Sam Houston.
Thomas was born in the year 1805 on Raccoon creek, about two miles
from Waynesville in North Carolina. His father, who was related to
President Zachary Taylor, came of a Welsh family which had immi-
grated to Virginia at an early period, while on his mother's side he
was descended from a Maryland family of Revolutionary stock. He
was an only and posthumous child, his father having been accidentally
drowned a short time before the boy was born. Being unusually
bright for his age, he was engaged when only twelve years old to
tend an Indian trading store on Soco creek, in the present Jackson
county, owned by Felix Walker, son of the Congressman of the same
name who made a national reputation by "talking for Buncombe."
The store was on the south side of the creek, abouta mile above the
now abandoned Macedonia mission, within the present reservation, and
was a branch of a larger establishment which Walker himself kept at
Waynesville. The trade was chiefly in skins and ginseng, or "sang,"
the latter for shipment to China, where it was said to be worth its
weight in silver. This trade was very pi'ofitable. as the price to the
Indians was but ten cents per pound in merchandise for the green root,
whereas it now brings seventy-five cents in cash upon the reservation,
the supply steadily diminishing with every year. The contract was
for three years' service for a total compensation of one. hundred dollars
and expenses, but Walker devoted so much of his attention to law
studies that the Waynesville store was finally closed for debt, and at
the end of his contract term young