In 1852, William McSpadden platted the original site of the Village of Houston.  McSpadden had served under the legendary Sam Houston in the Mexican-American War.  McSpadden settled his family at the confluence of the Root River and the South Fork of the Root River.  An influx of pioneers  followed him into the area and by 1854 there were stores and a school among the approximately 40 buildings in the settlement.