| Notes |
- Notes for Russell Houston
Attorney, Judge, chief counsel of the Louisville & Nashville RR
(L&N) for over 25 years, later President of the same company.
Also, later Judge, Supreme Court of TN
Russell Houston
from Lawyers and Lawmakers of Kentucky, pp. 190-191: Home More
RUSSELL HOUSTON, one of the eminent law practitioners of
Kentucky, was born in Williamson county, Tennessee, January 20, 1810,
and died in Louisville October 1, 1895, The family of which he was a
representative removed from South Carolina to Tennessee in 1795.
Russell Houston was educated in Georgetown College, Kentucky, studied
law under the direction of James Clark, in Nashville, Tennessee, and
entered on the practice in 1835, at Columbia, Tennessee. He took an
active part in the Indian war in Florida, and after returning therefrom in
1847, settled in Nashville, where he was associated in the active practice with Colonel Cahal, Judge
A. O. P. Nicholson, Judge Nathaniel Baxter and Neil S. Brown, all distinguished members of that
bar. He was without political ambition and filled but one office, that of representative in the
Tennessee legislature in 1851-2
Mr. Houston took an active interest in the developments of his native state and in the building of the
Louisville & Nashville Railroad, was one of the first directors of the company in Tennessee and was
thenceforth continuously connected with the corporation. In 1864 be removed to Louisville and filled
the office of vice-president of the road until the death of Hon. James Guthrie, when he became
president. In the establishment of the law department as a separate branch of the railroad service he
was tendered and accepted the position of chief counsel, which he held until his death.
Mr. Houston was singularly vigorous in mind and body, was a dose observer of men and possessed
a retentive memory and a genial temperament. He was a Unionist throughout the war and a stanch
friend of Andrew Johnson in the administration of the affairs of his native state in the re-adjustment
during the war. By the appointment of Mr. Johnson while governor of Tennessee, Mr. Houston filled
a place on the bench of the supreme court d that state for a time, helping to bring order out of chaos.
He refused to accept any salary for the time he served, his labors being freely given for the good of
the commonwealth He held a commanding position at the bar and had the respect and confidence of
the people.
from Memorial History of Louisville, pp. 356-358: Home
RUSSELL HOUSTON, eminent as a member of the Kentucky bar for more than twenty-five years,
and for twenty-five years before that one of the leading members of the bar of Tennessee, was born
in Williamson County, Tennessee January 20, 1810 and died in Louisville, full of years and honors
October 1, 1895. His father, David Houston-who was a son of John Houston of South Carolina as
a planter, and married Hannah Reagan, of that State, in 1795. Shortly after his marriage he moved
to Tennessee, where he resided until the subject of this sketch was eight years of age at which time
having purchased a large tract of land in Alabama, he moved his family, and settled in that State. As
soon as they were settled in their new home, a teacher was engaged and his sons were there
prepared for college. Russell Houston first attended college at Georgetown, Kentucky, but
subsequently entered the University of Nashville, from which he graduated.
He studied law with Mr. James Clark, a lawyer of high standing at the Nashville bar, and began the
practice of his profession in 1835 at Columbia, Tennessee. Among his first friends and clients in his
new home was ex-President James K. Polk, whose friendship and kindness to him on the threshold
of his professional career was a recollection that he ever delighted to recall. The Florida Indian War
breaking out shortly after he commenced the practice of his profession, he was one of the first
volunteers from his State, enlisting in Colonel Cahal's regiment Colonel Cahal was so impressed by
young Houston's character and mind during the months passed together in Florida that at the close of
the war he tendered him a partnership, which was accepted.
In 1844 he married Grizelda Polk, daughter of Dr. William J. Polk, who was a brother of Bishop
Leonidas Polk, and in 1847 he moved to Nashville, where his reputation had preceded him. He soon
took high rank at the bar, which at the time numbered among its members some of the ablest lawyers
of the country. Besides Colonel Cahal, he had associated with him as partner in his practice in
Tennessee Judge A. O. P. Nicholson, of Columbia, Governor Neil S. Brown and Judge Nathaniel
Baxter, of Nashville, all of whom were lawyers of distinguished abilities. Judge Houston was wholly
without political ambition and never offered for office but once. He took great interest in the
development of his State, and to promote its development by assisting in securing liberal legislation,
he was induced to offer for the Legislature, to which he was elected, serving in the sessions of 1851
and 1852. When the Louisville & Nashville Railroad was projected, he look an active interest in it,
and contributed much toward achieving its successful consummation, taking a leading part in
obtaining such legislation in Tennessee as was necessary to enable the Kentucky corporation to
extend the line of its road into Nashville. He was one of the first directors of the company in the State
of Tennessee, and was continuously connected with the corporation in different capacities from that
time to the day of his death.
In 1864 Judge Houston moved to the city of Louisville, and at the earnest solicitation of the Hon.
James Guthrie--who was president of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad?accepted the
vice-presidency of the company, which he held until Mr. Guthrie's death, whom he succeeded as
president, filling out the former's term. Soon after this, the law department of the company was
established, and Judge Houston was tendered and accepted the position of chief counsel, which he
held continuously to the day of his death.
In politics, Judge Houston affiliated with the Whig party as long as that party was in existence, and
after the war with the Democratic party. When the dominant political issue became union or disunion
he took a firm stand for the Union, a strong love and pride of country being one of his striking
characteristics. His commanding position at the bar and his high character as a man gave him weight
and influence with the military authorities in Nashville, which he exerted in behalf of his Southern
friends, saving many from hardships and trials they would otherwise have been subjected to. When
the Supreme Court of Tennessee was reorganized under the administration of Governor Andrew
Johnson, he appointed Mr. Houston to a position on that bench, which the latter accepted at the
urgent request of the governor consenting to serve only long enough to get the judicial machinery into
satisfactory operation. When he had accomplished this he resigned the office and refused to accept
any salary for his services. Johnson had the highest opinion of his ability as a lawyer and jurist, and
after the former became President, he again manifested his high appreciation of Judge Houston by
declaring it to be his purpose to tender him a position in the Supreme Court of the United States,
should a vacancy on that bench occur during his administration.
Vigorous physically and mentally far beyond the age at which most men succumb to the weight of
years, he was a strikingly interesting man during the latter years of his life. Acute in his observations,
rich in experiences and reminiscences, he was singularly attractive to the younger men of his
profession, who entertained for him almost a filial regard.
The esteem in which he was held by his fellow citizens was evidenced at the time of his death by the
feeling tributes of respect paid his memory by the entire press of the city, and in an eloquent
memorial by the bar.
Judge Houston left surviving him a family consisting of Mrs. Houston and their four children, Mr.
Allen P. Houston and Mrs. Lytle Buchanan of Louisville, Mrs. George H. Hull of New York, and
Mrs. Joseph L. Ferrell of Philadelphia.
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1810 - 1895 (85 years)
