My Genealogy Hound

James H. Houston was born in Shelby County, Tenn., October 1, 1849, and is now a farmer of Greenfield Township, residing about six miles south of Jonesboro. His father was William Bird Houston, a prominent and highly esteemed citizen of Poinsett County. He was a native of Tennessee, and came with his family to Arkansas, about December, 1856, locating in the northern part of Poinsett County, where he engaged extensively in farming and stock raising. He was a Democrat, belonged to the Masonic fraternity, and was a member of the Methodist Church. When about twenty-five years of age he was married in his native State, to Harriet Jane Steelman, also a native of Tennessee. To them were born thirteen children, the four surviving making their home in Arkansas. They are: James H. (the subject of this sketch), Melinda (widow of S. Harris, son of Capt. Harris, who has several times represented Poinsett County in the State Senate), John F. (married to Emma J. Allen, deceased), and William Bird, Jr. (married to Elizabeth Kelsoe, deceased). The father died in 1872, the mother in 1867. James H. was seven years old when his parents came to this State, but he returned to Tennessee to school after the war. He owns 130 acres of land in Poinsett County, much of it under fence. He moved to Craighead County in August of 1887, locating at his present residence — the old McCarty homestead. February 15, 1880, Mr. Houston was married to Lucinda J. Stephens. To them were born three children, all deceased: Cora M., Lorenzo B. H. and John H. Mrs. Houston died August 22, 1886, and he was married again August 4, 1887, to Melinda Josephine McCarty, a daughter of Michael and Melinda (Weer) McCarty, the former a native of Ohio, the latter of North Carolina; the former is deceased, but the latter is still living, aged seventy-one years. Mr. and Mrs. Houston have had one child, a daughter, now deceased. Mr. Houston is a member of the Methodist Church, has taken great interest in Sunday-school and church work, and is a leading member of the denomination to which he belongs. He is a member of the Agricultural Wheel, and a prominent and enterprising citizen.