Kentucky: A History of the State. Perrin, Battle & Kniffin, 6th ed.,1887,
Spencer Co.

MARK ELLIOTT HUSTON was born in Logan County, Ky., April 12, 1801.  His
father, William Huston, was the son of James Huston, who immigrated to the
United States from Wales with two brother, John and William Huston.  James
settled in Delaware, John in Virginia and William in North Carolina.  James
Huston afterward moved to the State of Pennsylvania, where William, the
father of Mark E. Huston, was born.  William afterward moved to the State
of Kentucky in the year 1792, and there died September 8, 1808.  William
Huston married Nancy McClarty, daughter of Archibald McClarty, a Scotchman.
Her mother, Rachel Dougherty, of Irish descent, was born in Pennsylvania
April 7, 1776.  Nancy died in Ralls County, Mo., January 16, 1836.  Mark E.
Huston's grandmother, on his father's side, was an English lady of a
prominent family, named Jane Elliott, a relation of Col. Elliott, an
officer in the war of 1812.  His grandmother, Rachel Dougherty, was highly
connected, well educated, accomplished and unusually intelligent.  In fact
on both sides the subject of this sketch came of good blood, noted for
their intrinsic worth and integrity of character.  The family, immigrating
to this country in its early settlement, pushed westward with the opening
of the country, until now its collateral branches are scattered throughout
the Western and Southern States.  John Huston, uncle of Mark E. Huston,
represented Nelson County in the Legislature of Kentucky.  Another uncle,
Joseph Huston, represented Breckinridge County in the same State.  Samuel
Huston, an uncle by the second marriage of his grandfather with Abigail
Brown, was judge of Washington County, Ind., for a number of years, and
Alexander Huston, another uncle, represented the same county for many years
in the Legislature of Indiana.  Isabel Huston, his aunt, married John
Milroy, at one time surveyor-general of the State of Indiana.  Patsey
Huston, another aunt married Samuel Milroy, a member of Congress from
Indiana, receiver in the land office for many years, and father of Gen.
Milroy, an officer in the Federal Army during the civil war.  Joseph
Huston, an uncle, married a sister of the famous Col. John Allen, who was
killed at the battle of the River Raisin, in the war of 1812.  Judge Eli
Huston of Natchez, Miss., and Gen. Felix Huston, at one time commander in
chief of the Texas army, were his cousins - the sons of his uncle Joseph
Huston.  Gen. Felix Huston was a lawyer of distinction, and died in
Louisiana.  John Boyd Huston, who was an eminent lawyer of Lexington, Ky.,
and speaker of the House of Representatives at one time, was his cousin,
the son of his uncle, James Huston.  Mark Elliott Huston received a good
education, read law under the renowned Ben Hardin of Kentucky, and after
his admission to the bar was a partner of Mr. Hardin for nearly thirty
years.  He was four times elected to the Legislature of Kentucky from
Spencer County, served eight years in the Senate of Kentucky, and was a
member of the convention of 1850, which framed the new constitution of the
State.  Mark E. Huston was a man extremely modest and unassuming in his
character and disposition, but possessed of a strong natural ability and
indomitable energy.  In the strict sense of the word he was what is usually
termed a self-made man, and entered upon the practice of law at
twenty-eight years of age without other capital than good health and a
sound capacity.  His ready ability to judge men, to understand human
nature, and to adapt himself to circumstances, rendered him particularly
forcible before a jury.  He was married, February 7, 1843, to Martha A.
Murphy of Taylorsville, Ky.  He and his wife were members of the
Presbyterian Church as were all his ancestors.  He died near Taylorsville,
Ky., March 23, 1873. His only child, William M. Huston, was born May 13,
1844, and was married August 29, 1872, to Miss Sallie B. Gore, daughter of
Dr. Joshua and Mary S. (Minor) Gore of Nelson County, Ky., and a niece of
Hon. James Guthrie of Kentucky.  There have been born to William M. and
Sallie (Gore) Huston four children named Mark E., Joshua G., Mary M. and
Nontie W. Huston.  Mr. and Mrs. Huston are members of the Presbyterian
Church, and reside at the old homestead near Taylorsville, Ky.