John S. HOUSTON b. May 1876 GA m. 9 Sept1893 in Panola Co. TX, Martha Ann ‘Mattie’ WILLIAMSON b.20 Nov 1871 TX. John S. Houston was the son of Martilla A. (Warren) b. Heard Co GA and her husband Cicero Irvin Houston, who were farming in Carthage, Panola Co TX.‘Mattie’ was the daughter of William Henry Crawford Williamson (1824-1894) and his wife Elizabeth Phillip Ingram b 1826 who were living and farming in Panola Co and William H.C. and his wife Elizabeth are buried there in the Old Williamson Cemetery, along with Martilla (Warren) Houston’s husband Cicero ‘Irvin’ Houston.. TX in 1880. ‘Mattie’ Williamson, all of her brothers and sisters and 4 granchildren were all born in the log house that was built by William H.C. Williamson’s father McAlister Williams near the Old Williamson family cemetery. Mattie’s grandfather, McAlister Williams (1803-1864) married Francis Childs and left what is now Wilkes County, GA in 1828 and went to Texas. They brought with them two Negro families, tools, seed, food, and a few articles needed for setting up a home. The roads were mere trails and the journey was tedious. Many hardships were encountered along the way. The covered wagons drawn by oxen often mired in the mud. The trip took between two and three months to reach East Texas. In order to be eligible for a headright (grant) from Mexico, they had to become Catholic. McAlister chose his league of land halfway between what is now Clayton and Pinehill, Panola County. A small creek ran through the area where he decided to build his home, barn and smokehouse. He acquired 1000 acres of land, wishing to leave each of his children 100 acres upon his death. He set aside 1 acre some 300 yards northwest of his house for the family cemetery.The Negro cabins were located a short distance away. The land was sandy loam and a dense growth of several species of trees with a lush growth of underbrush. McAlister and the Negro men cut and peeled logs, notching the ends for the houses, barn and smokehouse. The chimneys were made of clay and sticks. The fireplaces were large, with hooks for hanging the cooking pots, also for heating the large room. The cracks between the logs were chinked with clay and sticks. The windows were board shutters and the floors were hand-hewn logs. As time passed, many acres of land were cleared for crops. Meat was plentiful such as: wild hogs, deer, turkey and many wild game birds. The house grew from one room to several. The cabins were enlarged to take care of the growth of the Negro families. McAlister and Francis had at least 10 children, eight of which died as infants. Two sons survived to have families of their own: Jim Williamson, a Confederate soldier and his brother William Henry Crawford Williamson (‘Mattie’ Williamson’s father who married and had 12 children, six of whom died as infants and six who survived to rear families of their own.) In 1900 census Mattie (Williamson) and John S. Houston are farming close by Sam Newton Houston (his brother) in Panola Co., TX and state they have had 2 children, only 1 living. In 1920 they are living in Dallas, Dallas Co. TX (as is his brother Sam N. Houston and family). John is working as a common laborer. In May 1930 John S.Houston is enumerated as J.S. Houston now living in Pct. 5, Mitchell Co. TX. He says he is a widow and is farming with just one son, John Cicero Houston, now age 18, with him. The children of Martha (Williamson) and John S. Houston:

William Henry HOUSTON b. 16 April 1895 Henderson, Rusk Co. TX. d. 13 Oct 1970 in Dallas, Dallas Co. TX. m. 21 Dec 1916 in Seagoville, TX, Jessie Ida CORNELISON b. 12 Dec 1898 in Kaufman Co TX. d. 23 Jan 1978 in Dallas, Dallas Co. TX. Jessie Cornelison was the daughter of Jasper Garrett Cornelison and his wife Sarah Rosalie Lavicy Harlan. William is living in Carthage, Panola Co. TX in 1900 and in Dallas Co TX in 1910, 1920. In June 1917 when he registered for his WWI draft, he was married and stated he was living in Seagoville, Dallas Co. TX. farming. In 1920 he was farming. His draft registration card stated he was tall, slender with dark brown hair. William Henry Houston was a park policeman for the City of Dallas and his wife Jessie was in food service. He died of cancer of the esophagus and is buried in Grove Hill Memorial Park, Dallas, TX as is Jessie. William Henry appears to have been named after Martha Williamson’s father William Henry Crawford Williamson.

Hubert ‘Press’ HOUSTON b. July 1898 TX Died in teens? Buried Dallas.
Minnie Marie HOUSTON b.ca. 1903 TX m. James Clifton HARVEY .They were living in 1930 in Dallas, Dallas Co. TX.
John Cicero HOUSTON b.ca. 1913 TX m. Ruth GRIMES . Living withhis widowed father at age 18 farming in Mitchell Co. TX on the 1930 census.