the principal chief of the western Cherokee. The great disap-
pointment which seemed to have blighted his life at its brightest was heavy at his
SAMUEL BOUSTOM 'J'-'-'?
heart, and he sought forgetfulness in drink to such an extent that for a time his
manl I seemed to have departed, notwithstanding which, such was his force of
character and his past reputation, he retained his hold upon the affections of the
Cherokee and his standing with the officers and their families at the neighboring posts
of Fort Smith, F"rt i iibson, and Fort ( loffee. In the meantime his former w ife in Den
nessee had obtained a divorce, and Houston being thus frei e more soon after
married Talihina, the youngest daughter of a prominent mixed-bl I Cherokee
named Rogers, who resided near Fort Gibson. She wasthe niece of Houston's
adopted father, Chief Jolly, and he had known her when a boy in the old Nation.
Being^a beautiful girl, and educated above her surroundings, she became a welcome
guest w herever her husband was received. He started a trading store near Webbers
Falls, but continued in his dissipated habits until recalled to his senses by the out-
come of a drunken affray in which he assaulted his adopted father, the old chief,
and was himself felled to the ground unconscious. Upon recover} from his injuries
he made a public apology for his < luct and thenceforward led asoberlife.
In 1832 he visited Washington in the interest >it' the western Cherokee, calling in
Indian costume upon President Jackson, who received him with old-time friendship.
Being accused while there of connection with a fraudulent Indian contract,