Month: January 2018

Studio shots, no. 56: Ethel Cornwell Hines.

Ethel Cornwell Hines (1894-1983).

——

In the 1900 census of Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina: at 1711 Pulaski Street, barber John Cornwell, 28; wife Hattie, 21; and children Ethel, 6, Aylwal, 3, and Vivian, 1; plus sister-in-law Belle Ellis, 19, school teacher.

In the 1910 census of Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina: at 1713 Wayne Street, barber John R. Cornwell, 39; wife Hattie A., 31; children Ethel, 16, Aylwood, 14, apprentice barber, Vivian, 12, Geneva, 9, Hattie May, 7, and John R. jr., 6; and boarder Chester Adams, 21, barber.

Ethel Cornwell and William Hines were married 18 November 1914 in Columbia, South Carolina.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 614 East Green, barber William Hines, 35, wife Ethel, 25, and children Delores, 4, and William, 2.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: barber William Hines, 46, wife Ethel L., 36, and children Deloris L., 14, and William Jr., 11.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 615 East Green Street, barber shop operator William Hines, 56, wife Ethel L., 46, and children Delores L., 24, and William C., 21.

Ethel C. Hines died 6 January 1933 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 17 February 1894 in Columbia, South Carolina, to John Cornwell and Hattie Ellis.

Wilson Daily Times, 7 January 1983.

Photograph courtesy of Adventures in Faith: The Church at Prayer, Study and Service, the 100th anniversary commemorative booklet of Calvary Presbyterian Church.

611 and 615 East Green Street.

The forty-ninth in a series of posts highlighting buildings in East Wilson Historic District, a national historic district located in Wilson, North Carolina. As originally approved, the district encompasses 858 contributing buildings and two contributing structures in a historically African-American section of Wilson. (A significant number have since been lost.) The district was developed between about 1890 to 1940 and includes notable examples of Queen Anne, Bungalow/American Craftsman, and Shotgun-style architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

As described in the nomination form for the East Wilson Historic District: re 611 East Green Street, “ca. 1913; 2 stories; Hardy Tate house; Queen Anne house with cubic form and center roof gable; original wraparound porch has been modified; Tate was a brick mason;” and, re 615 East Green Street, “1915; 2 stories; William Hines house; Queen Anne house with hip-roofed central block and evidence of second story porch (now enclosed); Hines, like brother Walter, was a leading barber and property owner; contributing garage.”

Both 611 and 615 East Green Street have been demolished.

Robert C. Bainbridge and Kate Ohno’s Wilson, North Carolina: Historic Buildings Survey, originally published by the City of Wilson in 1980 and updated and republished in 2010 under the auspices of the Wilson County Genealogical Society, provides additional details about the houses:

“611 East Green Street. The most outstanding feature of this house, built c. 1900 is its magnificent polychrome slate roof. It also boasts a small central cross gable, typical of this period of construction. The porch was probably altered c. 1925 and the paired columns joined by delicate latticework were probably added at that time.”

In the 1908 Wilson city directory: Teachy James T, h 610 e Green. (The north side of Green was even-numbered until the early 1920s.)

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 610 Green, brickmason Hardey Tate, 50; wife Annie, 40; daughters Inez, 8, and Daisy, 6; and lodgers Rome Bagley, 44, railroad laborer, and John Boykin, 28, plasterer.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: bricklayer Hardy Tate, 70, daughters Inez, 17, and Daisy, 15. Also, renting for $20/month, were plumber and California native Henry Jones and his wife Jessie, 32. Tate owned the house free of mortgage, and it was valued at $8000.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: embalmer Columbus E. Artis, 55, and Georgia-born wife Ada D. Artis.

“William Hines House. 615 East Green Street. Built c. 1915 this simple two-story house is typical of Wilson residential architecture during the 1910’s and 1920’s. The box-like form of the house is enhanced by an elliptical stained glass window flanking the door and generous porch supported by square columns on rusticated stone plinths.”

——

In the 1908 Wilson city directory: Barnes Caroline, laundress h 614 e Green. (Barnes’ house appears to have been an earlier building on this lot upon which William Hines built his house.) Barber Hines, whose shop was at 119 South Tarboro, lived next door at 612 East Green, the home of his mother and stepfather, Della and Dave Barnes.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County:  at 614 Green, barber William Hines, 35, wife Ethel, 25, Delores, 4, and William, 2.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: barber William Hines, 46, wife Ethel L., 36, and children Deloris L., 14, and William Jr., 11. The home was owned free of mortgage and valued at $10,000.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: barber shop operator William Hines, 56, wife Ethel L., 46, and children Dolores L., 24, a teacher, and William C., 21.

  1913 Sanborn fire insurance map of Wilson, showing 610/611 East Green and an empty lot (with outbuildings) at 614/615.

1922 Sanborn fire insurance map of Wilson, showing 611 and 615.

1207 Carolina Street.

The forty-eighth in a series of posts highlighting buildings in East Wilson Historic District, a national historic district located in Wilson, North Carolina. As originally approved, the district encompasses 858 contributing buildings and two contributing structures in a historically African-American section of Wilson. (A significant number have since been lost.) The district was developed between about 1890 to 1940 and includes notable examples of Queen Anne, Bungalow/American Craftsman, and Shotgun-style architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

As described in the nomination form for the East Wilson Historic District: “ca. 1915; 1 story; Queen Anne cottage with hip-roofed, double-pile form and modified bungalow type porch posts.”

Carpenter George W. Farmer and wife Rebecca are listed at 1207 Carolina Street in the 1925, 1928, 1930 and 1941 Wilson city directories.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1207 Carolina, building carpenter George Farmer, 46, wife Reba, 40; and lodger RufusMiles, 15.

George Washington Farmer died 26 October 1953 on Contentnea Creek in Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 25 September 1886 in Wilson County to John Washington Farmer and Edmonia Barnes; lived at 1207 Carolina Street; was married; and worked as a carpenter. Informant was Rebecca Farmer, 1207 Carolina.

Photograph taken by Lisa Y. Henderson, December 2017.

Marriages at Saint Mark’s, no. 2.

Patrick M. Valentine’s The Episcopalians of Wilson County: A History of St. Timothy’s and St. Mark’s Churches in Wilson, North Carolina 1856-1995 (1996), features several invaluable appendices that illuminate Wilson’s tiny African-American Episcopalian community. Valentine credits Cindy and Jeff Day with compiling them, and this post is the second in a series annotating the marriage list.

“Appendix J: Marriages, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church” shows these marriages between 1906 and 1910:

  • James Taylor to Mamie Spicer, 26 April 1906

On 25 April 1906, James Taylor, 22, married Mamie Spicer, 22, at the bride’s residence in Wilson. Rev. Robert N. Perry performed the ceremony in the presence of D.J. Barnes, Elmer Stokes, and John H. Clark.

  • D.S. Farmer to Janie Lewis, 7 October 1908

License applied for for D.S. Farmer, 46, and Janie Lewis, 35, but not returned to the Wilson County Register of Deeds’ office.

  • John S. Askew to Thedotia Boykin, 2 September 1908

License applied for for John S. Askew, 26, of New Jersey, and Dothia Boykin, 24, of Wilson, but not returned to the Wilson County Register of Deeds’ office.

  • Dorsey Powell to Georgia Ella Hinell, no date.

License applied for for Dorsey Powell, 27, and George Ella Hines, 25, on 28 October 1909, but not returned to the Wilson County Register of Deeds’ office.

  • Ezekiel McKoy to Jane Ford, 15 November 1909.

License applied for for Ezekiel McKoy, 34, and Jane Farmer, 37, but not returned to the Wilson County Register of Deeds’ office.

  • William Dawson to Bessie Body, November 1910.

License not found.

Calvary’s historical highlights.

HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS OF CALVARY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA), Wilson, North Carolina

Calvary Presbyterian Church had its beginnings in the concerns and missions of Cape Fear Presbytery. This fledgling judicatory of the National Church in its efforts to establish churches in Eastern North Carolina included Wilson in its missions. The Reverend H.H. Boone, a pioneer in the organization of Cape Fear Presbytery, became its first Sabbath School missionary. He and Mr. S.H. Vick shared the honor of advancing Presbyterianism in Eastern North Carolina.

The Reverend Mr. Boone was succeeded as Sabbath School missionary by Mr. S.H. Vick who continued to expand the area of Sabbath Schools and the church in Eastern North Carolina.

Calvary Presbyterian Church, one of the original sixteen churches of Cape Fear Presbytery, was organized on August 1, 1889 by a committee whose chairman was the Reverend H.H. Boone of Tarboro, N.C. The Reverend C. Dillard of Goldsboro, N.C. and Mr. S.H. Vick of Wilson were members of this committee.

The Reverend George Carson was the first minister of Calvary. The first session consisted of Ruling Elders G.A. Farmer, William Cannon, W.B. Winstead, and S.H. Vick.

Twenty-one of the twenty-five original members included Ms. Mahalia Artis, Ms. Hattie Barnes, Ms. Lillie Barnes, Mr. F.O. Blount, Mr. William A. Connor, Mr. A.D. Dawson, Mr. G.A. Farmer, Mr. John Gaston, Ms. Susie Harris, Ms. Abbie Holloway, Ms. Lucy Dawson, Mr. Patrick Leach, Mr. A.J.C. Moore, Mr. L.H. Peacock, Mr. Edmund Poole, Ms. Mary Stephens, Mr. Hardy Tate, Mr. S.H. Vick, Mr. Daniel Vick, Mr. B.R. Winstead, and Mr. J.J. White.

Calvary occupied a unique position among the churches of the community in that it was the only “colored” Presbyterian church. It differed in its polity, doctrine, discipline, and order of worship.

The first two structures of Calvary Presbyterian Church fronted East Green Street; however, the present edifice is situated on Pender Street on the former Celia Norwood property which the Reverend O.J. Hawkins persuaded the session to purchase in 1957. The original church building, a wooden structure, was completed in 1893. Mr. Gray A. Farmer was the architect and builder who also constructed the altar and pews. These were the first pews that were used in the second church building. Other helpers were Mr. William Cannon, Mr. B.R. Winstead, and Mr. Sam Vick, Sr.

In 1924, the first structure was replaced with  brick building. Mr. O.N. Freeman was architect and builder. Mr. Benjamin Harris, Sr., was one of the brick masons. Mr. E.L. Joyner was the plasterer and continued to serve as such.

This building served the growing congregation until its doors were closed after the celebration of the Lord’s Supper on October 6, 1968. The idea and plans for the new structure began in 1961; however, later plans came to fruition with groundbreaking ceremonies being held on October 15, 1970, for the present sanctuary.

When the doors were closed in 1968, the congregation graciously accepted the kind invitation from St. Mark’s Episcopal Church to worship in their facility. It was truly a blessing from God, for their services were held at an earlier hour, making their church available for our regular eleven o’clock services. For the next few years, St. Mark’s was Calvary’s home away from home.

For the third time in the life of Calvary, the leaders and builders began their planning. In June, 1969, a Building Fund Campaign was launched. On Sunday, October 15, 1970, a Groundbreaking Ceremony was held. And, on December 12, 1971, Calvary’s Current church was completed and occupied, with the help of Calvary’s beloved builders: Mr. John H. Hagans, Mr. Benjamin Harris, Jr., Mr. Paul Jenkins, and Mr. Eddie Lee Joyner.

Others serving on key committees were Dr. Frank N. Sullivan, Mrs. Connie Banks, Mr. Carl Hines, Mr. Elmer J. Cummings, Mrs. Flossie Barnes, Mr. James E. Farmer, Jr., Mrs. Grace Johnson, Mrs. Betty Lucas Grissett, Dr. J.F. Cowan, and Mr. William Hines.

On Sunday, January 30, 1972, a Service of Dedication was held in Calvary’s new sanctuary. It was truly a time to rejoice, for a long-awaited dream had come true.

——

  • S.H. Vick — Samuel H. Vick (1863-1948).
  • G.A. Farmer — Gray A. Farmer (1853-1893).
  • William Cannon
  • W.B. Winstead
  • Mahalia Artis (1830-bef. 1910).
  • Hattie Barnes
  • Lillie Barnes
  • F.O. Blount — Frank Oscar Blount (1860-??).
  • William A. Connor (ca. 1830-1895)
  • A.D. Dawson — Alexander D. Dawson (ca. 1860-??).
  • John Gaston — John A. Gaston (1858-1930).
  • Susie Harris (1867-??).
  • Abbie Holloway — Abigail Holloway McLeod (1869-1925).
  • Lucy Dawson — Lucy Hill Dawson (1860-1917).
  • Patrick Leach — Patrick Leach Jr. (1871-??).
  • A.J.C. Moore — Andrew J.C. Moore (1861-??).
  • L.H. Peacock — Levi H. Peacock (1858-1934).
  • Edmund Poole (1846-??).
  • Mary Stephens (ca. 1856-??)
  • Hardy Tate (1854-1938).
  • Daniel Vick ().
  • B.R. Winstead — Braswell R. Winstead (1866-1926).
  • J.J. White
  • Celia Norwood — Cecilia Hill Norwood (1879-1944).
  • O.J. Hawkins — Obra Jeffrey Hawkins (1905-1982).
  • O.N. Freeman — Oliver Nestus Freeman (1882-1955).
  • Benjamin Harris Sr. — Benjamin Amos Harris Sr. (1896-1955).
  • John H. Hagans — John Hubert Hagans Jr. (1929-1988).
  • Benjamin Harris Jr. — Benjamin Amos Harris Jr. (1935-1981).
  • Paul Jenkins — Paul Raymond Jenkins (1919-1982).
  • Eddie Lee Joyner (1895-1989).
  • Frank N. Sullivan — Frank Noble Sullivan Sr. (1926-1984).
  • Connie Banks — Connie Freeman Banks (1915-2006).
  • Carl Hines — Carl Wendell Hines Sr. (1914-1985).
  • Elmer J. Cummings — Elmer Jerome Cummings Sr. (1930-2013).
  • Flossie Barnes — Flossie Howard Barnes (1905-1993).
  • James E. Farmer Jr. — James Edward Farmer Jr. (1934).
  • Grace Johnson — Grace McNeil Johnson (1913-2007).
  • Betty Lucas Grissett (1940).
  • J.F. Cowan — Joseph Franklin Cowan (1898-1985).
  • William Hines (1883-1981).

Text courtesy of Adventures in Faith: The Church at Prayer, Study and Service, the 100th anniversary commemorative booklet of Calvary Presbyterian Church.

Emancipation Day. (Happy New Year!)

For decades after Freedom, African-Americans celebrated Emancipation Day — January 1 — with speeches, performances and communal meals. This torn New York Age article, published 4 January 1912, records the New Year’s Day observations of Wilson’s Non-Formal Club, which apparently catered to the city’s tiny black educated class.

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Festivities included:

[Charleston, South Carolina, still proudly carries on the tradition of Emancipation Day observations. For a fascinating account of the city’s celebrations, see https://charlestontimemachine.org/2017/12/28/emancipation-day-2018/ ]

Lay leaders of Calvary Presbyterian.

Lay leaders with Rev. O.E. Sanders, late 1930s.

First row:

  • Martha Spells — Martha A. Gordon Spell (1874-1966).
  • Sabrina Cobb — Sobrina Robinson Cobb (1874-1954).
  • Lucy Thompson — Lucy A. Thompson died 24 July 1946 at her home at 310 Singletary Street, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 71 years old; single; a school teacher; was born in Wilson County to Ennis Thompson of Greene County and Hellen A. Ruffin of Louisburg, North Carolina. Virginia D. Humphrey was informant.
  • Rev. Otto Eugene Sanders was pastor of Calvary from 1935-1939.
  • Betty Cannon — Bettie E. Cannon (1879-1963).
  • Sally Phillips — probably, in the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Sallie A. Phillips, 71, widow, renter in the household of renters at 608 East Green Street.
  • Pauline Coley — Pauline McQueen Coley (1896-1990).

Second row:

  • Rosa F. McCollum — Rosa Lee McCollum died 25 April 1947 at her home at 418 North Vick Street, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 17 September 1884 in Wilson County to Gray and Argent Farmer. Elva McCollum was informant.
  • Elna F. Hooker — Eleanor Juania Hooker died 17 October 1944 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 6 November 1877 in Wilson to Gray and Argent Blount Farmer; was a school teacher; resided at 708 East Green Street; and was a widow [of Frank Hooker]. Gray Hooker was informant.
  • Flossie Barnes — Flossie Howard Barnes (1905-1993).
  • Ethel C. Hines — Ethel Cornwell Hines (1894-1983).
  • Olivia P. Norman
  • Beulah Mack — In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: cobbler James Mack, 36, and wife Beulah, 35, at 206 Reid. Beulah Mack died 28 December 1953 in Salisbury, Rowan County, North Carolina. Per her death certificate, she was born 7 September 1895 in Rowan County to Napoleon Brian and Laura Watson; resided at 206 North Reid Street; and was married. Informant was Henry Mack, Salisbury.
  • Ruth H. Coppedge — Ruth Hooker Coppedge died 26 May 1945 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born about 1904 in Wilson County to Frank Richard Hooker of Greene County and Eleanor Farmer of Wilson; resided at 200 South Vick: was a schoolteacher; and was married to George Coppedge.
  • Eliza F. Norwood — perhaps, in the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: tobacco factory laborer Egar Ricks, 49; wife Lydia, 62; and daughter Eliza Norwood, 39.

Third row:

  • Christine M. Armstrong — Christine McDaniel Armstrong (1912-1999).
  • Inez Hooker — Inez Argent Hooker (1913-) was the daughter of Frank and Eleanor Farmer Hooker.
  • Maggie Crawford — Magelene Barnes Crawford died 20 March 1971 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 2 August 1893 in Wilson to Short and Frances Woodard Barnes; was a retired music teacher; was a widow [of Clarence A. Crawford]; and resided at 616 East Green Street. Vertist C. Edwards of Tacoma, Washington, was informant.
  • Sophia Dawson — is this Sophia Dawson Artis (1889-??), daughter of Alexander D. and Lucy Hill Dawson and wife of Jesse Artis?
  • Ximena P. Martinez — Ximena Pitt Martinez died 21 December 1973 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 12 August 1896 to Violet Pitt; was a widow [of Ramon Martinez]; was a retired teacher; and resided at 903 East Vance Street. Informant was Evelyn P. Stoney, Brooklyn, New York.

This singular photograph comes courtesy of Adventures in Faith: The Church at Prayer, Study and Service, the 100th anniversary commemorative booklet of Calvary Presbyterian Church.

1115 East Nash Street.

The forty-seventh in a series of posts highlighting buildings in East Wilson Historic District, a national historic district located in Wilson, North Carolina. As originally approved, the district encompasses 858 contributing buildings and two contributing structures in a historically African-American section of Wilson. (A significant number have since been lost.) The district was developed between about 1890 to 1940 and includes notable examples of Queen Anne, Bungalow/American Craftsman, and Shotgun-style architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

As described in the nomination form for the East Wilson Historic District: “ca. 1930; 1 1/2 stories; Dr. Joseph F. Cowan house; bungalow with gable roof; shed dormer; half-timber decoration in porch gable; stone-veneer first floor; builder was Nestus Freeman; early occupant was black physician Cowan; contributing garage.”

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: medical doctor Joseph Cowan, 42; wife Annie, 35, receptionist in doctor’s office; and son Joseph Jr., 12; plus Julia Green, 59. Cowan was a native of Abbeville, South Carolina.

In 1942, John Franklin Cowan registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his draft registration card, he lived at 1115 East Nash Street; was born 27 September 1898 in Abbeville, South Carolina; was a self-employed medical doctor; and his contact person was Edward Cowan, Abbeville.

Photograph by Lisa Y. Henderson, December 2017.