Diana Johnson (formerly Diana Hellard) searching for her relations

REMINDER OF SLAVERY

Diana Johnson, nee Hellard, Seeks Her Relations.

In response to the subjoined letter,
County Clerk Wende is trying to ascer-
tain the whereabouts of the persons men-
tioned therein.
The letter itself is interesting from the
fact that it brings forcibly before the
present generation the state of affairs
which existed in the South before the
days of the Civil War. It is as follows:
County Clerk, Buffalo, N. Y.:
Sir—I desire to find my people. I
was born in North Carolina, Roman
County, five miles from Maxville and
12 miles from Saulsbury. My father
was Jack Hellard; mother was Hanna
Hellard. Brother was John Hellard.
Sisters were Flora and Jennie Hellard.
Brother John was sold from the Hel-
lard estate to William Golden, who sold
brother John to a speculator named
Bob Henry. Sister Jennie married
Harry Galloway. Flora was sold far
debt. Mother married again to one
Benjamin Gerner. They had one girl
and two boys. The girl was Lucy
Gerner. She belonged to Catherine
Kellar. The boys were Ben and Miles Calvin Gerner.
I was sold from mother in 1840 to
Alabama Bill Heden, who brought me
to Alabama and from there to Texas
in 1841. My name was Diana Hellard.
It is now Diana Johnson. Any infor-
mation concerning the above-named
persons will be very thankfully re-
ceived. MRS. DIANA JOHNSON,
Edna, Jackson County, Texas.