Month: October 2015

C.H. Bynum, a very worthy and highly respected colored man.

Wilson_Mirror_11_19_1890_CH_Bynum_med_student

Wilson Mirror, 19 November 1890.

Screen Shot 2015-10-28 at 11.43.53 PM

A.B. Caldwell, ed., History of the American Negro and His Institutions, North Carolina Edition (1921).

——

In the 1880 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: farmer Amos Bynum, 42, wife William Ann, 35, and children Charley, 14, Lulu, 4, George W., 3, Turner, 1, and Jonas, 17.

Though the article above avers that C.H. moved to Kinston in 1899, he married Janie Booth in Wilson in April of that year.

42091_343638-01052

She apparently died soon after, as she does not appear with the Bynum family in the 1900 census of Town of Wilson, Wilson County. (Charles Bynum is described as married, rather than widowed or divorced, however.)

1900 Wilson CH Bynum

In any case, he married Helen B. Wooten in 1904, and they are listed in Kinston, Lenoir County, in the 1910 census. The 1912 Kinston city directory shows Charles well established.

Kinston 1912

Charles H. Bynum died in 1938.

To my trusty friend and former slave.

I, Sarah Boykin of the County of Wilson and State of North Carolina being of sound mind and memory but considering the uncertainty of my earthly existence do make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say:

First That my Executor (hereinafter named) shall provide for my body a decent burial suitable to the wishes of my relations and friends and pay all funeral expenses together with my just debts howsoever and to whomsoever owing out of the money that may first come into his hand as a part or parcel of my estate

Item – I give and devise to my beloved niece Barbry Boykin and my trusty friend and former slave Mary Boykin (colored) my tract of land whereon I now live containing one hundred acres situated in the County of Wilson and State of North Carolina to be equally divided betwixt them to have and to hold to them and their heirs in fee simple forever

Item – My will and desire is that all the residue of my estate shall be sold and the debts owing to me collected and the surplus after paying my just debts be equally divided between my beloved niece Barbry Boykin and my trusty friend and former slave Mary Boykin (colored) to have and to hold to them and their heirs each forever

And lastly I do hereby constitute my trusty friend John Stanly Boykin my lawful executor to all intents and purposes to execute this my last will and testament according to the true intent and meaning of the same and every part and clause thereof hereby revoking and declaring utterly void all other will and testaments by me heretofore made

In witness whereof I the said Sarah Boykin do hereunto set my hand and this the eighth day of January 1868.   Sarah X Boykin

Mary Boykin

Wilson County, North Carolina, Estate Records, 1854-1959, North Carolina Wills & Probate Records, 1665-1998,  [database on-line], http://www.Ancestry.com.

I want to come back right away.

Wilson_Advance_2_6_1880_Julia_Daniel_exoduster (1)

Wilson Advance, 6 February 1880.

Forty-seven year-old white farmer Kinsey Hyman “K.H.” Winstead headed a household in the 1880 census of Wilson township, Wilson County. Farmer Kinchen H. Watson, 29, is listed in his mother’s household in Wilson township, south of the Plank Road.  I have not found Julia Daniels. However, in the 1880 census of Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, 32 year-old Peter Dew, his wife Ellen, 29, and their children William, 9, Georgeanna, 6, and Jennie, 3, all North Carolina-born, appear at 352 West North Street, the address that Julia used.

Wilson County marriage records show that Peter, son of H. Ellis and Jinny Dew, and Ellen, daughter of Raford and Emily Daniel, married 15 August 1869.

Dave Barnes, porter, gives “prompt attention to all.”

Wilson_Advance_9_14_1893_Dave_Barnes_Briggs_Hotel

Wilson Advance, 14 September 1893.

WDT_10_16_1896_Dave_the_porter

Wilson Daily Times, 16 October 1896.

WDT_11_1_1910_Dave_Barnes

Wilson Daily Times, 1 November 1910.

Charlotte_Observer_1_26_1913_Dave_Barnes_dead

Charlotte Observer, 26 January 1913.

——

On 31 January 1884, David Barnes, no age reported, married Pattie Battle, 17, at Efford Battle‘s in Wilson County. Minister E.H. Ward performed the ceremony in the presence of Sarah Artice, Mary Linsey, and James Barnes.

On 15 April 1894, David Barnes, 35, married Della Hines, 32, in Wilson. Rev. Fred M. Davis performed the ceremony at the bride’s home in the presence of J.T. Deans, Mrs. Hardy Tate, and Hardy Tate.

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: hotel porter Dave Barnes, 40; wife Della; and children Walter, 20, William, 15, Lucy, 13, Dave, 5, and Viola, 11. [The older children were, in fact, Walter Hines, William Hines, and Lucy Hines, Della Hines Barnes’ children and Dave’s stepchildren.]

On 10 December 1904, Mack Jones, 21, of Halifax County, son of Mack and Lucy Jones, married Viola Barnes, 17, of Edgecombe County, daughter of David Barnes of Wilson County, at the “home house” in Township No. 12, Edgecombe County.

Viola Jones died 8 September 1909 in Scotland Neck, Halifax County, North Carolina. Per her death certificate, she was born 1 February 1887 in Wilson to Dave Barnes of Wilson and Pattie Battle of Edgecombe County; was married; and was buried in Marys Chapel. Mack Jones was informant.

David Barnes died 23 January 1913 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 52 years old; worked in “hoteling”; was married; and was born in Wilson to unknown parents. Informant was William Hines.

Efford Barnes died 31 May 1913 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 30 years old; was born in Wilson to Davit Barnes of Wilson and Pattie Battle of Halifax; and was a common laborer. William Hines was informant.

Boisey Otha Barnes died 24 April 1956 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 6 April 1902 in Wilson to Dave and Della Barnes; was married to Flossie Barnes; lived at 1312 Fikewood Street; and was a physician.

Black business, 1908.

African-American Business Owners Listed in

HILL’S WILSON NC CITY DIRECTORY 1908-1909:

Barbers

Austin James, 503 e Nash

Barnes S W, 123 s Goldsboro

Blount Jno, 422 Pender

Hines Wm, 119 s Tarboro

Holden Henry C, Branch Banking Co’s Bldg

Jones Levi, 105 n Goldsboro

Neal A N, 109 e Nash

Renfrow Richard, 126 s Goldsboro

Tate & Hines, New Briggs Hotel

Wheeler Sidney, 113 e Barnes

Bicycle Dealers and Repairers

Darden C H & Son, 611 e Nash

Billiard and Pool Rooms

Matthews Pool Room, 510 e Nash

Blacksmiths and Wheelwrights

Hargrove Wm, 206 s Goldsboro

Smith James E, 214 e Tarboro

Wells Chas M, 231 s Tarboro

Young I J, 213 s Goldsboro

Clergymen

Coppedge James G (Baptist), 113 Manchester

Davis Frederick M (Baptist), 618 e Green

King Nicholas D (Methodist), 122 Pender

Neil H H (Baptist), h Suggs nr Manchester

Perry Robert N (Episcopal), Lodge nr Bank

Sturdiway Wyatt (Methodist), 114 Manchester

Taylor Halley J (Presbyterian), 613 Viola

Clothing Dealers

Gunn Anna (second hand), 514 s Lodge

Contractors, Carpenters and Builders

Teachy James T, 610 e Green

Draymen

Batts Amos, 203 s Railroad

Best William, 114 Manchester

Hilliard William, 700 s Tarboro

Johnson Thos, 320 s Lodge

Washington Aaron, Walnut nr Lodge

Watson James, w Nash extd

Williams Dorsey, 147 East

Dressmakers

Brinkley Nannie, 135 Ashe

Clarke Catharine, 607 e Green

Jordan Gertrude, 139 Ashe

Moore Gladys, 313 Mercer

Druggists

Ideal Pharmacy, 109 s Goldsboro

Eating Houses

Best Annie, 121 s Goldsboro

Brandon Moses, 127 s Goldsboro

Teachey J Thomas, 214 s Goldsboro

Wheeler Sidney, 113 e Barnes

Whittaker Isaac, 101 South

Fish and Oysters

Dawson A D, City Market

Funeral Directors

Darden C H & Son, 611 e Nash

Grocers — Retail

Allen Wm, 412 s Goldsboro

Batts Amos, 203 s Railroad

Best Oscar, Nash nr Bynum

Brown James, Stantonsburg rd nr city limits

Bullock Jno, 330 s Lodge

Gunn Daniel, 512 ½ s Lodge

Home Supply Co (Inc), 540 e Nash

Miller Lou, Elba nr Green

Miller & Lewis, 649 e Green

Moore Lee A, 522 e Nash

Palmer Ella, Lodge cor Bank

Tucker Jacob, 416 s Spring

Wells Jack, Jones cor Lodge

Halls

Masonic, Pender cor Smith

Hotels

Orange, 517 e Nash

Tate Hotel, 526 e Nash

Insurance Companies — Accident

North Carolina Mutual & Provident Association of Durham, 526 e Nash

Insurance Companies — Beneficial

Lincoln Benefit Society, 526 e Nash

Livery, Boarding and Sale Stables

Akins Jno, 125 e Goldsboro

Bullock Wm, 304 e Barnes

Hardy & Holland, 112 e Goldsboro

Winstead B R, 129 s Goldsboro

Mineral Waters

Darden Chas H & Son, 613 e Nash

Hargrove E S, 411 e Nash

Nurses

Brinkley Charlotte, 135 Ashe

Farmer Argent, 118 Manchester

Physicians

Hargrave Wm H, Carolina Office Bldg

Schools and Colleges

Whitted Charlotte A E, Green cor Pender

Shoemakers

Burnette Wm E, 420 e Nash

Moore Starton, 526 e Nash

Words Fleming, 407 e Nash

Veterinary Surgeons

Reid Elijah L, 650 Viola

Well Drillers

Joyner Kenton, h 408 n Pine

11244128

Hill’s Wilson, N.C., City Directory, 1908-1909.

The last will and testament of Margaret Artis.

M Artis Will 1

M Artis Will 2

Margaret Artis‘ daughter Sarah Barnes, whose father was Ned Barnes, married Jesse Barnes in 1893 in Wilson township.

J&S Barnes Marr

Per the terms of Margaret’s will, the couple took possession of her land after her death. In the 1920 census of Wilson township, they appear on Saratoga Road (modern Martin Luther King Parkway) near Dollison Powell and Vick heirs, as named in the will.

1920 J&S Barnes

North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998 [database on-line], Ancestry.com; North Carolina Marriage Records 1741-2011 [database on-line], Ancestry.com.

Studio shots, no, 1: M. John & Delphia Locus.

martin-delphia-locus

Martin John Locus (1843-1926) and Delphia Taylor Locus (1850-1923). John was the son of Martin Locus and Eliza Brantley Locus of southeastern Nash and later western Wilson County. Delphia was the daughter of Dempsey Taylor and Eliza Pace Taylor of northern Nash County. Their children included John Frank Locus (1869-?), Dora Locus Battle (1872-?), Kenyon Locus (1874-1940), Nancy Locus Deans (1875-?), Samuel Locus (1880-?), Edward Locus (1885-1847), Sidney Locus (1885-1955) and Susan Locus Ellis  (1890-1980).

1920 Taylor

1920 federal census, Taylors township, Wilson County.

Many thanks to Europe A. Farmer for the photograph.

Homestead Grays at spring camp.

PC_4_13_1935_Homestead_Grays_camp

Pittsburgh Courier, 13 April 1935.

——

The Homestead Grays were a storied professional baseball team that played in the short-lived American Negro League and then the National Negro League. The team was formed in 1912 by Cumberland Posey (who wrote this article) and remained in continuous operation for 38 seasons. The team was originally based in Homestead, Pennsylvania, crossed the Monongahela River to play all home games in Pittsburgh in the 1920s. Later, they also played home games in Washington DC.

First baseman and future National Baseball Hall-of-Famer Walter F. “Buck” Leonard (1907-1997) was a Rocky Mount native. Other players mentioned in the article include Tom Parker, Tommy Dukes, Jimmy, Binder, George Scales, Norman Jackson, Matthew Carlisle, Vic Harris, Buddy Burbage and Ray Brown. For 1935 season stats, see here.

JoshGibsonW_grays_zps6ad2ae99