Franklin Weston Williams was born on December 18, 1874, in Washington County, Texas, to Weston Lafayette Williams of Mississippi and Margaret Lea Houston, the daughter of Sam Houston. His brother was Houston Williams who was born in December of 1869. Franklin Williams married Annie M. McKeever and together had Charlotte Williams Darby, wife of James A. Darby. Williams died on Dec. 9, 1958.
Sam Houston, one of the most influential men of Texas history, began his career essentially at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in 1814, where he gained the admiration of Andrew Jackson who helped Houston attain political and military offices: Attorney General of the District of Nashville, two terms in the United States House of Representatives, colonel and adjutant general of the state militia of Tennessee, and eventually governor of Tennessee in 1827. Houston arrived in Texas in 1832 and became a central figure in the politics of the rebellion against Mexico. He was granted command of the Republic of Texas' military forces and defeated Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto. Sam Houston served two non-consecutive terms as President of the Republic of Texas, 1836-1838 and 1841-1844. Houston served as U.S. senator and was elected Texas governor in 1859 but was removed from office in 1860. He contracted pneumonia and died July 26, 1863. Houston was survived by his wife Margaret Moffette Lea and their eight children.
From the guide to the Williams-Houston papers MC143., 1852-1956, (Bulk: 1880, 1900), (Albert and Ethel Herzstein Library, )
