The life of Sam Houston is usually associated with that of Texas but, even before that time period, he was an influential resident of the Arkansas Territory.

Houston, born in Virginia, spent most of his early life in Tennessee. As a rebellious teenager, he ran away from home and spent almost three years of his life with John Jolly’s band of Cherokee people. During this time, he adopted the dress of the tribe, learned to speak the language fluently, and was given the name of “the Raven.”

After returning home, Houston fought in the War of 1812 as a part of General Andrew Jackson’s forces. His association with Jackson greatly influenced the rest of his life. Because of his familiarity and friendship with the Cherokee, he was hired as an Indian sub-agent to assist in relocating the Cherokee people into Arkansas and Oklahoma.

His friend, Chief Jolly, chose land at Spadra, near present day Clarksville. The roll call of individuals in attendance at the Spadra trading post list the Raven as present.

Returning to Tennessee, Houston rode Jackson’s coattails and served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1823-27. He then ran and was elected governor of Tennessee and was planning to run again when his marriage to Eliza Allen mysteriously fell apart. Devastated, he departed to Cherokee Territory to be with his adopted family.

Cherokee territory at that time included most of the Arkansas River Valley and west to about Tulsa, Okla. He arrived in Little Rock on May, 8, 1829, surrounded by rumors that Jackson was using him to either control Arkansas politics or to create trouble in Texas.

Houston’s letter back to Jackson is not clear as to intention, “Your suggestion on the subject of my location in Arkansas has received my serious attention, and I have concluded, that it would not be best for me to adopt the course. In that Territory there is no field for distinction.”

During this time, he moved into the home of Chief John Jolly and married Tiana, (Talihinia) a niece of the chief, in an Indian ceremony. Chief Jolly lived on the west side of Spadra Creek, a mile distant from what is now Clarksville, Ark. At that time, Houston spent much of his time travelling to Washington as a delegate for the Cherokee tribe, as well as drinking himself into the nickname, the Big Drunk. The 1830 Arkansas Gazette published five letters written by Houston defending the rights of Native Americans.

Eventually, Houston and his family moved into Oklahoma Territory near Webbers Falls, where he continued to work with various Indian groups. It is of note that in 1832, he made his first foray into Texas as an Indian delegate. When Tiana supposedly refused to accompany him, he gave her the home, land, two enslaved people and “divorced” her. During the summer 0f 1833, he returned for a short time and then spent several days recuperating from an old injury by soaking in the waters at Hot Springs.

Most of the rest of the story we know from history books. He returned to Texas, became the commanding general of the Texas army that defeated Santa Anna, served as Texas President for two terms, as U.S. Senator, and was governor when the Civil War began. Houston was opposed to the war and refused to take an oath to the confederacy stating, “in the name of my own conscience and my own manhood…I refuse to take this oath.” He was removed from office.

It is also worthy of note that Houston had been a lifetime slave owner. The Emancipation Proclamation was passed in 1862 but was not accepted in Texas. Houston called all the slaves in and freed them in the last months of 1862 and they lived as de facto freeman from 1862 until the war ended.

Joshua and Margaret Houston, two former slaves, remained in Huntsville, Texas. Joshua worked for many years as a blacksmith and served as county commissioner, started a school, and became an influential citizen in the region. At Joshua Houston’s request, he was buried near Sam Houston in Huntsville, Walker County, Texas.