Joshua Houston ( 1822 &ndash; 1902 ) was born into slavery in 1822 on the Perry County , Alabama plantation owned by Temple Lea and Nancy Moffette Lea , parents of Margaret Lea Houston . When Margaret married Sam Houston , Joshua moved to Texas with the newlyweds . Joshua traveled with Sam Houston and worked on the construction of Raven Hill in Huntsville , Texas . He became educated and was elected to local public offices . He had three wives and was the father of eight children , including Samuel Walker Houston . Joshua was a Texas delegate at the 1884 Republican National Convention . He helped establish the Bishop Ward Normal and Collegiate Institute
1884 Republican National Convention
1884 Republican National Convention
Joshua Houston