100 years ago, a 14-year-old walked 925 miles before locals helped him get home

By Rachel McDaniel
news@pikecountygeorgia.com

An interesting story was on the front page of the Pike County (Georgia) Journal 100 years ago. The headline was “Young Boy Writes Letter of Appreciation” and started with a note from the editor that said, “Below is a letter from a young boy who turned up in Zebulon a few days ago after walking all the way from Jacksonville, Fla. When he arrived here, he told Marshall Tom Wright that he had only had three meals in a week – the time he had been walking from Jacksonville. He told Mr. Wright how he had run away from school and his home in Mississippi and had gone to Florida. There, he got out of money and a job and decided to try to go back home. When he arrived here, he was sick and foot-sore. Mr. Wright and others took an interest in him and paid for his lodging and food and Brother Milford, the Baptist pastor, gave him a suit of clothes. Mr. Wright telegraphed his father who sent money to pay his railroad fare home. After his safe arrival at home and under the tender care of his father and mother again, he wrote the following letter, dated April 10, 1926.

“I got home alright and sure was glad of it. I never felt better in all my life. I sure do thank Zebulon and especially Mr. Wright and the Baptist preacher, Mr. Milford. If it was not for the kindness of Mr. Wright, I would have been working on the chain gang. The people of Zebulon don’t know how much I do appreciate them. I have been told that Florida was a good state, but where did they get it? Not in Lakeland nor in Tampa. Zebulon is the best of all and the people of Zebulon and Pike County. Mr. Slade sure was good to me, he don’t know just how much I do thank him for what he did for me. My father and mother thank you too. God will reward you all of Zebulon for your care of His boy. May God help them and take care of them all. Now all bow our heads while I pray: Our Father who art in heaven, bless Zebulon and its people for what they done for me.”

“I never will get a blessing more sincerely than from Thy name. May God go with them and go with me. When the devil gets in my heart and wants me to do wrong, won’t you drive him out? God knows he will do it. Now may God protect us all. Amen. I can’t hardly pray but I do my mightiest to. Mr. Wright, I will never forget your town. Many thanks to you all, may God help you all. From yours truly, Carbon Pittman, Slate Springs, Miss.”

According to online history sources (including Find-A-Grave, Ancestry.com and others), Carbon Christopher Pittman was 14 years old when he ran away from him home in Calhoun County, Mississippi. He went to Jacksonville Florida where he ran out of money so he decided to go back home.

When he got to the town of Zebulon in Pike County, Georgia, he was sick and completely penniless but the townsfolk in Zebulon welcomed him in with a place to stay and a way to get back home.

From Calhoun County, Mississippi to Jacksonville, Florida, it was 677 miles and from Jacksonville to Zebulon, Georgia, was 248 miles. In total, the young boy walked 925 miles before returning home.

Further research revealed he was the son of Leonard Augustine Pittman and Essie V. Shaw and that he only lived five years after visiting Zebulon, Georgia. He passed away at 19 years old on Dec. 24, 1930 in El Paso County, Texas. His gravestone says, “Out of sorrow God speaks to us best.”