Daniel Houston and Elizabeth "Betsy" Clark

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Husband Daniel Houston ^{1 2}

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           Born:  - Franklin Co, PA
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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         Father: Daniel Houston (      -      ) 2 3 4
         Mother: 

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       Marriage: 

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Wife Elizabeth "Betsy" Clark ^{5 6}

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           Born:  - Canton Twp, Washington Co, PA
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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         Father: David Clark (1755-1821) 7 8
         Mother: Hannah Baird (      -      ) 4

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Children

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1 M David Clark Houston ^{6 9}

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           Born: Abt 1815 - Independence Twp, Washington Co, PA
     Christened: 
           Died: 27 May 1888 - Canonsburg, Washington Co, PA 9
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Louisa Bell Sweitzer (      -      ) 6 9
           Marr: 1840 - Washington, Washington Co, PA 6 9

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2 F [Unk] Houston ⁹

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: in childhood
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Did Not Marry

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3 F [Unk] Houston ⁹

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: in childhood
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Did Not Marry

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General Notes: Husband - Daniel Houston

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He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence and executive ability, a worthy representative of the Scotch-Irish Covenanters. He was tall, broad-shouldered, erect and possessed of great strength. He early engaged in buying and shipping wool, flour and pork; loading boats with flour and wool at the mouth of Cross creek, and boating to New Orleans. It is difficult to image the courage, endurance and strength required to make such a trip. There were no canals or railroads. The river was full of malaria, and the channels were not marked; worse than this, he was compelled to guard against robbers and murderous savages-both white and red-on the return walking back. He made many trips of this kind, and was always successful. He was gentle and severe, firm and unchangeable when satisfied he was right; he had a mind for equity, and was chosen executor and guardian by many of the best families, both alone and as an associate with others. The Rev. James I. Brownson knew Daniel when he (Rev. James I. Brownson) was a boy. He says: 'Daniel Houston was a man of strict integrity, possessed of great mental and physical strength, of a fine face and presence, strong in his likes and dislikes, a firm friend and generous to those worthy his confidence.' Daniel Houston and Dr. Brownson's father were friends, and were also administrators for the same estates. Daniel Houston was opposed to slavery and was, no doubt, connected with the underground railway, but he had his own views. Dr. Brownson asked him if he was going to the Abolitionist meeting at Pittsburgh; he said: No! he was in favor of colonization. His religious views were the same as his ancestors, and he always adhered to the Seceder Church. At Houstonville a Seceder church was erected on a lot given by David Houston, his son, on the Daniel Houston farm. This church was still standing in the early twentieth century in the possession of their son, William B. Houston. Daniel Houston was one of the organizers of the old Franklin Bank of Washington, Pennsylvania, later known as the First National; was the largest stockholder, and at one time president of the bank. He was also a trustee of Jefferson College, Canonsburg. He was progressive and public-spirited. When the Chartiers Railroad was projected, he took great interest in it and subscribed some $6,000 to help put it through. The company that then had charge of the work failed, however, and the enterprise remained in a dormant condition for many years. Finally, the Pennsylvania Railroad Company offered to complete the road on condition that the people would take stock to the amount of $250,000. D. C. Houston (son of Daniel) at once took hold of the project, subscribed liberally himself, and worked untiringly to induce people to take stock and secure the road. Owing to his efforts and the confidence the people had in him, $87,000 was secured.

1 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 164.

2 Joseph F. McFarland, 20th Century History of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens (Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., 1910), Pg 677.

3 Franklin Ellis & Samuel Evans, History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: Everts & Peck, 1883), Pg 590.

4 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 98.

5 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 98, 165.

6 Joseph F. McFarland, 20th Century History of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens (Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., 1910), Pg 678.

7 Boyd Crumrine, History of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: L. H. Everts & Co., 1882), Pg 900.

8 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 98, 175.

9 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 165.