Rev. James Theodore Houston

Notes:

James was 14 when the Civil War began. He wanted to run away and join the Union Army, but was stopped by his mother (Rebecca Robinson) who promised him that if he stayed at home she would see that he got a complete education. At age 20 he entered Lafayette College, graduating in 1871. James' education at Lafayette College earned him an appointment to Brazil for the Presbytarian Board of Foreign Missions. His marriage to Amanda Louise Snyder in November of 1874 was followed shortly by their arrival in Brazil where, in August, 1875, their daughter, Adielah Genevieve, was born.
At about the time their second daughter, Mabel Louise, was born, both hers and Louise's health took a bad turn, and the whole family was forced to return to Ohio. In 1880, battling illness, both Louise and her younger daughter died. James returned to Brazil in August, 1881, leaving his surviving daughter with the sisters of his late wife. At about the same time James returned to Brazil, Sophia Amanda Dale was assigned to teach there at Escola Americana (later McKenzie University). Sophia and James met and were married in the latter part of 1882. Performing the ceremonies was Robert Lenington, the husband of Sophia's older sister, Martha. Son Leslie Robert and daughter Edna Dale were born there, and when Sophia contracted a severe case of malaria, the family was again forced to move back to Ohio, settling in and taking care of James' father, Robert, on his farm in Olivesburg. Anna Rebecca, Ruth Alden, and Howard Alexander were all born at the Olivesburg farm. In 1897 the family moved to Wooster, Ohio, where Norma Christine was born. In 1900, James returned to Brazil, where he stayed for 3 years, until Sophia's illness in 1903 called him back. In 1904, James res- ponded to the request of the Mission Board to serve as 'Stated Supply' at two churches in California, one in Centerville(now Fremont), and the other at Alvarado. In 1910, James retired from the ministry. He spent his remaining years enjoying his large family. He died 8 months before his youngest daugh-
ter gave birth to his final grandchild, Beverly Anne Miller.
Sources: Family reminiscences of Anna, Edna, Ruth, Howard, and Norma, plus based on research done by the Rev. Ralph Elmer Wilson within Presbyterian Church records.

James married Sophia Amanda Dale on 26 Apr 1883 in Sao Paolo, Brazil. Sophia was born on 21 Jul 1858 in Pleasant Hill, McLean, Illinois, United States; died on 13 May 1930 in Berkeley, Alameda, California, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Norma Christine Houston was born on 14 Aug 1897 in Wooster, Wayne, Ohio, United States; died on 2 Apr 1998 in Santa Clara, Santa Clara, California, United States.