Indoor circuses and other social events.

Baltimore Afro-American, 12 May 1928.

  • M. Lenard
  • Mrs. J.D. Reid — Eleanor P. Reid.
  • Mrs. Aline Darden
  • Mrs. Sarah Wilson — probably, in the 1930 Wilson, N.C., city directory: Wilson Sarah L (c) tchr Stantonsburg St Graded Sch r 209 N Reid
  • Mrs. M.S. Gilliam — Annie L. Gilliam.
  • Mrs. C.L. Darden — Norma D. Darden.
  • Artelia Barnes — Leo Artelia Barnes.
  • Inez White
  • Elroy Barnes
  • M. Fisher — probably, Milton Fisher.
  • William McCullers — in the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1008 Washington Street, Clarence McCullers, 42, hardware store laborer; wife Rosa E., 37, who did washing; and son William E., 17.
  • Fletcher Pearce
  • Jesse Bullock — in the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farmer Joshuy Bulluck, 47; wife [illegible], 43; children Kattie, 23, Ruel, 21, Jessie, 20, Percy, 18, Maggie, 17, Joshuy, 16, Lonnie, 13, Mark, 12, James A., 10, Hermon, 9, Zeb, 5, Annie L., 8, and Wytelluse, 4.
  • Ruel Bullock 
  • Esmond Langley
  • Ameta Ellis — Ometa Ellis died 3 May 1928 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was married to Morriss Ellis; resided at 702 Nash Street; was 42 years old; and had been born in Wilmington, North Carolina, to Weldon Perrington of Wilmington and Louisa Scarborough of Wilson. Louisa Parrington was informant.
  • Sarah Williams
  • James H. Clarke — John H. Clark?
  • Thelma Barnes
  • Scott Hines — Elizabeth Scott Hines.
  • Rosa Lee Kittrell
  • Gerald Barnes — probably, Jerrell Randolph Barnes, who died 14 December 1929 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 7 May 1909; was single; worked as a common laborer; and was born to Ned Barnes and Louisa Gay. Informant was Alice Bryant, Wilson.
  • John E. Farmer — perhaps, in the 1940 csus of Wilson, Wilson County: widow Eula Farmer, 51, household servant; son John E., 30, laborer; and daughter Clifton, 24, movie theatre cashier.
  • Rufus Speights — Rufus Speight. in the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Speight Rufus (c) porter Wm Hines h 624 Viola. In 1940, Rufus Edward Speight registered for the World War II draft. Per his registration card, he lived at 624 East Viola; was born 4 October 1907 in Whitaker, North Carolina; his contact was brother Theodore Speight; and he worked for Bill Hines at 130 South Goldsboro Street.
  • Klondike Club
  • Herbert Mitchner — Hubert Mitchner.
  • Andrew Tate — in the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 307 North Pender, seamstress Hattie Tate, 44, widow, and children Hellen, 23, insurance agent, and Andrew, 21, hotel bellboy, as well as lodger Lucy Davis, a public school teacher.
  • Douglass Ellis — in the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 411 Pine, Windsor Ellis, 42, greenhouse gardener; wife Rachel, 34; children Douglas, 20, John H., 10, and Elaine, 5; and lodger Fred Moye, 26, cafe cook.
  • Charlie Thomas

D.C. Suggs’ building permits.

Daniel C. Suggs filed for several building permits in Greensboro, North Carolina, in August 1915:

Greensboro Record, 9 August 1915.

Greensboro Record, 17 August 1915.

Greensboro Record, 1 September 1915.

Suggs’ projects included:

  • a one-story store on East Market Street for $1000
  • a one-story house on Macon Street for $1000
  • a one-story house on Gaston Street for $400

Jerry Bullock, the first black elected official in Wilson County.

Wilmington (N.C.) Journal,  17 August 1871.

Cheers for Jerry Bullock!

——

In the 1870 census of Joyners township, Wilson County: farmer Jerry Bullock, 56; wife Martha, 32; and children John, 15, Ichabode, 13, Anna, 11, Ross, 8, Doc, 2, and Grant, 5 months.

Jerry Bullock died in 1877.

In the 1880 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: widow Martha A. Bullock, 34, and children Ichabud, 20, Ross, 18, David C., 12, Ella, 7, Emma S., 5, and Bettie, 3.

Edmond Bullock died 14 October 1920 in Wilson, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was 63 years old; was born in Wilson County to Jerry Bullock and Martha Bullock; was married to Anna Bullock; worked as a brickmason; and was buried in Wilson County [possibly, Vick Cemetery.]

Rest in peace, Lydia Bledsoe Hunter.

Lydia Bledsoe Hunter posted her first comment on Black Wide-Awake in December 2017. Descended from Armstrongs and Bullocks who migrated from Wilson County to Arkansas in the late 1800s, she has been one of my most active readers, liking, commenting, and sharing photos of her Exoduster family.

I was surprised and saddened this weekend to open a text message revealing the news of her passing. My deepest condolences go to her family as they mourn their tremendous loss. Mrs. Hunter always reminded me of the reach of Black Wide-Awake and its capacity to restore connections sundered more than 130 years. May she rest in peace.

Dr. Moore’s funeral.

Salisbury Post, 22 October 1927.

——

As principal of Wilson Academy, Dr. Edward E. Moore influenced a generation of boys to attend Lincoln University, including Samuel H. Vick, his brother William H. Vick and cousin Frank O. Blount; Daniel C. Suggs; and Braswell R. Winstead. A professor of Greek and Latin, Dr. Moore had been a professor and administrator at Livingstone College. His widow, Serena Suggs Moore, was D.C. Suggs’ sister.

Private Jasper L. Smith, stationed at Camp Shanks.

In the 1920 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: farmer Charlie Smith, 28; wife Carry, 22; and children Ruth, 4, Millie, 3, and Jasper, 11 months.

In the 1930 census of Taylor township, Wilson County: Charlie Smith, 43; wife Carrie, 31; and children Ruth, 14, Midred, 13, Jasper, 11, Jessie G., 9, Virginia, 8, May E., 6, Willie J., 3, and William H., 2.

In 1940, Jasper Lee Smith registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 22 April 1918 in Wilson County; lived at Route 1, Wilson; his contact was mother Carrie Smith; and he worked for J.A. Watson.

Image courtesy of Veterans of World War II Wilson County, spiral-bound volume, Wilson County Public Library.