Sep 25, 2008 - Sale 2155

Sale 2155 - Lot 28

Price Realized: $ 8,400
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 3,000 - $ 4,000
"I THINK HOUSE-TON IS PERFECTLY RIDICULOUS" HOUSTON, SAMUEL. Autograph Letter Signed, "Sam Houston," to W.A. Wheeler, commenting on the pronunciation of his name. 1 page, 8vo; folds. Washington, 11 March 1858
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"Your favor is before me, and in reply, I have to say, that, I am of Scotch Irish extraction, and the Irish pronunciation of my name is Hewston, & I think the Scotch is Hooston, for they call a house "a Hoose." Hooston, I think the easiest pronounced, for my children when young call it Hooston, but my father, before me called it Hewston. I see no reason to change it."
And in a postscript: "I think House-ton [is] perfectly ridiculous."
John Houstoun (1744-1796) was a leader in the Revolution, governed Georgia in 1778 and 1784, and is commemorated in the names of streets in some U.S. cities, including Houston Street in New York City, where natives pronounce the name 'House-ton.'