Oswald Houston facts for kids

Oswald Houston (born April 16, 1798 – died June 11, 1861) was an important person in the early days of Atlanta, Georgia. He was a merchant, which means he bought and sold goods. More importantly, he was the very first treasurer of Atlanta. A treasurer is like a money manager for a city; they are in charge of keeping track of all the city's money. Oswald Houston served Atlanta from when it first became a city in 1847 until the mid-1850s, when he became ill.

Oswald Houston's Early Life

Oswald Houston was born in Abbeville District, South Carolina, on April 16, 1798. When he was a young man, he was appointed to attend the West Point Military Academy, a famous school for training military officers. However, it's not fully clear if he actually went there. He did serve as a Captain of Artillery in South Carolina, which means he was a leader in a military group that used cannons. He got married twice; first to Sarah Saxon in 1819, and after she passed away, he married Anna Eliza Shaw in 1821.

Moving to Tennessee

In 1833, Oswald Houston and his family moved to Williamsport, a town in Maury County, Tennessee. There, he worked as a farmer. He was also an active member of his church. He and his wife raised their family in Williamsport. For a short time, he moved to another town called Paducah, but he soon returned to Williamsport.

In 1847, something happened that changed his life. His wagon overturned, and he was injured. Because of this injury, he decided he needed to find a different way to earn a living that didn't involve as much physical work.

Atlanta's First Treasurer

In May 1847, Oswald Houston moved his family to a growing town that was just changing its name from Marthasville to Atlanta. This new city was becoming a very important center for railroads. In Atlanta, he started a business buying and selling goods.

Even more significantly, he became Atlanta's very first city treasurer. This was a big responsibility, as he was in charge of all the city's money and financial records during its early years. He was so good at his job that he was re-elected several times. He continued to serve as treasurer until 1855, when he became ill with a type of paralysis. After that, he was unable to work until he passed away.

Remembering Oswald Houston

When Oswald Houston died on June 11, 1861, people remembered him as a good citizen who took care of Atlanta's money when the city was just starting out. He served for a long time as the city treasurer.

Oswald Houston also helped start important community groups in Atlanta:

• In June 1847, he helped create Atlanta's first Sunday school. This school was open to children of all religions.
• In January 1848, he was one of the people who helped start the Presbyterian Church in Atlanta. This church later became known as the First Presbyterian Church.

Oswald Houston is buried at Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta.

Houston Street in Atlanta

A street in Atlanta, which is now called John Wesley Dobbs Avenue, was originally named Houston Street in honor of Oswald Houston.

There's a bit of confusion sometimes about the name "Houston." While Houston Street in Atlanta was named after Oswald Houston, a different place, Houston County in central Georgia, was named after a different person: John Houstoun. He was a governor of Georgia in the 1700s.

How to Say "Houston"

The way Oswald Houston said his last name can cause some friendly arguments between people from Georgia and people from Texas! Oswald Houston pronounced his last name "HOUSE-tun." The old street name in Atlanta was also said that way. Another example is Houston Mill Road in Decatur, Georgia, which was named after a mill built by his son, Washington Jackson Houston.

However, most people who are not from Georgia will say it like the city in Texas, which is "HYOOS-tun." If you say it that way in Georgia, a local person might quickly correct you!