Wilson Daily Times, 14 March 1919.
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In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Walter S. Mitchel, 42, mason; wife Elizabeth, 36, laundress; and children Ada, 14, and Esther, 18; plus, wagon factory laborer Oleone Brooks, 18, and laborer Henry Tart, 18.
Henry Tart registered for the World War I draft on 18 September 1918. He recorded his address as the corner of Green and Reid Streets, his birth date as 11 April 1884, and his occupation as self-employed in the transfer business. His wife Julia C[lark] Tart was his next-of-kin, and he signed his card in a neat, well-spaced hand.
Upon Henry’s death, Tart’s wife applied for Letters of Administration for her husband’s estate. She listed four surviving daughters, all minors — indeed, young children — Olivia, Julia, Josephine, and Miriam Tart.
North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998 [database online], http://www.ancestry.com.
I don’t know what to say, I am at a TOTAL loss of words and that is rare for me. I can’t believe it. I have often heard, that my grandfather’s family had money or should I say, was not poor. The picture I have of Henry’s and Arthur’s mother, is a woman that is wearing a bright gold medallion around her neck, 2 bright gold rings on one hand and a bright gold ring on the other. It is an oil painting in a large frame and glass covering it. Who was doing oil paintings during that era? Just wondering, that is all.
He got married on December 13, 1911, to Julia Clark. They married at the AME Zion church, in Edgecombe County. I wondered why he died so young, was it an accident? Did he get shot? Now, I know. He had a brother that worked at the Briggs Hotel, his name was Offie Tart. What is a transfer man? What is a drayman?
I appreciate all of the work you have done on this web site. It has answered a lot of unanswered questions, I had about my grandfather and his family.
Once again, thank you so very, very much.
Linda Tart
PS
I now feel a REAL connection, to Wilson, NC. Where can I see copies of the old city directories? At the library? Where can I view the old newspapers?
Offie Tart was the son of James Gray Tart and Cora Best Tart. Gray Tart was the son of John and Olivia Tart of Greene County, as was Henry Tart. Thus, Offie was Henry’s nephew, not brother. (Offie migrated to the Detroit area.) Records showing these relationships are found at Ancestry.com, as are city directories. (The Wilson County Public Library does have directories, too.) Newspaper clippings may be found at Newspapers.com. There are a couple more I found that briefly mention Henry’s trade. A dray was a type of wagon (later, truck) used to transport goods. A transfer man hauled luggage or wares to or from homes and businesses to train depots or otherwise acted as a mover might in modern times.