History of Texas, Together with a Biographical History of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson Counties. Page: 547

                                
HISTORY OF TEXAS.                            547

native of Washington county, Texas, who
came to Williamson county when eight
years of age. She is a daughter of Captain
W. P. Rutledge, an old Texas pioneer, who
commanded a company in the Mexican war.
He resided in Williamson county from 1858
to his death, which occurred April 26, 1890.
Mr. Rutledge was a well-read and intelligent
gentleman, and was respected by all
who knew him; and was a prominent fruitgrower.
Mr. and Mrs. Houghton have had
eight children, namely:   William  M., a
teacher in Williamson county; Annie D.,
wife of J. W. Johnson, Hembrie, Crockett
county, Texas; Louis E., at home; Theodore
F., a teacher in this county; and Irene,
Edna, Jesse T. and Freddie, at home. Mr.
and Mrs. Houghton are both members ot
the Christian Church.
ILLIAM F. ROBERTSON, attorneyhAY)f/
at-law, of Taylor, Texas, was born
in Roane county, Tennessee, July 13,
1859, a son of Dr. J. R. and Mary A. (Hunt)
Robertson. William F. received his early
education in the common schools of his native
county, and at the age of eighteen years
entered Sweet Water College, at Sweet Water,
Tennessee, under the supervision of Professor
J. L. Bachman, and graduated at that institution
in 1881. He was engaged as a teacher
in the primary department of that col!ege
two years, and in 1883 came to Texas. For
the following two years Mr. Robertson taught
school in Leander, this county, and in 1885
entered the Law Department of the University
of Texas, where he graduated in 1886.
Augubt 1, of that year, lie located for the
practice of his profession in Taylor. Mr.
Robertson is one of the few who fully recog

nize the truth so often urged, that the reading
and thoughts of a lawyer should be the
most extended, as systematic reading gives a
more comprehensive grasp to the mind, variety
and richness to thought, and a clearer
preception to the motives of men. His library
is well stocked with works on different
subjects, and also contains a line collection of
books of his profession.
Mr. Robertson was married June 26, 1889,
to Miss Annie Dowling, a native of Texas,
and a daughter of Captain R. W. and Annie
(Odlum) Dowling.
The father of Mrs. Robertson was a distinguished
soldier in the Confederate army, and
while in command of the " Davis Guards," a
company composed of forty-two Irishmen
stationed at Sabine Pass, a Confederate post
on the Gulf of Mexico, the company was attacked
on September 8, 1863, b)y a United
States fleet consisting of from 10,000 to 15,000
men, who were preparing to make a
landing at Sabine Pass and from there make
a raid throughout Texas. Dowling and his
men opened fire with two cannon and some
small arns, killing a large number of men,
sinking one of the enemies' boats, disabling
two others, driving away those remaining
and taking a large number of prisoners. This
defeat of the United States forces forever
saved Texas from invasion by that army.
Mr. Jefferson Davis in his book on the
the rise and fall of the Confederacy says,
there is no parallel in ancient or modern warfare
to the victory of Dowling and his men
at Sabine Pass, considering the great odds
against which they had to contend. Sabine
Pass will stand perhaps for all time to come
the greatest military victory on the American
soil, if not in the world, and will stamp
with undying fame the name of all who were
members of the Davis Guards. The men

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