The hero of San Jacinto was elected as governor of Texas in 1859. A firm Unionist, Houston refused to take an oath to the Confederacy and was removed from office in March 1861.

Sam and Margaret Houston left Austin with seven of their eight children ages 3 to 15 years old. The family went to their farm in Chambers County and then to Huntsville where they had previously lived.

Though neither of the Houstons cared much for the 10-room Steamboat House, they rented it in late 1862. The following summer Houston was bedridden with a high fever in the sweltering East Texas heat. He eventually succumbed to pneumonia at age 70. His funeral was held the next day in the upstairs front parlor with only 12 mourners in attendance. He was buried at Huntsville’s Oakwood Cemetery.