I was recently asked what information I have on Carruthers, Caruthers, Carothers, etc. in Texas.  I've got file folders for every state.  When I get pieces of information on Carothers, I place them in the files and try to develop then later.  Texas has an undeveloped file folder - but I have decided to place information that I have out here for people to review - and perhaps supplement for all to enjoy. 

From a copy of the notebook carried by Texas Ranger James B. Gillett, Henry M. Caruthers had a $200 reward on his head for an 1875 murder.  "He was about 25 years old, about 5 feet 8 inches high, weighed 140-150, dark complexion, dark hair, dark hazel eyes, had a quick, flashing eye, and talked tolerably fast and earnest".

I've got copies of the 1 page article named Caruthers Line in Texas that is in the book From Texas and Texans by Frank W. Johnson.  William Caruthers, a native of PA, went to Texas in 1836 and fought with Gen. Sam Houston.  His brother John brought his family to Texas in the early 1840's.  One of his sons was Capt. Sam Caruthers.  Mrs. Ella Caruthers Porter was a daughter of Capt. Sam.  Mrs. Porter, of Dallas, was a leader of the Texas Congress of Mothers.  

I have a letter from J. Edward Carothers of Schenectady, New York,  to my grandfather in 1959, stating that one of his uncles, Samuel Carothers of Waco, Texas, has compiled a considerable amount of information about the Carothers family.  (Anyone know where this information might be?)  He also refers to an American Clan Carothers, headquartered in Washington, D.C.  I have not followed up on either of these leads.

In the March 1947 copy of Frontier Times, of which I have a digital copy, Bettie Joe Kuykendall, an 18 year old student at the University of New Mexico, reviewed her Carruthers ancestors.  She claims a Carruthers was with Houston at San Jacinto (but does not provide a name).  She states a great-uncle, a Texan named Ewing Carruthers, was killed at the Goliad massacre.  Another uncle, William Carruthers was in the tragic bean drawing at Perote where Texans drawing black beans were shot.  He drew a white bean. 

Marshall Carothers has found a reference to the Caruthers who fought with Sam Houston at the Battle of San Jacinto.  In the book, Eighteen Minutes - The Battle of San Jacinto and the Texas Independence Campaign by Stephen L. Moore, it mentions the slaughter of Mexican troops by the Texans.  It says on page 348 that "Private Allen Caruthers was on a personal mission of vengeance".  He admitted later in life to his son to killing at least five soldiers who tried to surrender; and although his son considered it murder, his father replied "I was crazed with anger".  (No mention was made of the son's name in this book.)  The Texas frontier was the scene of many violent battles and before the San Jacinto Battle even General Houston was told to have ordered his men - "Boys, take prisoners.  You know how to take prisoners: take them with the butt of your guns, club guns."  Further adding "Remember the Alamo" and "Remember La Bahia"!

Bettie Joe Kuykendall also states that the Carruthers in Tennessee, the Confederate Gov. and his brother and co-founder of Cumberland College, were cousins of Sam Houston.  This I have spent considerable time trying to track down.  I cannot explicitly confirm that, but I did acquire some interesting facts.  Gen. Sam Houston's grandfather, Sam Houston, married Elizabeth McCroskey.  Her sister, Margaret McCroskey, married William Caruthers.  The cousins may have come from this association.  Also, this Sam Houston who married Elizabeth McCroskey, had a great-grandfather named John Houston, who was a neighbor of my Carothers ancestor in Pennsylvania.  I have acquired Bold Legacy: The Story of the Houston Huston Ancestors, by Cleburne Huston and plan to add more concerning the Houston family in the future.

Additionally, Sam Houston (the General) was Governor of Tennessee from 1827-1829.  He planned to run for re-election in 1828, but resigned after marrying 18 year old Eliza Allen.  This marriage was forced by Eliza's father, Col. John Allen, and never blossomed into a relationship.  Houston and Eliza separated shortly after the marriage and, for reasons Houston refused to discuss to the end of his life, divorced.  

Eliza subsequently married Abraham Looney Caruthers, judge and co-founder of the law school at Cumberland University, and brother of Robert Looney Caruthers, the elected, but not served,  Governor of Tennessee who was also Attorney General of Tennessee while Houston was Governor.  Eliza's two brothers, John Kirby Allen and Augustus Chapman Allen, founded Houston, Texas in 1836.

Should any readers have additional information that they would like to provide, please contact me at webmaster@Carothers-Carruthers.com.