1889.] 4Jd [Biddle. 



tribes were settled, and there was a fair prospect of annexatioa to the 

 United States, for which he strenuously labored. 



Unfortunately the President was elected for a term of but two years, 

 under the constitutional provision, which likewise rendered him ineligible 

 for an immediately succeeding term. 



Houston, to the great regret of all, was obliged to retire, therefore, from 

 the office until he would again be eligible, when he was reelected. But 

 in this interval more violent counsels prevailed, and the difficulties both 

 with Mexico and the Indians were renewed. It was at this time young 

 Wister reached Te^xas, where he found there was a much greater demand 

 for soldiers than civilians. General Houston possessed in a high degree, 

 both physically and mentally, those traits which made him a great leader 

 of men. His picturesque appearance, his adventurous life, and his utter 

 fearlessness, joined to his integrity of purpose, created especially in the 

 young an enthusiasm that was irresistible. Wister at once yielded to it 

 and enlisted under his banner as a first sergeant, in a regiment of mounted 

 rifles. 



After serving out his term of enlistment lie returned at the end of two 

 years to Philadelphia. He found, however, that Ik; had not as yet 

 overcome his attachment to a life of wild adventure, and at the end of six 

 months he returned to Texas, and, renewinghis connection with the army, 

 served another campaign against the Indians. When this was finished, 

 he yielded to the solicitations of his family and returned to Philadelphia. 

 Here he was induced to enter upon the study of medicine as a pupil of Dr. 

 George B. Wood, whose name and fame as a physician are so well known 

 to us. In March. 1846, he graduated from the medical department of the 

 University of Pennsylvania, his thesis being on the " Origin and Progress 

 of Medicine." On the 20lh of July of the same year, lie married .Miss 

 Lydia H. Simmons, and settled down to the practice of his profession. 

 He soon fell into a good practice, and secured the unreserved confidence 

 and warm attachment of his patients. He was esteemed by his fellows as 

 an able, cautious and painstaking practitioner, always intent upon the wel- 

 fare of his patients. 



In 1848, he became a member of the College of Physicians in Philadel- 

 phia, and the same year was elected physician of the Widows' Asylum. 

 In 1849 he became physician of the Shelter for Colored Orphans. In 1853 

 he was elected a member of the American Medical Association, and in 

 1855 was appointed its Treasurer and a member of its Publication Com- 

 mittee. On retiring from his position as Treasurer, in 1877, the following 

 resolution was passed by the Association: 



"At the Twenty-eiiihth Annual Meeting of the American Medical Asso- 

 ciation at Chicago, June 8, 1877, on motion of Dr. I. F. Hibberd, of 

 Indiana : 



"Resolved, That this Associiition, in view of the retirement from the office of Treas- 

 urer of the gentleman who, for twenty-two years, has discharged the responsible and 

 laborious duties of that situation, desires in this manner to express its high appreciation 



