Laura (Cross) Houston (abt. 1856 - 1938)

Born about 7 Apr 1856 in Bayou Lafourche, Franklin, Louisiana, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Temple Lea Houston — married 14 Feb 1883 in Harris, Texas, United States

Descendants

Died 17 Apr 1938 at about age 82 in Woodward, Woodward, Oklahoma, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Robin Lee [send private message]

Biography

Laura Cross

Birth records for Laura have not been found. Laura was christened in 1859^[1]According to her obituary, she was born on her grandparents farm in Franklin, Louisiana.^[2] In 1860, she is shown with her parents and siblings at an age of 4, meaning the birth year of 1856 would be correct.^[3]

Then, in 1900 she is listed with her husband with a birth of April 1864.^[4] Her obituary and headstone indicate a birth of April 1865.^[2][5] It would appear that either the year of her birth was transposed, or, she lied about her age.

Laura Cross and Temple Houston were married in Texas on 12 February 1883.^[6]They were the parents of 7 children:^[2][7] or 8 children^[8]

1. Samantha Houston^[9]
2. Temple Lea Houston, Jr.^[7]
3. Louise Houston (died of cholera infantum)^[10]
4. Samuel "Sam" Houston, III^[7][11]
5. Richard "Dick" Cross Houston^[7]
6. Infant Houston (died in infancy)^[12]
7. Mary Lea Houston^[7]

By 1910, she was a widow living with her son, Richard, and daughter, Mary.^[8]

Death: 17 April 1938, Woodward, Woodward, Oklahoma, United States.^[5]

Research Notes

Struggling with the records that I am finding for "the Laura" who was the daughter of Richard Cross and Louisa Buford.

• In 1870, Louisa is married to Henry Viola; however, Laura and and her brothers are not there (which in itself was not unusual in second marriages in those days).^[13] In 1870 Laura was living with Leucinda Rose at 14 years of age, birthplace Louisiana. (Rose was her grandmother's maiden name).^[14]
• Twenty years earlier (1850), the same Lucinda Rose was living with several young people with the name of Buford, including Louisa Buford (Louisa Buford was Laura's mother's maiden name).^[15]
• In 1880 Laura appears to be living with her mother and step-father, Henry Viola; however, she is 10 years older (25 years of age) and it indicates she was born in Louisiana. (Previous note said Georgia, but that is not what the record reflects.)^[16]

Also, there is baptism record for what would appear to be a twin of Temple Lea Jr. The child is baptized as their son, but, no other records exist and this would make an eighth child.

1. Joseph Harrison Cample Houston ^[17][18]

The daughter Samantha is also in question as the article indicates she was born in December 1882, after their marriage in Feb 1882, but, their marriage record indicates a marriage in 1883^[6] as does the 1900 census^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ "Louisiana Births and Christenings, 1811-1830, 1854-1934", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2HX-4XL : 14 January 2020), Richard Cross in entry for Laura Cross, 1859.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} See Images attached to profile.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFPZ-FZ3 : 12 December 2017), Laura Cross in entry for Richard Cross, 1860.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMGP-YCF : accessed 16 January 2019), Laura C Houston in household of Te* Houston, Judkins Township (east half), Woodward, Oklahoma Territory, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 244, sheet 1B, family 13, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,344.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Find A Grave: Memorial #10539148
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGZ-W7Z : 4 November 2017), Temple Houston and Laurie Cross, 12 Feb 1883; citing Harris, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 25,225.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5} "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMGP-YCN : accessed 16 January 2019), Temple Houston in household of Te* Houston, Judkins Township (east half), Woodward, Oklahoma Territory, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 244, sheet 1B, family 13, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,344
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MLWW-X7V : accessed 16 January 2019), Laura C Houston, Woodward Ward 3, Woodward, Oklahoma, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 293, sheet 17A, family 256, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1276; FHL microfilm 1,375,289.
9. ↑ https://abagpacked.com/2020/09/13/death-at-the-driskill-hotel-a-ghostly-story-of-samantha-houston/ Death at the Driskell Hotel
10. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #10361480 Headstone photo has information on death.
11. ↑ "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3ZZ-YYQ : 13 March 2018), Laura Cross in entry for Sam Houston, 12 Dec 1952; citing certificate number 60219, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,113,745.
12. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #10539798 with headstone photo
13. ↑ "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M87L-1NR : 12 April 2016), Louisa Viola in household of Henry Viola, Louisiana, United States; citing p. 8, family 61, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 552,032.
14. ↑ "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M873-1NL : 12 April 2016), Laura Cross in household of Leucinda Rose, Louisiana, United States; citing p. 37, family 279, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 552,015.
15. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCJW-VKM : 12 April 2016), Lucinda Rose in household of Widow Joseph Rose, Thibodaux, Lafourche, Louisiana, United States; citing family 397, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
16. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFFG-1GK : 15 July 2017), Laura Cross in household of H Viola, Columbia, Brazoria, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district ED 18, sheet 155C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 1292; FHL microfilm 1,255,292.
17. ↑ "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6PG-Q7X : 13 February 2020), Joseph Harrisson Cample Houston, 1884.; citing Galveston, Galveston, Texas, reference Pg. 185; FHL microfilm 25,145.
18. ↑ Photo of record for baptism

• Handbook of Texas Online, H. Allen Anderson, "HOUSTON, TEMPLE LEA," accessed January 16, 2019