From Slave to Statesman

Download or read book From Slave to Statesman written by Patricia Smith Prather and published by University of North Texas Press. This book was released on 1995 with total page 298 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Joshua Houston (1822- 1902) was born on the Temple Lea plantation in Marion, Perry County, Alabama. In 1834 Templeton Lea died and willed Joshua to his daughter, Margaret, as her personal slave. In 1840 Margaret Lea married General Sam Houston and moved to Texas. She took Joshua with her. Joshua faithfully served the Houston family during their many political and financial ups and downs. In 1862 Sam Houston freed his slaves. Joshua elected to remain with the Houston family and took Houston as his surname. In 1866 he homesteaded in Huntsville, Texas, near the Houston family. He became a well-known and respected public figure in Huntsville where he served as city alderman and later served as county commissioner of Wlker County. In 188 he was elected as a delegate to the National Republican Convention from Texas. He was the father of seven or eight children by three different women. Descendants live in Texas.