Legendary Ladies of Texas Page: 73
xii, 237 p. : ill., ports. ; 24 cm.View a full description of this book.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
SOPHIA PORTER
Texas' Own Scarlett O'HaraJack Maguire
Her name was Sophia Suttenfield Auginbaugh Coffee Butt Porter and
her real life story reads like that of a fictional heroine in a historical
novel "for mature audiences only."
She had four husbands, uncounted lovers, and a supposed affair
with none other than Sam Houston. That dalliance led to the murder of
one husband; a quarrel caused the death of another. Through it all, for
more than half a century, she continued to preside over the grandest
house in all of North Texas where she hosted some of the most memo-
rable parties in the area. And it was there, at the gracious mansion she
called "Glen Eden," that she also played the role of a "Scarlett O'Hara"
to save a contingent of Confederate soldiers from capture.
Sophia was born in the frontier settlement of Fort Wayne, Indiana,
on December 3, 1815, the second of William and Laura Suttenfield's
seven children. Her father was the local saloon-keeper and had been a
foot soldier in the U.S. Army. Her humble birth never concerned
Sophia, however. As she did with so many biographical facts, later she
"promoted" her father to colonel and always claimed that he com-
manded the fort.
Apparently life in Fort Wayne held little appeal for Sophia, al-
though she had been popular with the soldiers there since she was
thirteen. When she was seventeen, one Jesse Augustine Auginbaugh
came through the town. When he left a few days later, Sophia accom-
panied him.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Matching Search Results
View 65 pages within this book that match your search.Related Items
Other items on this site that are directly related to the current book.
Legendary Ladies of Texas (Book)
Collection of historical anecdotes providing "a study of Texas women and the conflicting images and myths that have grown up about them" (back cover). The index begins on page 225.
Relationship to this item: (Has Format)
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
Abernethy, Francis Edward. Legendary Ladies of Texas, book, 1994; Denton, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc38860/m1/87/?q=Grayson+county: accessed June 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Press.