Slave to Margaret Lea's family. She married Sam Houston, who took Joshua and other household slaves to the West. Joshua took Houston's name; he was taught to read and write and was freed by Houston, (against the law), in 1862, who had set up Joshua in business prior to that year. As an adult, he was a successful businessman; church leader and a deacon; Huntsville, Texas City Alderman; Texas delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1888; a revered elder statesman in Huntsville. Father of 8 children; he is buried next to Sylvestre Baker Houston, his wife, in Oakwood Cemetery, Huntsville, Texas, a few yards from the grave of Sam Houston. (See, "From Slave to Statesman", Prather & Monday; Univ.No.Texas Press, 1993) (Bio by P. Jones)

Slave to Margaret Lea's family. She married Sam Houston, who took Joshua and other household slaves to the West. Joshua took Houston's name; he was taught to read and write and was freed by Houston, (against the law), in 1862, who had set up Joshua in business prior to that year. As an adult, he was a successful businessman; church leader and a deacon; Huntsville, Texas City Alderman; Texas delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1888; a revered elder statesman in Huntsville. Father of 8 children; he is buried next to Sylvestre Baker Houston, his wife, in Oakwood Cemetery, Huntsville, Texas, a few yards from the grave of Sam Houston. (See, "From Slave to Statesman", Prather & Monday; Univ.No.Texas Press, 1993) (Bio by P. Jones)