This book is dedicated to those who are willing to fight for something they love.

Preview audio:

storyj.mp/ad49284rzfqf

Sam Houston

This story is about Sam Houston. A man who was a crucial element in developing Texas and has left a lasting legacy.

Howdy ya'll! My name is Samuel Houston, but my friend's call me Sam.

Phew! Ain't she a beaut? Although I wasn't born here I love Texas.

I was born on March 2, 1793 in Rock Bridge County, Virginia. That's a long way from Texas! I moved with my mother and 8 brother's and sister's to Tennessee a few years later.

You could say I was a rebellious teenager. At 16 years old I ran away to live with a Native American tribe, the Cherokees, for 3 years. I was even given a nickname, the Raven.

I knew I couldn't stay with them forever and I moved back home. In 1813, I enlisted in the U.S. Army and fought in the War of 1812. I rose to the rank of Second Lieutenant.

Samuel Houston, is hereby named Second Lieutenant of the United States Army.

After resigning from the army, I studied U.S. laws and opened up my own office. In 1819, I decided to enter politics because I didn't like things that were happening around me. Over the next several years I held several government positions in the state of Tennessee.

Then something happened that would change my life forever. I moved to Texas in 1832. Nacogdoches to be exact.

At the time Texas was still a part of Mexico, although her people were quite unhappy. Texas wanted to declare herself as a separate state of Mexico. I loved Texas and her people and I decided to join their cause.

I was elected to be a delegate of the Convention of 1833. It was a meeting to discuss statehood from Mexico. Then again in 1836, where the Texas Declaration of Independence was adopted.