Middleton's school, however, owes its importance to the fact that it was connected with the movement for free colored public schools started by Jesse E.Dow, an official of the city, and supported by Rev.Doctor Wayman, then pastor of the Bethel Church.[4] Other colaborers with these teachers were Alexander Cornish, Richard Stokes, and Margaret Hill.[5] [Footnote 1: _Special Report of the U.S.Com.

of Ed._, 1871, pp.

212, 213, and 283.] [Footnote 2: _Ibid._, p.

200.] [Footnote 3: Compelled to leave Washington in 1838 because of the persecution of free persons of color, Johnson stopped in Pittsburg where he entered a competitive teacher examination with two white aspirants and won the coveted position.

He taught in Pittsburg several years, worked on the Mississippi a while, returned later to Washington, and in 1843 constructed a building in which he opened another school.