I am new to this list and would like any help anyone can offer on the above Gale (Gail) Johnson. He was a male, by the way and should be spelled Gale. In 1850-70 he was in Pickens Co., AL . 1850 Census Gail (sic) Johnson 43 SC Farmer Rebecca 40 SC Samuel 20 Student GA Elizabeth 17 GA John 10 AL Abaner 8 AL Matilda R. 1 AL Daughter Mary age 12 shows up on the 1860 census, but I suspect this is Matilta since there was no Mary age 2 on the 1850 census. His son Gale, Jr., our ancestor, was born in 1851 and married first to Helen Hale and second to Nanna Hale, Helen's younger sister. They lived in Sumter Co., AL. I have more on this line and if anyone is connected to this family I would love to exchange info. One question about the area - where would a 20 year old be a student in 1850 and an 18 year old in 1870? Was that too old for high school at that time, or was there a college in the area? Maybe one with some existing records?? Thanks for your help. Betty