ELM CITY CENTENNIAL BOOK

Has Been Dedicated to

MRS. JENNIE RANSOME SHAFFER

Who Was 100 Years Old on May 8, 1973

ELM CITY HONORS WOMAN WHO IS 100 YEARS OLD

ELM CITY — Mrs. Jennie Ransome Shaffer of Elm City, who celebrates her 100th birthday today, was the honored guest of Elm City Sunday during Wilson’s Sunday in the Park festivities.

Mrs. Shaffer, who was born on May 8, 1873 in Enfield, moved to Elm City when she was two years old. She lives alone and still does all of her own cooking, washing and ironing. During her long life she  has been a farmer and a house cleaner. While her hearing is not what it used to be, her eyesight is still good, and she still walks without aid, but limits her walking to a half-mile area.

Elm City, celebrating its 100th birthday this year, sponsored a Centennial display in Wilson Sunday and featured an old covered wagon belonging to Grady Jackson. The background for the display was a red, white and blue sign reading “Elm City Centennial 1873-1973,” and was flanked by the American flag and North Carolina state flag.

The Dixie Land Band and the Elm City High School Band furnished music during the afternoon, while Mrs. Louise Winstead, Hester Tyson, Aquilla Parker, Nancy Mitchell, Nancy Johnson, Ruth Davis, Mary Lou Doles, Joyce Hawley and Pat Humphrey, all in Centennial dress, entertained with “Songs of Yesterday.”

Miss Ocie Batts, chairman of the Elm City Centennial, said that Police Chief Isaac Kirby, Commissioner Lynwood Sharpe and Lloyd Webb restored the covered wagon for the event.

— Elm City Centennial Committee,  Elm City North Carolina Centennial 1873-1973.

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In the 1910 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: laborer Joe Q. Shawfer, 35; wife  Jennie, 43, cook; son Howard,12; and daughter-in-law(?) Jennie, 8.

In the 1920 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: house carpenter Quincey Shaffer,  45; wife Jennie, 43; and widowed mother Emma, 78.

In the 1930 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: town laborer Quincy Shaffer, 55; wife Genney, 54; daughter Lena, 29; and boarder Mable Dison, 7.

John [Quincey] Shaffer died 19 May 1940 in Elm City. Per his death certificate, he was 67 years old; married to Jennie Shaffer; worked as laborer; and was born in Elm City to Emma Moore. He was buried in Elm City cemetery.

Jennie Ransome Shaffer died 9 January 1981 in Wilson, aged 107.