Houston (Huston) Neeley, son of Joseph and Elizabeth Houston Neeley was born in Pike County, Illinois. He was the 9th child. Joseph Neeley was born in Orange County, North Carolina (d: 11-18-1849, buried in Blue River Cemetery, Detroit Township, Pike County, Illinois) and his wife, Elizabeth Houston Neeley was born in Pitt County, North Carolina. Elizabeth Houston came to Grimes County, TX with Houston in 1859 and died on January 25, 1870 at 97 years of age. She is buried in Zion Cemetery, Iola, TX.

Houston married Sallie E. Dunnaway on 12/14/1837 in Pike County, IL. Sallie was born on 4/6/1823 – died 1904 at Tilden, McMullon County, her parents were Benjamin Evans and Nancy Goldman Dunnaway, from Clark County, KY.

Houston and Sallie had 9 children born to them in Illinois, 4 more were born in Texas. Elizabeth (1839-1843), Terrell Lewis (1840-1890, married Amanda Rogers in 1861), Nancy (1841-1886, married George Washington Flint), Connelius (1843-1851), John B (1845-1919, married Elmina W. Hall), Mary (1848-1888, married E. Daniel Rascoe), Willis (1850-1927, married Rosa Ayers in 1876, buried in Concord Cemetery, Iola, TX), Ann Elizabeth (1853-1930, married Marshall McMahan, buried Cotulla, TX) Sally (1855) , Harriet (1859-1859), Benjamin Charles (1860-1860), Mandy (1861-1866) and Houston Jr (1866 – 1939, married Laura Franklin, and Margaret Sullivan, he is buried at Beeville, TX)
(Bio provided by Sandi Costa)
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per Tree Climber (#48776139)
There is documented proof, in the form of a marriage license, showing that Joseph Neeley married Elizabeth COOPER, not Elizabeth Houston. It is possible Houston Neeley was named after General Sam Houston simply because the family knew and admired him.