Like hundreds of others, Annie Mae Lewis likely came to Wilson during the Depression to seek work in the tobacco factories. She fell sick though, far from her family, and died in the winter of 1934.
Registrar Kate C. Daniels’ note on Lewis’ death certificate: “This girl came here from S.C. & the welfare dept got this woman at 313 Manchester St to take care of her.”
William Artis was killed by a falling tree while working “on the roads” somewhere near the current intersection of Lamm Road and Raleigh Road/U.S. Highway 264 Alternate between Wilson and Sims. After an inquest held at Charles H. Darden‘s funeral parlor, a coroner’s jury pronounced Artis’ death accidental. I have not found his death certificate.
Wilson Daily Times, 10 February 1931.
Six days after his death, the family of barber Levi H. Jones published a note of thanks in the Wilson Daily Times.
Wilson Daily Times, 7 March 1961.
A day later, Jones’ niece and administratrix Ruth Jones Plater Brown published a notice of sale of his personal property, which included a piano, furniture, a gas stove, and a 1950 Dodge.
Wilson Daily Times, 8 March 1961.
Mary Susan “Sue” Hall Woodard passed away on 5 May 2020, her 97th birthday. She was born near Stantonsburg to Robert and Katie Farmer Hall. In her honor, I offer this brief look at her deep-rooted Wilson County family lines.
Hall
William Henry Hall‘s family is discussed in detail here and here.
In the 1900 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farm laborer William H. Hall, 49; son James, 18; daughter Mary S., 16; and son Robert, 13.
In the 1910 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: on Main Street, Robert Hall, 24, railroad section hand; wife Katy, 20; son Earnest, 1; sister-in-law Leona Farmer, 7; and father William Hall, 60, widower.
In 1917, Robert Hall registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 18 July 1886 in Stantonsburg; was a farmer for J.C. Stanton in Stantonsburg; and was married with three children.
In the 1920 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: tenant farmer Robert Hall, 33; wife Katie, 29; and children Earnest, 11, William H., 5, Lorenzie, 3, and Robert, 2.
William Henry Hall died 23 June 1925 in Saratoga township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 15 August 1846 in Wayne County to Exaline Hunt; was married to Lucy Hall; and was buried in Bethel cemetery.
In the 1930 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Robert Hall, 43; wife Katie, 40; and children Ernest, 21, William, 15, Rennie, 13, Robert Jr., 11, Louis, 10, Mary S., 6, John L., 4, and Curtis, 1 month; and daughter-in-law Arneta [Ometa], 20.
In the 1940 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Robert Hall, 50; wife Katie, 50; and children Sue, 16, John Lee, 14, Curtis, 10, James, 6, and grandchildren Ruth, 8, and Edgar C., 5.
Barnes
On 30 March 1871, William Hall, son of James Woodard and Elizar Woodard [actually, Hall], married Lucey Barnes, daughter of Levey Barnes and A. Barnes, in Wilson County.
Farmer
Ned Farmer and Jane Bynum registered their seven-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace in 1866.
Ned Farmer apparently died between 1866 and 1870.
In the 1870 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Isaac Winstead, 52; wife Jane, 35; and children Edith, 10, Robert, 7, Amanda, 3, and Aneliza, 1. [Edith and Robert’s last name was, in fact, Farmer; they were Jane’s children from a previous marriage.]
In the 1880 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Isaac Winstead, 60; wife Jane; children Manda, 14, Ann, 12, Charlie, 10, Major, 7, Lucy, 4, and Levi, 1; stepchildren Ada [Edith] Best, 20, and Rob Farmer, 17; and grandchildren Sam, 3, and Mary Best, 1.
On 9 March 1882, Robert Farmer, 19, married Marinda Bynum, 18, in the Town of Stantonsburg. Scott Bynum, Ben Thompson, and George Culis were witnesses to the ceremony.
Marenda Bynum Farmer died before 1908.
On 8 January 1908, Robert Hall, 21, of Stantonsburg, son of Bill Hall and Lucy Hall, married Katie Farmer, 20, of Stantonsburg, daughter of Robert Farmer and Renie Farmer, at the home of Nealy Barnes in Stantonsburg, Wilson County. Witnesses were George Farmer, Nealy Barnes, and Susan Farmer.
Bynum
Lewis Bynum and Delia Bynum registered their cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace on 31 August 1866.
In the 1870 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farm laborer Lewis Bynum, 30; wife Adelia, 29; and children George, 10, Ada, 9, Scott, 7, Penny, 6, Pet, 4, Isabella, 2, and Charles, 8 months; also, Obedience Applewhite, 63.
Adelia Bynum died before 1877.
On 9 August 1877, Lewis Bynum, 40, married Jane Bynum, 40, in Saratoga township, Wilson County.
In the 1880 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: carpenter Lewis Bynum, 50; wife Jane, 47; children Renny, 15, Scott, 17, Pet, 14, Belle, 12, Charley, 10, and Tedy, 8; and granddaughter Nella, 2 months.
Lewis Bynum died between 1880 and 1900.
Rest in peace, Sue Hall Woodard.
Many thanks to the Hall family for sharing photographs.
Wilson Daily Times, 21 May 1958.
Builder John Mack Barnes‘ property included 500 East Green Street and 118 North Pender Street.
Wilson Daily Times, 28 May 1921.
Alfred Robinson was a boarder in Samuel H. Vick‘s house at 622 East Green Street. Short Barnes did not live across the street, but three doors down from Vick at 616.
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 502 Grace, James Austin, 34, tobacco company laborer; wife , 28, tobacco factory worker; son James Jr., 3; and roomer George Jenkins, 24, tobacco factory worker.
Though they got his name wrong, the Daily Times ran this article on the funeral of Charles Henry Darden.
Wilson Daily Times, 30 March 1931.
Ann Barnes probably died of kidney disease, but “She thought she was tricked.”
