Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 24 February 1945.
Another account of the burning of Saint John A.M.E. Zion‘s mortgage, this one revealing a number of notable facts, such as Orren R. Best, Charles H. Darden, Daniel Vick, Washington Suggs, and Lawrence Moore as charter members of the church. (One note, however: Saint John was not the oldest Black church in Wilson, though it was the “mother” of all the counties A.M.E. Zion churches.)
Lane Street Project’s Castonoble Hooks is getting his flowers this month, and we are here for it! This past Sunday he received Mount Moriah Community Church’s Community Impact Award, one of three such honors bestowed upon him by area churches this month. We add our thanks to Cass Hooks for his dedication to the preservation and uplift of our history.
Photo courtesy of Jocelyn Drawhorn.
Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 24 February 1940.
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The social columns Jack Sherrod and Johnnie Mincey contributed to the 24 February 1940 Journal and Guide reported on the comings and goings of dozens in Wilson’s black folks.
A reminder that Wednesday night I’ll be at Wilson County Public Library talking about historic African-American cemeteries outside Wilson — where we find them, who they served, and how their existence is challenged.
Tuesday evening, my father’s classmate L. Paul Sherrod Jr. will present and discuss family papers passed down from his great-grandparents Jack Sherrod (who served in the United States Colored Troops) and Cassie Exum Sherrod at a program sponsored by Wilson County Genealogical Society. I’ve had a sneak peek at some of the documents and am amazed by the family’s legacy!
Hmmph! We’re going gray waiting for the interpretative sign at Vick first approved five years ago, and down 264 Greenville is sprinkling its downtown with African American Cultural Trail markers.
Forgive these screen grabs. I couldn’t find this video on Visit Greenville’s website.
In the 1880 census of Oldfields township, Wilson County: Wesley Tayborne, 30; wife Madora, 23; and Martha, 6 months.
The Taborns joined the exodus to Arkansas circa 1891, settling in Saint Francis County,
In the 1900 census of Telico township, Saint Francis County, Arkansas: Wesley Taborn, 47; wife Dora, 43; children Henrietta, 20, Arnie, 18, Lula, 16, Claudia, 13, Georanna, 10, Hattie, 7, and Walter, 1; and boarder Robert Lucas, 46. All were born in North Carolina except Hattie and Walter, who were born in Arkansas.
In the 1920 census of Wynne township, Cross County, Arkansas: Arlie Taborne, 45; sister Gergia, 24; daughter Hattie, 22; daughter Grattice, 2; son Herman, 2; and uncle Robert Lucas, 63. The two children were born in Arkansas; everyone else in North Carolina.
1939 Seattle, Washington city directory.
The Northwest Enterprise (Seattle, Wash.), 6 January 1940.
In the 1940 census of Seattle, King County, Washington: at 1534 – 23rd Avenue, widow Hattie B. Lewis, 43; son Herman L. Lewis, 22; sister Georgia Jiles, 45; nephew Grattis T. Scott, 22; niece Alberta Morrow, 23; and nephew Millard Morrow, 23. All but the Morrows reported they had been in Kansas City, Kansas, in 1935.
Georgia Jiles died 10 February 1956 in Seattle, King County, Washington. Per her death certificate, she was born 20 October 1896 in Wilson, N.C., to Westley Taborn and Dora Jones; was a widow; lived at 1615 – 20th Avenue; and was buried in Washelli Cemetery.
In the 1900 census of Town of Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County: on Pender Street, barber and plasterer George W. Gaston, 44, wife Cilla, 44, a cook; and children Rosco, 18, bricklayer; John, 16, common laborer; Georgia, 15, cook; Addar, 12, nurse; Nina, 11, nurse; Mancy, 6; Lacy, 6; Augustas, 6; Boston, 1; and Dewey, 6 months.
In the 1910 census of Town of Elm City, Wilson County: on Wilson Street, barber George Gaston, 55, wife Priscilla, 53; and children Roscoe, 28, barber; John, 26, barber; Georgie, 25; Ada, 23, teacher; Nina, 21; Mancie, 17; Augustus, 16; Flossy, 16; Boisy, 14; Dewey, 9; and Lee J. Gaston, 7.
In 1917, Mancie Gaston registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 10 June 1892 in Elm City; lived in Elm City; worked as a barber for G.A. Gaston; and was single.
World War I service card for Mancie Gaston.
1922 Wilson, N.C., city directory.
Dewey Gaston, 23, son of George and Priscilla Gaston, married Mary B. Howard, 24, daughter of Mary E. Darden, on 8 March 1923 in Tarboro, Edgecombe County. Witnesses were Mancie Gaston and Fannie F. Ricks of Elm City.
Around 1930, Gaston headed west, living briefly in Albuquerque, New Mexico, before moving on to Reno, Nevada.
1931 Albuquerque, New Mexico, city directory.
In the 27 October 1932 edition of the Reno Evening Gazette, Mancie Gaston was listed as a registered voter in Washoe County, Nevada. He spent an eventful few years in the state before relocating to Seattle, Washington.
Reno Evening Gazette, 25 January 1933.
Nevada State Journal (Reno, Nev.), 4 February 1936.
In the 1940 census of Seattle, King County, Washington: at 121 Maynard Avenue [a single-room occupancy dwelling], Mancie Gaston, 47, W.P.A. laborer.
In 1942, Mancie Gaston registered for the World War II draft in Seattle. Per his registration card, he was born 10 June 1892 in Elm City, North Carolina; lived at 413 1/2 Maynard Avenue, Seattle; and worked for I.D. Dudley [white barber Isaac D. Dudley], 609 Jackson, Seattle.
At the time he registered for the draft, Gaston lived in Seattle’s Chinatown. This 12 May 1941 photo, courtesy of the Seattle Times Archives, depicts a funeral procession in the block of Maynard, between Jackson and King, that he lived in.
In the 9 June 1943 issue of The Northwest Enterprise, Mancie Gaston is listed as a paid member during a N.A.A.C.P. membership drive.
Mancie Gaston died 7 August 1946 in Seattle, King County, Washington. Per his death certificate, he was born 10 June 1892 in Elm City, N.C., to George Gaston and Priscilla Mercer; lived at 613 1/2 Jackson Street; was a widower; worked as a barber; was a veteran; and was returned to Elm City for burial.
Plat Book 4, page 51.
On 30 September 1946, Dr. B.O. Barnes and his wife Flossie H. Barnes sold the Board of Trustees of Wilson City Schools a tract bordered by North Reid Street, East Vance Street, an unopened section of North Vick Street, and an unopened section of Crowell Street. Deed Book 326, page 43.
As the Google Maps aerial below shows, the property is adjacent to land on which the former Vick Elementary School sits. (Vick had opened ten years earlier.) Ultimately, however, much of it was sold to developers who built a row of houses in the 800 block of East Vance Street.
Mount Vernon (N.Y.) Argus, 7 June 1971.
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In the 1870 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farm laborer Nathan Ward, 46; wife Mariah, 26; and children Sarah, 15, Scott, 13, Waltin, 10, Larrence, 5, and Ida, 2; plus Lydia Moye, 58.
In the 1880 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Nathan Ward, 56; wife Maria, 47; children Sarah, 24, Austin, 18, Laurena, 14, Ida, 12, Maria, 9, Ora, 7, Douglas, 5, Columbus, 4, and Elijah, 1; and mother-in-law Liddia Moye, 66.
On 17 July 1890, John D. Artis, 28, of Stantonsburg, son of Joseph and Mary Ann Artis, married Sarah Ward, 34, of Stantonsburg, daughter of Nathan and Mariah Ward, at Sarah Ward’s. Methodist minister Rev. A.T. Dove performed the ceremony in the presence of George N. Applewhite, Mary J. Ward, and W.E. Ward.
In the 1900 census of Speights Bridge township, Greene County, N.C.: farmer John Artis, 35; wife Sarah, 35; and daughters Ida, 17, Mariah, 11, and Ora, 8.
John Artis died 16 September 1927 in Wilson, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was 65 years old; was born in Wayne County, N.C., to Joe Artis; was married to John Artis; was a farmer; and was buried in Wilson County. James Ward was informant.
In the 1920 census of Speights Bridge township, Greene County, N.C.: farmer John Artis, 56; wife Sarah, 60; and grandson John, 14.
Ora Speights died 15 April 1939 in Speights Bridge township, Greene County, N.C. Per her death certificate, she was born 10 January 1893 in Greene County, N.C., in John Artis and Sarah Ward; was married to Charlie Speights; and was buried in Greene County.
In the 1900 census of Speights Bridge township, Greene County, N.C.: farmer John Artis, 35; wife Sarah, 35; and daughters Ida, 17, Mariah, 11, and Ora, 8.
On 2 May 1909, Jim Hagans, 22, of Saratoga, son of Dred and Mamie Hagans, married Maria Artis, 19, of Saratoga, daughter of John and Sarah Artis, at John Artis’ residence in Saratoga township, Wilson County. A.M.E. Zion minister G.A. Wood performed the ceremony.
On 16 December 1911, Jesse Darden and Maria Hagans were married in Greene County.
In the 1920 census of Speights Bridge township, Greene County: farm Jeffie Darden, 25; wife Mariah, 28; children Ada Belle, 6, Effie, 4, and Lawrence, 6 months; and cousin Tom Ward, 20.
In the 1930 census of Speights Bridge township, Greene County: Jessie Darden, 35; wife Maria, 38; and children Ada B., 16, Effie, 14, Lawrence, 10, Charlie, 8, Nathan, 6, Sarah, 5, and Annie, 3.
Behind-the-scenes work for this blog includes cataloguing the hundreds of funeral programs in my personal archive. Most memorialize people who were born or lived in Wilson County, and I would be honored to add funeral programs for your family members.
