My Genealogy Hound

DR. JAMES A. HOUSTON, a well known physician and surgeon of Warrensburg, has made his home in this city since 1887, prior to which time he lived for thirty-one years on a farm in Jackson Township, Johnson County, with the exception of eight years spent in Illinois. At an early age he took up the study of medicine, and from time to time utilized his knowledge among his friends and neighbors when his services were required, but had no intention of becoming a regular physician. In 1875 he went to Kansas City, where he took a course in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, graduating with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1876. In 1887 he went to New York City, where he took a course in the New York Post-Graduate School, in order to further qualify himself for his professional labors.

The parents of our subject were Stephen C. and Amelia A. (Yeager) Houston, natives of Kentucky and Virginia, respectively. The father settled on a farm in 1818 and continued there until his death, in 1861. He was born August 14, 1795, and served under General Henry in the War of 1812, for which he received land-warrants, afterwards sold by his son, the Doctor. He was a Whig, and a man who abhorred political intrigues. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was influential in the building of a brick house of worship on the site of an old log meeting-house which had been put up through the efforts of his father. Mrs. Amelia Houston died in 1866, leaving eight children, of whom James A. is the fifth in order of birth.

Dr. Houston was born in Scott County, Ky., August 19, 1831, and passed his youth on his father’s farm. When he was about eighteen years of age he began teaching in the home district, at the same time pursuing higher studies. For some time he attended Pleasant Green Academy, where he took up the studies of algebra, surveying, etc. November 17, 1853, he married Margaret Glenn, also of Scott County. She was called to her final rest in 1886, at her home in Johnson County. The record of her children is as follows: James M., born October 22, 1854, died August 30, 1874; Leslie B., born March 16, 1856, died August 11, 1881, in Jackson County, Mo., leaving a wife and two children; Andrew Lee, born in this county, July 19, 1858, is a minister in the Southern Methodist Episcopal Church in Henry County, Mo., and is married and has five children; Stephen, born October 16, 1860, died September 11, 1865, in Macon County, Ill.; Allen Fletcher, who was born October 20, 1862, and who lives on our subject’s farm, is married and has two children; William Edwin, born in Macon County, Ill., January 27, 1865, died in Trinidad, Colo., October 22, 1891; Charles C., a native of Macon County, Ill., born January 10, 1867, is a shoe merchant in this city; Maggie Blanche, born in Macon County, Ill., October 24, 1868, died March 19, 1869; Edgar, born January 17, 1870, is a teacher and Principal of the Lincoln (Benton County, Mo.) schools; Laura Watts, born February 20, 1873, died at Rocky Ford, Colo., June 25, 1891; and Luella Daily, born in this county, December 16, 1874, is at home.

When he was twenty-four years of age, Dr. Houston moved to this county, and in October, 1856, invested in land. For a few years his time was employed in farming and teaching, but in 1863 he moved to Macon County, Ill., where he followed the same occupations for eight years. He built up a good reputation as a teacher, and received as high as $75 per month. In 1871, having sold his Illinois property and doubled his money, he returned to his former homestead, which he still owns. In order to afford better educational advantages for his children, he moved to Warrensburg in 1887, and has succeeded in establishing himself in a good practice.

His first Presidential ballot was given to General Scott, and in 1860 he voted for Bell and Everett, since which time he has been a Democrat. In 1894 he was elected County Coroner, and on the very day that he received his commission held an inquest at Kingsville. While living in Illinois he served for seven years as Justice of the Peace, his commission being made out by Governor Oglesby. Soon after reaching his majority, he became a member of Pike Lodge No. 292, A. F. & A. M., and in Harristown, Ill., was a charter member of Summit Lodge No. 436, of which he was Master for eight successive years. While a member of Anderson Lodge at Chapel Hill, Mo., he held various offices, among others that of Master. He was also a charter member of a lodge in Holden, and held the office of Master, but this lodge perished during the war.

June 16, 1887, Dr. Houston married Mrs. Mary C. Dunn, nee Cameron, a native of this state. They are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.