Person ID: I1167579578
James Theodore Houston
24 JAN 1847 – 21 JUN 1929
Male
Events
- Born
- 24 JAN 1847 — Olivesburg, Richland, Ohio, United States
- Died
- 21 JUN 1929 — James St., Oakland, Alameda, California, United States
- Title
Rev.
Parents
Family group sheet →- FatherRobert Houston16 JUN 1820 – 25 OCT 1898
- MotherRebecca Robinson27 MAR 1817 – 30 SEP 1881
- ChildJames Theodore Houston24 JAN 1847 – 21 JUN 1929
Family
Family group sheet →Married: 26 APR 1883 — Sao Paolo, Brazil
- FatherJames Theodore Houston24 JAN 1847 – 21 JUN 1929
- MotherSophia Amanda Dale21 JUL 1858 – 13 MAY 1930
- ChildNorma Christine Houston14 AUG 1897 – 2 APR 1998
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 ente red 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 shortl y 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 retur ned 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). S ophia 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 contracte d 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 Miss ion 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 month s 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.