Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Antoinette Powers HOUSTON
In 1852 Sam Houston's political career was flourishing, and the Texas Democratic convention had submitted his name as a "favorite son" candidate for President of the United States. In February Houston arrived home bearing toys, bonnets, and dresses for Sam and "my pretty little flock of girls".
The Houston's flock had grown by one, as Antoinette Power Houston had been born on January 20 at the family's Woodland Home. Named for her mother's sister Antoinette Lea Power, Nettie, as she was known in the family, inherited both her parent's literary talents. Following in her mother's footsteps, she had many poems published in newspapers while still a student at Baylor Female College. One of her most famous poems was "The Flag of a Single Star," which was set to music and sung by Texas
schoolchildren throughout the state.
When she grew older, Nettie could remember vividly the yellow fever epidemic that spelled her mother's death in 1867, and could recall spreading a "Quilt of evergreens" over her mother's grave with her sister Mary Willie.
On February 28, 1877, Nettie was married to Dr. William Lorraine Bringhurst, a professor at Texas Military Institute in Austin. The wedding was held at the Governor's mansion, with Governor Richard B.
Hubbard giving the bride away.
When the Texas Military Institute closed, the Bringhurst's moved to Texas Agricultural and Mechanical college near Bryan, where Dr. Bringhurst was the first doctor of philosophy on campus. From July 1, 1890 until February 1, 1891, Nettie served as "first lady of the campus" while her husband was interim president of the school.
In 1901 the Bringhurst's were living in San Antonio where Nettie continued her career as a poetess, often signing her poems "Mignonette". She became an active member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, serving as state historian from 1906 to 1908 while Dr. Bringhurst served as one of the founders of the San Antonio Scientific Society.
The tragedy of Antoinette's life was that four of her children died in infancy; only one, Antoinette Bush, lived to adulthood.
One day, while Nettie was reminiscing at the Alamo, she caressed a table that had once belonged to her family, when a visitor admonished her. "You shouldn't lean on the table, he said " it's a souvenir of General Sam Houston". Nettie was quick to reply: "So am I!"
On December 5, 1932 Nettie was fatally injured in an automobile accident.
Her funeral was held at the Alamo, where her casket was surrounded by the six flags of Texas. The last of the surviving Houston daughters was buried in Mission Burial Park in San Antonio.
Source: Sam Houston Memorial Museum @@ http://www.shsu.edu/~smm_www/
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