Z 1056.000 Otey (Martha Ann Nolley) Papers

Xerox copies of a typescript of a short diary, and letters written by Mrs. Martha Ann Nolley Otey (1832–1867). The diary and letters were assembled from "The Nolley Papers" by Henri Gerard Noordberg, Bridgton, Maine and Huntsville, Texas, and the collection is entitled "A Journal From Mississippi to Texas." Mr. Noordberg has supplied footnotes, biographical and genealogical notes. Martha Ann Nolley married Colonel Armistead George Otey, Lexington, 1858. Shortly after the marriage, the Oteys bought "Castalian Springs" near Durant and established a school for young ladies. The "Castalian Springs" property was requisitioned by the Confederate States Army, and the Oteys moved to "Casula," where Colonel Otey died in 1863. After the war, Mrs. Otey attempted to establish a school as "Casula," but was not successful, and left on the trip to Texas to seek employment to enable her to support her children and parents. Mrs. Otey described her trip by boat from Tchula to Vicksburg to New Orleans, to Galveston, and inland into Texas. During her stop in New Orleans, Mrs. Otey comments on her meeting with Mrs. Jefferson Davis.