alabama. In Alabama William B. studied law, and began the practise of his pro- fession, but in 1839, he decided to move to Texas. He settled at Nacogdoches, where he soon built up a large law practice. In 1842 he was appointed judge of the Fifth Judicial District; in 1844, Anson Jones appointed him Secretary of the Treasury, but in November, 1845, he was transferred to the Adjutant General's office. In the former position he gathered a knowledge of finance, and in the latter, he acquired familiarity with criminal jurisprudence, which experience later distinguished him as a financier, and as a particularly successful criminal lawyer. Upon the. annexation of Texas to the United States, he was chosen a delegate to the convention which framed the constitution, and he proved to be an active and prominent member of that body. After the convention had adjourned he was appointed judge of the Fifth District, but soon resigned this position to devote himself to private practise. In 1855 he was a member of the Sixth Legislature of the state, and was one of the conspicuous members of the House. In 1859 he moved to the town of Marshall, and from there was chosen a member of the convention that adopted the ordinance of secession, and became one of the signers of that instrument. He was elected one of the delegates to the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States, at Montgomery, Alabama, and became an influential member of that assembly. When th!:!! Civil War had actually begun, he resigned his seat in order to return to Texas to raise a regiment of infantry for the Confederate army. His regiment was attached to Walker's division, and for the first year of the war he led his men with conspicuous gallantry; but his health failed, and he resigned his com- mission in 1863, and died at his home in Jefferson, Texas, December 27, 1867. See James Lynch, Bench and Bar of Texas, 81-84; George L. Crocket, Two Centuries in Ectst Texas, 118, 210, 243, 249, 339; Homer S. Thrall, A Pfoto1·ial History of Texas, 596-597; E. W. Winkler (ed.), Secret Journals of the Senate, Rep1tblic of Texas, 1836-18~5, 308; Comptroller's Militco·y Se1·vice ·Rec<>1·ds, Texas State Library.
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