Huntsville in Walker County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Joshua Houston

1822-1902

Photographed by James Hulse, August 21, 2021

1. Joshua Houston Marker

Inscription. Joshua Houston, trusted former servant to General Sam Houston and his wife, Margaret, was one of the first freedmen to purchase real estate from M.C. Rogers in the surrounding area that came to be known as "Rogersville". The homestead at Avenue O and Tenth Street was purchased for $120 on January 15, 1866. Joshua built a large two-story house and a wood shop on the site his son. The outstanding educator Samuel W. Houston, was born and reared in this house and later lived in it for a period after his father's death. Joshua Houston's blacksmith shop was located diagonally across the street, on the southeast corner. Josh, as he was often called, also purchased a 54-acre farm that lay behind his homestead. Joshua served as a city alderman from 1867 until the early 1870s, although perhaps not consecutively. He was elected county commissioner for the 1878-1880 and 1882-1884 terms and is credited with being a school trustee. Deed records name him as a trustee of the First Freedmen's Church in Huntsville, the Interdenominational Union Church, in 1866 and of the St. James Methodist Church in 1869. A few years later he was an early deacon of the First Baptist Church located west of this site. He was also a supporter of Bishop Ward College, founded in 1883 and located near the corner of Pleasant Street and Old Madisonville Road.

Erected by The Citizens of Huntsville in recognition of the Sam Houston Bicentennial.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical date for this entry is January 15, 1866.

Location. 30° 43.51′ N, 95° 33.357′ W. Marker is in Huntsville, Texas, in Walker County. It is at the intersection of 10th Street and Avenue O, on the right when traveling west on 10th Street. The marker is located

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

at the south entrance to the Eastham-Thomason Disc Golf Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1504 10th Street, Huntsville TX 77320, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Huntsville Item (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Wynne House (about 500 feet away); First Missionary Baptist Church (about 500 feet away); Rogersville (about 500 feet away); Gibbs-Powell House (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Seven Hills of Huntsville (approx. ¼ mile away); Sallie E. Gibbs (approx. ¼ mile away); First United Methodist Church of Huntsville (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Huntsville.

Also see . . . Houston, Joshua (1822–1902).

Photographed by James Hulse, August 21, 2021

2. Joshua Houston Marker

Joshua Houston, a servant of Sam Houston and an officeholder after the Civil War, was raised as a slave on Temple Lea's plantation in Marion, Perry County, Alabama. At his death in 1834 Lea left Joshua and his family to his daughter, Margaret Lea, who took them to Texas in 1840, when she married Sam Houston. During the Republic of Texas Joshua traveled with Houston and became a skilled blacksmith, wheelwright, and stage driver. He helped build the Houston home at Raven Hill. The Houstons taught him to read and write, though teaching slaves literacy skills was discouraged in Texas at the time. Joshua supervised the Houston household when the general was away and accompanied the family when the general went to Tennessee to see ailing former president Andrew Jackson. Source: The Handbook of Texas

(Submitted on August 27, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The view of the Joshua Houston Marker from across the the street image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, August 21, 2021

3. The view of the Joshua Houston Marker from across the the street

Credits. This page was last revised on August 27, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 27, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 816 times since then and 58 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 27, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.