Mark E. Huston, born in Logan County, Kentucky, April 12, 1801; died March 23, 1873.  Old Taylorsville Cemetery, Spencer County, Kentucky.

from Kentucky – A History of the State, Perrin, 1887

Spencer County

Mark Elliott Huston was born in Logan County, Kentucky, April 12, 1801.  His father, William Huston, was the son of James Huston, who immigrated to the United States from Wales with two brothers, John and William Huston.  James settled in Delaware, John in Virginia and William in North Carolina.  James Huston afterward moved to the State of Pennsylvania, where William, the father of Mark E. Huston, was born October 8, 1755.  William afterward moved to the State of Kentucky in the year 1792, and there died September 8, 1808.  William Huston married Nancy McClarty, daughter of Archibald McClarty, a Scotchman.  Her mother, Rachel Dougherty, of Irish descent, was born in Pennsylvania November 1, 1755.  William Huston and Nancy McClarty were married in Pennsylvania April 7, 1776.  Nancy died in Ralls County, Missouri, January 16, 1836.  Mark E. Huston’s grandmother, on his father’s side, was an English lady, of a prominent family, named Jane Elliott, a relation of Colonel Elliott, an officer in the War of 1812.  His grandmother, Rachel Dougherty, was highly connected, well educated, accomplished, and unusually intelligent.  In fact, on both sides the subject of this sketch came of good blood, noted for their intrinsic worth and integrity of character.  The family, immigrating to this country in its early settlement, pushed westward with the opening of the country, until now its collateral branches are scattered throughout the Western and Southern states.  John Huston, uncle of Mark E. Huston, represented Nelson County in the Legislature of Kentucky.  Another uncle, Joseph Huston, represented Breckinridge County in the same state.  Samuel Huston, an uncle by the second marriage of his grandfather with Abigail Brown, was judge of Washington County, Indiana, for a number of years, and Alexander Huston, another uncle, represented the same county for many years in the Legislature of Indiana.  Isabel Huston, his aunt, married John Milroy, at one time surveyor-general of the State of Indiana.  Patsey Huston, another aunt, married Samuel Milroy, a member of Congress from Indiana, receiver in the land office for many years, and father of General Milroy, an officer in the Federal Army during the Civil War.  Joseph Huston, an uncle, married a sister of the famous Colonel John Allen, who was killed in the Battle of the River Raisin, in the War of 1812.  Judge Eli Huston of Natchez, Mississippi, and General Felix Huston, at one time commander in chief of the Texas army were his cousins – the sons of his uncle, Joseph Huston.  General Felix Huston was a lawyer of distinction, and died in Louisiana.  John Boyd Huston, who was an eminent lawyer of Lexington, Kentucky, and speaker of the House of Representatives of Kentucky at one time, was his cousin, the son of his uncle, James Huston.  Mark Elliott Huston received a good education, read law under the renowned Ben Hardin of Kentucky, and after his admission to the bar was a partner of Mr. Hardin for nearly thirty years.  He was four times elected to the Legislature of Kentucky from Spencer County, served eight years in the Senate of Kentucky, and was a member of the convention of 1850, which framed the new constitution of the State.  Mark E. Huston was a man extremely modest and unassuming in his character and disposition, but possessed of a strong natural ability and indomitable energy.  In the strict sense of the work he was what is usually termed a self-made man, and entered upon the practice of law at twenty-eight years of age without other capital than good health and a sound capacity.  His ready ability to judge men, to understand human nature, and to adapt himself to circumstances, rendered him particularly forcible before a jury.  He was married, February 7, 1843, to Martha A. Murphy of Taylorsville, Kentucky.  He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church, as were all of his ancestors.  He died near Taylorsville, Kentucky, March 23, 1873.  His only child, William M. Huston, was born May 13, 1844, and was married August 29, 1872, to Miss Sallie B. Gore, daughter of Dr. Joshua and Mary S. (Minor) Gore of Nelson County.  Dr. Gore was prominent in his profession, and a surgeon in the Confederate Army.  Mary S. Minor was a daughter of Spencer and Mary (Guthrie) Minor, of Nelson County, Kentucky, and a niece of Hon. James Guthrie of Kentucky.  There have been born to William M. and Sallie (Gore) Huston four children named Mark E., Joshua G., Mary M. and Nontie W. Huston.  Mr. and Mrs. Huston are members of the Presbyterian Church, and still reside at the old homestead near Taylorsville, Kentucky.

Martha A. Murphy, wife of M. E. Huston.  Born in Shelby County, Kentucky, March 27, 1825; died June 6, 1844.  Old Taylorsville Cemetery, Spencer County, Kentucky.

Huston Memorial