Month: January 2019

918 Washington Street.

The ninety-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, this building is: “ca. 1930; 1 1/2 stories; bungalow with gable roof; engaged porch; asphalt veneer; built by carpenter Alonzo Coley.”

In the 1922 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Barefoot Linwood propr Barefoot Pressing Wks h 918 Washington

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Barefoot Lenwood (c; Bertha) tailor h 918 Washington

In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Barefoot Lenwood (c; Bertha) tailor Service Cleaning Wks h 918 Washington

William Alvis Barefoot died 22 February 1930 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 7 years old; was born in Wilson to Lenwood Barefoot and Bertha Moore, both of Wilson; lived at 918 Washington Avenue; and went to school.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 918 Washington Street, owned and valued at $6000, tailor Lenwood Barfoot, 33; wife Bertha, 32; and sons John L., 8, Stanley B., 5, Noris H., 4, Henry V., 2, and Kertise, 6 months.

In the 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Fisher Alonzo (c) porter h 918 Washington

In 1942, Alonza Garfield Fisher Jr. registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 3 May 1903 in Lenoir County, North Carolina; resided at 918 Washington, Wilson; his telephone number was 3820-1; his contact was Louis H. Fisher, Kinston, North Carolina; and he worked for the government in Railway Mail Services.

Notices of sheriff’s sale for 918 Washington appeared in the Wilson Daily Times in January and February 1946:

Wilson Daily Times, 5 February 1946.

However, when Alonza G. Fisher Sr. died 13 August 1948, he was still living at the address. Per his death certificate, he was born 15 March 1883 in Lenoir County to James Fisher and Martha Jones; was the widower of Lanie Fisher; and had worked as a laborer. Alonzo G. Fisher, Jr., 918 Washington, was informant.

Alonza Garfield Fisher Jr. died 15 September 1949 at his home at 918 Washington Street. Per his death certificate, he was born 8 May 1903 in Lenoir County, North Carolina, to Alonza G. Fisher Sr. and Mollie Carr; was married; and worked as a railway mail clerk. Lewis Henry Fisher of Kinston was informant.

Photograph by Lisa Y. Henderson, October 2018.

The obituary of Harry H. Bryant.

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Wilson Daily Times, 1 June 1946.

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In the 1880 census of Smithfield, Johnston County, North Carolina: laborer Nestus Bryant, 48; wife Annie, 38; children Alice, 17, Arthur, 15, Thedo, 10, Harry, 6, John, 4, and Baby, 5 months; and mother Penny, 80.

Harry Bryant, 21, of Wilson, son of Nestus and Ann Bryant, married Julia Suggs, 20, of Wilson, daughter of Washington and Easter Suggs, on 26 September 1895 at the Methodist church, Wilson. Richard Renfrow applied for the license, and Presbyterian minister L.J. Melton performed the ceremony in the presence of Mattie Harris, L.A. Moore and Lovet Freeman.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farm laborer Harry Bryant, 34; wife Julia, 34; and sons Leonard, 14, and Leroy, 4.

In 1918, Harry Haywood Bryant registered for the World War I draft in Wilson. Per his draft registration card, he was born 23 January 1873; lived at 132 Sugg Street; was married to Julia Bryant; and worked as a carpenter for Boyle-Robertson Company in Newport News, Virginia.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Suggs Street, Harry Bryant, 44, carpenter for construction company, and wife Julia, 41.

Julia Bryant died 27 January 1929 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 23 September 1874 in Wilson to Washington Sugg and Easter Best of Greene County; was married to Harry Bryant; and resided at 618 Sugg Street.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 619 Suggs Street, meat market butcher Henry Bryant, 58; son Leon, 33; daughter-in-law Alice, 32; and granddaughter Christine, 9.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 619 Suggs Street, tobacco factory laborer Leon Bryant, 42; wife Alice, 42, tobacco factory laborer; daughter Christine, 19; and father Harry H., 68, widower and tobacco factory laborer.

Harry Bryant died 26 May 1946 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 23 July 1873 in Smithfield, North Carolina, to Nestus Bryant and Annie Bryant of Johnston County; he resided at 653 Suggs Street, Wilson; he was the widower of Julia Bryant; he had worked as a laborer; and he was buried in the Masonic cemetery. Leon Suggs was informant.

 

1202 Carolina Street.

The ninety-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, this building is: “ca. 1930; 1-story; bungalow; gable-end form with entry porch.”

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Mercer Leroy (c; Mattie) driver h1202 Carolina

In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Barnes Matthew M (c; Ossie M) carp h1202 Carolina

Circa 1940, Maxie Gause registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 30 October 1908 in Marion, South Carolina; his contact was mother Rosa McDaniel Gause, 1202 Carolina Street; and he worked for R.P. Watson Tobacco Company, Wilson.

In 1940, Edward Gause registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 1 May 1917 in Mullins, South Carolina; his contact was mother Rosie Gause, 1202 Carolina Street; and he worked for E.J. O’Brien Tobacco Company, Goldsboro Street, Wilson.

In 1940, Russell Gause registered for the World War II draft in Washington, D.C. Per his registration card, he was born 8 August 1910 in Pillin, South Carolina; he resided at 418 Eighth Street, S.E., Washington (crossed out, then 1202 Carolina Street, Wilson, also crossed out); his contact was mother Rosa Gause, 1202 Carolina Street; and he worked for Highway Engineering Company, Washington, D.C.

In 1940, William Gause registered for the World War I draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 2 October 1919 in Mullins, South Carolina; his contact was mother Rosa Gause, 1202 Carolina Street; and he worked for Watson Tobacco Company, Wilson.

In the 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory there are listings at 1202 Carolina for six members of the Gause family: Edward Jr. (laborer), Mack (farmer), Rosa, Russell (laborer), William (laborer) and Wilson (laborer).

Photograph by Lisa Y. Henderson, October 2018.

Benefit for Mercy Hospital.

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“All receipts given to colored hospital,” Wilson Daily Times, 11 April 1930.

This advertisement touts a midnight variety show and movie screening to benefit Mercy Hospital. The institution, in continuous financial straits, had recently been sold at auction to businessman Wade H. Gardner.

Though the ad is not explicit, it seems to be directed at a white audience. James Edward Andrews, Carl S. Hinnant (described in the 1930 federal census of Wilson as an orchestra musician), Sidney Willoughby and Lester Rose were local white men, and a “black face comedy act” would not have had primary appeal to an African-American audience.

 

The obituary of Handy Earle.

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Wilson Daily Times, 23 January 1935.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Nash Road, Albert Earl, 55; wife Katie, 43; and children Benjamin E., 13, James L., 8, and Handy, 4; and brother Alfred, 55.

In the 1920 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Earl Handy, lab h 27 Carolina

Handy Earles died 21 January 1935 at Mercy Hospital. Per her death certificate, he was born 28 December 1906 in Wilson to Albert Earles and Cattie Battle, both of Edgecombe County; resided at 809 East Nash Street; and worked as an orderly at Moore-Herring Hospital. Mamie Taylor was informant.

 

Where we worked, 1922 — M.

City directories offer fine-grained looks at a city’s residents at short intervals. The 1922 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., directory reveals the types of work available to African-Americans during the booming tobacco era. This post is the twelfth in an alphabetical series listing all “colored” directory entries for whom an occupation was listed. The address is the resident’s home, unless a business address is noted.

  • Mack, Luther, chauffeur, 912 Washington
  • Magette, Oscar, tobacco worker, 713 Stantonsburg Road
  • Malloy, Vance, fireman, 612 Darden Alley
  • Marable, Oliver, gardener, 707 Robinson [Roberson]
  • Marshall, Annie, cook, 507 West Hines
  • Martin, George, electrician, 112 South Reid
  • Martin, James H., porter, 112 South Reid
  • Mason, Melvin, tobacco worker, 110 Manchester
  • Mathay, Maggie, domestic, 406 Maury
  • Mayfield, Ella, tobacco worker, 518 East Nash
  • Mayfield, James, tobacco worker, 518 East Nash
  • Mayflower The, barbers, 109 East Nash, Levi Jones proprietor
  • Melton, Mollie, domestic, 900 Mercer
  • Mercer, Annie, domestic, 104 Manchester
  • Mercer, Caroline, tobacco worker, 300 Stantonsburg Road
  • Mercer, Delia, domestic, 104 Manchester
  • Mercer, Isaac, tobacco worker, 314 Hackney
  • Mercer, LeRoy, driver, 404 Reed [Reid]
  • Mercy, Sarah, tobacco worker, 601 South Spring
  • Merrick, Lee, painter, 527 Church
  • Merrick, Lula, domestic, 527 Church
  • Merritt, Lula, laundress, 201 Stantonsburg Road
  • Mincey, John, tobacco worker, 500 Stantonsburg Road
  • Mincey, Olivia, domestic, 500 Stantonsburg Road
  • Mincheau, Mattie, domestic, 650 Wiggins
  • Mincheau, William, laborer, 650 Wiggins
  • Mitchell, Albert, tobacco worker, 540 East Nash
  • Mitchell, David, mill hand, 408 Whitley
  • Mitchell, Ella, laundress, 310 Mercer
  • Mitchell, Ernest, chauffeur, 501 Warren
  • Mitchell, Eva, dressmaker, 540 East Nash
  • Mitchell, Floyd, butler, 511 Warren
  • Mitchell, Floyd, carpenter, 540 East Nash
  • Mitchell, Judge, laborer, 116 Manchester
  • Mitchell, Lester, student, 540 East Nash
  • Mitchell, Lizzie, laundress, 501 Warren
  • Mitchell, Lucy, laundress, 511 Warren
  • Mitchell, Severine, student, 540 East Nash
  • Mitchell, Walter, laborer, 602 East Green
  • Mitchner, William A., physician 557 East Nash (2nd floor), 533 East Nash
  • Monroe, C.H., barber Five Points Settlement, Pender
  • Moore, Aleck F., barber, 314 Stantonsburg Road
  • Moore, Andrew, porter, 520 Church
  • Moore, Andrew J.C., grocer, 713 South Goldsboro
  • Moore, Ellen, domestic, 610 South Lodge
  • Moore, Emma, domestic, 640 Wiggins
  • Moore, Henry, tobacco worker, 606 Railroad
  • Moore, James, porter, 520 Church
  • Moore, John, farmer, 520 Church
  • Moore, Lelia, tobacco worker, 306 Pender
  • Moore, Lee A., insurance, 803 East Nash
  • Moore, Mary, domestic, 204 West Lee
  • Moore, Mary, laundress, 314 Stantonsburg Road
  • Moore, Mattie, domestic, 520 Church
  • Moore, Mattie E., cook, 702 South Lodge
  • Moore, May, tobacco worker, 606 Railroad
  • Moore, Pearl, hair dresser, 709 Suggs
  • Moore, Samuel, porter, 640 Wiggins
  • Moore, Sidney, laborer, 606 Railroad
  • Moore, Thomas, laborer, 606 Railroad
  • Morning, Della, cook, 516 Banks
  • Morning, Fannie, domestic, 516 Banks
  • Morris, Archie, barber, 607 East Green
  • Morrison, Lula, domestic, 501 South Railroad
  • Moses, Alice, laundress, 105 Manchester
  • Moses, Frank, laborer, 614 Railroad
  • Moses, Minnie, cook, 614 Railroad
  • Moss, Gertrude, domestic, 614 East Green
  • Moss, Walter, carpenter, 614 East Green
  • Mount Zion Holiness Church, Lodge near Walnut, Rev. J.G. Branch pastor
  • Murphy, Bethel, laborer, 317 South Goldsboro
  • Murphy, George, laborer, 214 South East
  • Murphy, Lucinda, laundress, 214 South East
  • Murray, Ella, domestic, 604 Park

Snaps, no. 50: Susan Locus Simms Ellis.

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Susan Locus Simms Ellis (1890-1980).

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In the 1900 census of Taylor township, Wilson County: Johnnie Lucus, 43; wife Delpha, 51; children Kinion, 26, Nannie, 24, Edwin, 15, Sidney, 12, and Susan, 9; and grandsons Bunion, 5, and Martin L., 3.

In the 1910 census of Taylor township, Wilson County: on Howards Path, John Locust, 66; wife Delphia, 64; children Kinyan, 36, and Susie, 19; and grandchildren Bunyan, 15, Luther M., 13, and Roxie, 7 months.

On 15 May 1913, Loyd Simms, 21, of Taylors township, son of Lou Simms, married Susan Locus, 22, of Taylors, daughter of John and Delphia Locus, at the Register of Deeds office in Wilson.

In the 1920 census of Jackson township, Nash County: on Stanhope & Wilson Road, farmer Lloyd Sims, 28, and wife Susie, 27.

On 1 December 1924, Roxie Ann Lucas, 18, daughter of Susie Sims Lucas, married Asberry Blackwell, 28, son of Howard and Classy Blackwell, in Nashville, Nash County.

In the 1930 census of Jackson township, Nash County: Turner Deans, 45, wife Nannie, 52; sister-in-law Susie Simms; and nieces Gatsey Dean, 20, and Alphia Dean, 1.

Roxie Ann Blackwell died 3 September 1959 at Mercy Hospital in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 10 September 1910 in Wilson County to Frank Mitchell and Susie Lucas; was married to Ashbury Blackwell; had engaged in farming; and was buried in the Lucas cemetery in Wilson County.

Susie Locus Ellis died 20 August 1980 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 4 July 1890 in Wilson County to John and Delphia Lucas; was a widow; had engaged in farming; and was buried in the Lucas cemetery in Wilson County. Grandson Kenneth Blackwell was informant.

Photograph courtesy of samjoyatk.

 

$50 reward for runaway Willie.

On 5 February 1853, E.D. Hall, sheriff of New Hanover County, North Carolina, placed an ad in the Wilmington Daily Journal. His office had “taken up and committed” to jail a runaway enslaved man named Wiley. Wiley, who was about 24 years old, told the sheriff he belonged to a woman named Cynthia A. Ellis and had been leased to a Dr. Dortch of Stantonsburg. As was customary, Hall’s ad served notice for Ellis to make arrangements (including paying fees) to take him or he would be sold at auction.

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Three and a half years later, Wilson’s Southern Sentinel newspaper printed this ad:

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Southern Sentinel, 17 October 1856.

Was 30 year-old Willie the same man as Wiley? “Wiley” was often spelled the same way as “Willie” in that era, so it would seem so. Having apparently been returned to Wilson County, Willie had run away again in February 1856. The ad is rich with detail. Willie was a “bright mulatto” (this generally meant white-looking, or nearly so); he wore his hair in long plaits; he was a cooper (a builder of staved wooden vessels like barrels and buckets) by trade; he had a wife in Georgetown District, South Carolina (sold away from Wilson County? or met while he was a runaway?); and he refused to look slaveholders in the eye. He was thought to be hiding near the farms of William Ellis or his son Jonathan Ellis near Stantonsburg, as he had relatives in the area.

A month later, Willie was still missing.

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Southern Sentinel, 15 November 1856.

Images courtesy of the N.C. Runaway Slave Advertisements project, which “makes available some 2400 advertisements that appeared in North Carolina newspapers between 1751 and 1840. A collaboration between The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG)  and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T), the project builds on the work of Freddie L. Parker (Stealing a Little Freedom: Advertisements for Slave Runaways in North Carolina, 1791-1840) and Lathan Windley (Runaway Slave Advertisements)and presents digital images of the advertisements alongside full-text transcripts and additional metadata to facilitate search and discovery.”

“He lived a fine Christian life” — the obituary of Rev. John A. Barnes.

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Wilson Daily Times, 22 July 1944.

In the 1880 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Wade Barnes, 33; wife Adline, 25; children John, 6, Willis, 3, and Varina, 1; and Dury Simons, 60.

On 23 November 1894, John A. Barnes, 21, of Wilson County, married Sarah Jane Staten, 23, of Wilson County, at Margarett Staten‘s in Wilson. Witnesses were Aaron Sharp, William Weaver and George Weaver.

In the 1900 census of Gardners township, Wilson County:  day laborer Johnny Barnes, 25; wife Sarah, 29; and children Victoria, 10, Robert, 8, Ella, 2, and Johnny, 8 months.

In the 1910 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: John Barnes, 36, church preacher; wife Sarah, 38, dressmaker; and children Robert, 16, Mary E., 12, John E., 11, Wade, 8, Rosa L., 4, and Frank, 3.

In the 1920 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: on Lipscomb Road, farmer John A. Barnes, 44; wife Sarah J., 45; and children Ella M., 22, John, 20, Wade, 17, Rosa L., 15, Frank, 12, Willie C., 10, Bessie M.C., 8, Roy L., 7, and Elson, 6. John Jr. and Wade worked as wagon factory laborers.

In the 1930 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: at 739 Lipscomb, owned and valued at $2000, farmer John A. Barnes, 55; wife Sarah, 55; aunt Lucy Bynum, 65; and son Frank W., 23, cook at cafe.

Mary Ella Barnes died 24 March 1934 at Mercy Hospital. Per her death certificate, she was born 1 July 1897 in Wilson County to John Allen Barnes of Wilson County and Sarah Jane Staton of Tarboro; was single; worked as a laundress; and resided at 403 Viola Street.

In the 1940 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: at 739 Lipscomb Road, garden worker John A. Barnes, 65; wife Sarah J., 71; son John A., Jr., body work-Hackney Bus Bodies; daughter-in-law Emma, 35, laundry; son Wade, 36; grandson James D., 17; and grandchildren George, 15, Odell, 13, and Margaret McAllister, 10, and Inez Tart, 9.

John Allen Barnes died 20 July 1944 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 25 January 1879 in Wilson County to Wade Barnes and Adeline Bynum; was married to Sarah Jane Barnes; lived at 739 Lipton [Lipscomb] Street; and was a preacher.