Jordan C. Johnson wrote to Lucy and Sarah Chase on June 29, 1868, and again to Lucy on May 11, 1869. In his first letter, Johnson explains that he was studying with the teacher Miss Gayle and that she was teaching at Joe Caldwell's dwelling room.
In Johnson's letter dated May 11, 1869, he noted the death of classmate David Barr on January 1, 1869. He explained that Barr and teacher Mary A. Gayle had gone to Mobile, Alabama, in September 1868, returning to Columbus, Georgia, on December 28, 1868, whetr Barr was taken with "fits," resulting with his death.
Gayle is listed as Mary A. Gayle (b. 1835) in the Freedmen's Teachers Project. She is listed as having taught at Columbus, Georgia, during 1865-1867, and at Thomasville, Georgia, during 1867-1868. She is listed as having returned to Columbus, Georgia, and taught there from 1869 through at least 1877.
Transcription
Columbus Ga June 19 1868
To Miss Lucy and Miss Sarah
My Dear Teacher
I will now take this pleasure to write you a few lines to let you know I am well and I hope that these few lines will find you well and in good health and now I sopose you would like to here something about Miss Gayle and her school at this Present time Miss M & G. have a very larg school at this time and all of her old scholars that went to her when you was in school with her I will tell you my studies third reader second Geography second a rithmetic Webters Dictionary and elemntry spelling Book I have been through dour copy Books I have been through 3 No 3 Copy Book 1 No 2 copy and I am also in No 5th copy Book. Miss G not attach was to the free school this year. She is teacher in Joe Caldwell dwelling room and I am going to Miss Gayle. We are going to a singing school and Mss Gayle are also We are going to have a consirt the 6 of July the singing school and Miss Gayle School wishes that you was here with ous to day is not our writeing day tursday and friday is our main writing day dont eny Classes say lesson only primer class say lesson those 2 days in writing.
Miss Gayle says that She will write to you soon her self I would like to here from you soon please write to me soon Miss G says she want to see you very bad
yours sincerely Jordan Johnson
Columbus Georgia, May 11th, 1869
to my Dear teacher
Miss Lucy Chase
I take this opportunity to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well and doing well and wish to here the same from you it has been along tim since I have heard from you and I injoy a great pleasure in written to you hopen these few lines will Reach you and find you well I would have Ritten to you before now I did not know how to direct my letter to you I went to the teachers drelling house a few days sense Miss Kimble give me a card how to direct my letters to you Remember me the one who went to school at the Baptist Church to school and kept door their the one you call red neck tier and there was one morning I came with out a neck tier and you ask me where it was I told you it was at home and you ask me what was the reason I did not ware itt I told you the reason at I didn’t ware it because you call me red neck tier you told me to I put it one the nexday and you would not call me red neck tier any more
Miss Gales is in Mobile Aleb
If you wish to write to her Direct your letter to Mary A Gayle Stone Street church Mobile Alb
My name is Jordan Johson the red neck tier I will bring my letter to a close
Your truly carler J. C. Johnson
P.S. Remember me I will you do you Remember David Barr he is ded he went to Mobile last sept with his teacher Miss Mary A. Gayle to mobile with her and came Back on the on the 28th ist of december and was taking with fits a few days after and died January 1 1869 and was berried on the 2 of january David Barr is dead Death
You truly friend Jordan Johnson J C Johnson When you write to me Direct your Letter to Jordan Johnson in the care of S. H. Hill Columbus Geargia May 11 1869
Digital Images
June 19, 1868
May 11, 1869
