W. J. Houston (1832-1911) was an early resident of Decatur, Georgia. He was married to Amanda Powell, daughter of Chapman Powell, in 1854. Houston was an officer in the Civil War and served as the transportation secretary of Georgia under Joseph E. Brown. He later worked as the general passenger agent with the Atlanta and West Point Railroad. Houston was appointed as a commissioner of Indian land claims in 1893 by Secretary of the Interior Hoke Smith. Houston also was a member of Atlanta Lodge No. 59, Free and Accepted Masons and helped to found the Georgia State Sunday School Association.
From the description of W.J. Houston family scrapbook, 1854-1911. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 436362577