STUBBORN BOY

Sam Houston was born in Virginia (vir-GIN-yuh) on March 2, 1793. His father died when Sam was thirteen years old. Sam had five brothers and three sisters. His mother moved her large family to Maryville, Tennessee (ten-nuh-SEE).

 

Sam loved to read. His favorite book was a very old story about heroes. At school, they would not teach what Sam wanted to learn.

He quit.

When Sam was sixteen, his brothers sent him to work in a store. Sam did not like to stay inside. He ran away to live with the Cherokee(CHER-uh-kee) Indians.