“He was so smart in school that in 1871 he was ready to teach at Wilson, North Carolina. He taught for four years.” Negro History Bulletin, February 1942.
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Joseph C. Price‘s pupils at Wilson Academy included Samuel H. Vick and Daniel C. Suggs. For more about him, see here and here.
Rederick C. Henderson, about 1951.
I was talking to a friend a few days ago, and she said, laughing, “I never once spoke with your dad, but I swear I can hear him.” I don’t recall exactly what I said, but it was some pithy aphorism or another, and Rederick C. Henderson was the king of same, so she paid me the ultimate compliment.
I miss this man mightily and can hardly believe today marks two years since he left. Not a day goes by that I don’t feel him with me, and I am grateful for all he was in life and beyond.
Norfolk Virginian, 9 July 1891.
Millie Smith Sutton‘s murder of her sister-in-law Lucy Smith made regional newspapers.
My mother, me, and my sister soon-to-arrive, Easter 1967, 1401 Carolina Street.
Honoring and remembering all our mothers, past and present, this Mother’s Day.
Wilson Daily Times, 23 October 1919.
George A. Barfoot & Company, the busy Wilson realtors, offered nine investment properties for sale in October 1919 — six were designated “for colored,” three “for white.”
The 500 block of East Nash Street is justly remembered as the 20th century epicenter of Wilson’s African-American-owned businesses. However, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Black entrepreneurs and tradespeople also operated across the tracks. As Wilson’s downtown experiences a resurgence, let’s rediscover and celebrate these pioneering men and women.
Check in each Sunday for the latest in the Historic Black Business Series!
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The 1912, 1916, and 1920 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directories list Robert Kearney as proprietor of a grocery store at 330 South Street. The site, at the corner of South and Lodge, is now a vacant lot.
The 1913 Sanborn fire insurance map of Wilson shows Kearney’s store in the Little Washington neighborhood near a church we’ve studied before and across Lodge Street from Imperial Tobacco Company. Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church and school stood across South, off this map.
Detail from 1913 Sanborn fire insurance map of Wilson, N.C.
His obituary does not mention it, but Arthur N. Darden attended North Carolina A. & M. College [now North Carolina State A. & T. University] from 1904 to 1908. A World War I veteran, Darden was a founder and long-time officer of Henry Ellis Post 17 of the American Legion.
On 1 February 1912, 11 Wayne and Greene County residents — members of an extended family — sold Robert Manuel, also of Wayne County and an in-law, a parcel of land described, in part, as “Lot No. 5 in the Division of the Public School lot for colored race District No. 1” on Stantonsburg and Moyton Road just outside the town of Stantonsburg.
Deed book 97, page 574, Wilson County Register of Deeds Office, Wilson.
What was Colored District No. 1? Where are its records? (And those of any other African-American county school districts?) Where on Stantonsburg and Moyton Road (N.C. 58?) was the public school lot in Stantonsburg? When was the lot divided?
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In the 1880 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Caleb Sauls, 35; wife Zany, 28; and children Henry, 4, Andrew, 2, and Mollie, 1.
In the 1900 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Caleb Sauls, 51; wife Zany, 45; and children Henry, 23, Andrew, 21, Mollie, 20, Sudie, 18, Emma, 16, and Pet, 12.
In the 1910 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County, N.C.: Andrew Sauls, 31; wife Ada, 20; and children James, 4, Henry, 2, and Ed Rena, 1.
In the 1920 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County: Andrew Sauls, 41; wife Ada. 32; and children James, 14, Henry B., 12, Edrena, 11, William, 8, Lila Bell, 6, Lemon, 5, and Fremon, 2.
Andrew Sauls died 15 October 1930 in Nahunta township, Wayne County. Per his death certificate, he was born in 1880 in Wilson County to Calop Sauls and Zanie Butler; was married to Ada Lewis Sauls; and worked in farming. I.W. Lee handled his burial in Yelverton graveyard.
In the 1910 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County:
In the 1920 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County:
Henry Sauls died 17 September 1922 in Nahunta township, Wayne County. Per his death certificate, he was born 25 January 1877 in Wilson County to Caleb Sauls and Zanie [maiden name unknown] and was married to Emma Sauls. Andrew Sauls was informant.
Emma Sauls died 27 January 1924 in Stantonsburg, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was born 3 April 1886 in Wilson County to John Cheatam and Sarah Artis; and was the widow of Henry Sauls.
In the 1900 census of Bull Head township, Greene County: Oliver Woodard, 39; wife Ellar, 33; and children Willie, 18, John, 16, Jessie, 8, and Annie, 4.
On 20 May 1905, Oliver Woodard, 43, of Greene County, son of Barton and Sena Woodard, married Annie Sutton, 45, of Wayne County, in Wayne County.
In the 1910 census of Bull Head township, Greene County: Oliver Woodard, 50; wife Annie, 47; and son Jessie, 19. Next door:
In the 1920 census of Bull Head township, Greene County: farmer Oliver Woodard, 58, and wife Annie, 56. Next door: Exum Woodard, 44; mother Senia, 90; sister Martha, 48; and niece Annie, 15.
Oliver Woodard died 14 May 1929 in Saulston township, Wayne County. Per his death certificate, he was about 75 years old and worked as a farmer.
Greensboro Daily News, 17 May 1929.
In 1870 census of Snow Hill township, Greene County: Baden Woodard, 49, farm laborer; wife Serenia, 40; and children Jesse, 16, Smithy, 19, Amos, 18, Mitchel, 13, Ollin, 10, Mary, 3, Mike, 6, and John, 1.
In the 1880 census of Bull Head township, Greene County: Robert Manuel, 18, laborer, heading a household comprised of himself and Samuel and Martha A.E. Webber and their children, who were white.
On 20 March 1884, Robert Manuel, 54, of Greene County, married Smitha Woodard, 3o, of Greene County, daughter of Barden and Seney Woodard, at Barden Woodard’s in Snow Hill township, Greene County. Oliver Woodard was among the witnesses.
In the 1930 census of Bull Head township, Greene County: Mary Newal, 54, widow; grandson Arthur, 12; mother Smithy Manuel, 82; and niece Mary Woodard, 10.
Smithie Manuely died 15 March 1936 in Bull Head township, Greene County. Per her death certificate, she was born 1845 in Wilson County to Oliver Woodard of Greene County and Smithie Woodard of Wilson County and was the widow of Bob Manuel.
In the 1880 census of Bull Head township, Greene County: Borton Woodard, 59; wife Smithy, 54; children Rena, 30, Amos, 25, Marshal, 18, Zacharia, 15, and Sarah, 12; and grandchildren Amos Jr., 10, Mary, 6, and Charles, 5.
In 1870 census of Snow Hill township, Greene County: Baden Woodard, 49, farm laborer; wife Serenia, 40; and children Jesse, 16, Smithy, 19, Amos, 18, Mitchel, 13, Ollin, 10, Mary, 3, Mike, 6, and John, 1.
In the 1880 census of Bull Head township, Greene County: Borton Woodard, 59; wife Smithy, 54; children Rena, 30, Amos, 25, Marshal, 18, Zacharia, 15, and Sarah, 12; and grandchildren Amos Jr., 10, Mary, 6, and Charles, 5.
On 8 January 1891, Exum Woodard, 23, son of Benjamin Bardner and Sena Woodard, married Emma Applewhite, 18, daughter of Dock Applewhite, in Greene County.
In the 1900 census of Bull Head township, Greene County: farmer Exum Woodard, 34; mother Thenia, 61; nephew Joe, 14; niece Lucie, 13; and stepsister Michel, 45.
In the 1910 census of Bull Head township, Greene County: farmer Exum Woodard, 44; mother Senia, 90; sister Martha, 48; and niece Annie, 15.
In the 1920 census of Bull head township, Greene County: farmer Exum Woodard, 55; sister Martha, 61; and niece Annie, 23.
Wilson Daily Times, 12 April 1943.
William H. Vick survived this knife attack and lived till 1963.
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In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Rufus Neal, 66, gardener; wife Hattie B., 55; children David L., 17, tobacco warehouse trucker, Joseph, 16, tobacco warehouse trucker, and Viola, 12; granddaughter Essie Ray Lucas, 7; and lodger William H. Vick, 22, tobacco factory cooper.
In 1940, William Henry Vick registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 1 May 1917 in Nash County, North Carolina; lived at 608 Daniel Street; his contact was friend Sam Clark, same address; and he worked for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Wilson.
In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Sam Clark, 45, nightwatchman at tobacco redrying plant; William H. Vick, 32, repacker at tobacco warehouse; and Luther Walker, 26, “ships out” at tobacco warehouse.
William Henry Vick died 27 January 1963 at the Veterans Administration hospital in Durham, N.C. Per his death certificate, he was born in Rocky Mount, N.C., to Will Vick and Bessie Cook; was never married; lived at 707 West Walnut Street, Wilson; was an odd jobs laborer for James I. Miller; was a veteran of World War II; and was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery.
On 16 January 1918, Henry Armstrong, 25, of Toisnot township, son of Nelson and Mary Armstrong, married Minnie Barnes, 21, of Toisnot township, daughter of Joe and Ella Barnes, in Wilson County. Joshua Armstrong applied for the license, and minister E.D. Telfor performed the ceremony in the presence of Frank Smith, W.M. Parker, and Frank Armstrong.
In the 1930 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: farmer Henry Armstrong, 42; wife Minnie, 33; and children Mary, 11, Fred, 8, Rosa, 6, Clarence, 4, and Nathan, 1; plus father Nelson Armstrong, 75.
In the 1940 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: farmer Henry Armstrong, 52; wife Minnie, 42; and children Mary, 19, Fred, 18, Rosa, 16, Clarence, 14, Nathan, 11, Daniel, 9, Louise, 8, David, 6, and Henry, 3.
In the 1950 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: farmer Henry Armstrong, 62; wife Minnie, 50; and children Nathan, 21, Louise H., 18, David T., 14, and Henry C., 13.