Month: May 2022

M.H. Wilson defaults on five lots.

In February and March 1938, trustee D.M. Hill ran a notice of sale of real estate for five large parcels of land that carpenter-contractor Mansfield H. Wilson owned on Pender, Church, and Smith Streets. Wilson had defaulted on loans taken out in 1926.

The first lot was 116 North Pender Street, which Wilson had purchased from E.F. Nadal and wife in 1906.

The second lot bordered O.L.W. Smith; Wilson had bought it from D.C. Suggs and wife in 1906. The one-third acre lot contained houses numbered 521, 523, and 525 Church Street.

The third lot had been cobbled together from several purchases made between 1907 and 1924 and included 121 and 123 North Pender and 529, 531, 533, and 535 Smith Street.

Wilson had bought the fourth lot, bordering Charles Knight, from William and Ethel Hines in 1920.

O.L.W. Smith and wife sold Wilson the fifth lot, 201 North Pender, in 1920.

Wilson Daily Times, 14 March 1938.

Virginia-born Mansfield Wilson arrived in Wilson before 1908, but was far away before the trustee called in his debt. By 1934, he was well enough established in California to register to vote in Los Angeles.

California Voter Registrations, 1900-1968, http://www.ancestry.com

In April 1935, however, Mansfield H. Wilson died at the Richmond, Virginia, home of his son Samuel H. Wilson. Three years later, during the depths of the Great Depression, Wilson’s creditors called in their loans and forced the sales of his properties.

In this detail from the 1922 Sanborn fire insurance map of Wilson, asterisks mark nine of Mansfield H. Wilson’s properties.

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In the 1880 census of Powellton township, Brunswick County, Virginia: farmer Henry Lewis, 33; wife Matilda, 38; and children Edward, 10, Catharine, 6, Louisa, 4, and John H., 6 months; plus step-children Mansfield, 21, and Mary Wilson, 17.

On 10 September 1890, Mansfield H. Wilson, 30, born in Brunswick County, Virginia, to William and Matilda Wilson, married Maggie J. Richards, 24, born in Fredericksburg, Virginia, in Richmond, Virginia.

In the 1900 census of Tarboro township, Edgecombe County, North Carolina: carpenter Mansfield Wilson, 39; wife Maggie, 32; children Gertrude, 6, Samuel, 3, and Mansfield, 1; and sister-in-law Lucy Richards, 30, dressmaker.

In the 1908 Hill’s Wilson, N.C, city directory: Wilson Mansfield H (c) carp h 126 Pender

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farmer Mansfield H. Wilson, 49; wife Maggie, 43; son Samuel, 15; sister-in-law Lucy Richard, 45; and servants John M. Madderson, 14, and William Dew, 21.

In the 1912 Hill’s Wilson, N.C, city directory: Wilson Mansfield H (c) carp h 126 Pender

Maggie J. Wilson died 30 June 1914 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 29 February 1865 in Virginia to Henry Richards and Annie R. Crozier; and was buried in Tarboro, N.C. M.H. Wilson was informant.

In the 1916 Hill’s Wilson, N.C, city directory: Wilson Mansfield H (c) carp contr h 126 Pender

In 1918, Samuel H. Wilson registered for the World War I draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 5 September 1897 in Edgecombe County, N.C.; his father was born in Brunswick County, Virginia; he lived at 126 Pender Street; and worked for Mansfield Wilson, who was his nearest relative.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 126 Pender Street, Virginia-born house contractor Mansfield H. Wilson, 60; son Samuel H., 20; and sister-in-law Lucy Richards, 40.

In the 1920 Hill’s Wilson, N.C, city directory: Wilson Mansfield H (c) carp contr h 126 Pender

In the 1922 Hill’s Wilson, N.C, city directory: Wilson Mansfield H (c) carp h 123 Pender

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 123 Pender Street, owned and valued at $2000, Virginia-born carpenter Mansfield Wilson, 50, widower; son Samual, 30, insurance company agent; daughter-in-law Sarah, 24, public school teacher; granddaughter Audrey, 3; and sister-in-law Lucey Richard, 50.

Mansfield Harrison Wilson died 25 April 1935 in Richmond, Virginia. Per his death certificate, he was about 70 years old; was born in Brunswick County, Virginia, to Henry Wilson and Harriett [maiden name unknown]; was a carpenter; lived at 1271 East 33rd Street, Los Angeles, California; and was buried in East End Cemetery, Richmond. Samuel H. Wilson was the informant.

Samuel Henry Wilson, 41, born in Wilson, son of Mansfield Wilson and Maggie Richards, married Janie Thomas Williams, 32, born in Richmond, Virginia, daughter of Roland Williams and Eliza Ricks, on 18 November 1938 in Richmond, Virginia.

Mary Matthewson Meachem died 22 February 1948 in Tarboro, Edgecombe County. Per her death certificate, she was born 12 July 1876 in Brunswick County, Virginia, to Mansfield Wilson and Mildia Dunn; was the widow of A.B. Meachem; and was buried in Community Cemetery, Princeville, North Carolina. William Matthewson, Norfolk, Virginia, was informant.

News of Seaman Christian.

Wilson Daily Times, 20 August 1945.

Seaman 1st Class Charles Christian was stationed in the Southwest Pacific in 1945.

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In the 1930 census of South Union township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania: on Leith Road, Geraldine Christian, 28, born in Virginia, housework; son Charles, 13, born in West Virginia; sister-in-law Carrie, 21, born in West Virginia; and parents Alan Sowers, 43, coal miner, born in West Virginia, and Helen Sowers, 42, born in Virginia.

Charles Christian, 24, married Ada Odell Harris, 26, on 6 March 1940 in Wilson.

In October 1940, Charles Wesley Christian registered for the World War II draft in Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina. Per his registration card, he was born 15 July 1915 in Grant Town, West Virginia; lived at 816 East 4th Street, Winston-Salem; his contact was wife Ada Odelle Christian; and he worked for R.J. Reynolds.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 304 Reid Street, city school janitor Charles Christian, 34; wife Ada O., 36; and children Jacqueline A., 5, Vernon W., 3, and Charles H., 2.

Ack-Ack.

Wilson Daily Times, 7 July 1944.

Wilson Daily Times, 23 June 1944.

We first met Willie Roscoe Barnes in this story about his years operating a dry-cleaning business after his return from distinguished service in an anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion.

Clippings courtesy of J. Robert Boykin III.

1020 East Hines Street.

The one hundred sixty-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, this building is: “ca. 1922; 1 1/2 stories; William Barnes house; early local bungalow with gable roof and engaged porch; shingled dormer; Barnes was a laborer, chauffeur, and builder.”

The address of this house was 1020 Wainwright Avenue prior to the extension of Hines Street in the early 1970s.

In the 1928 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Barnes Wm (c; Julia) lab h 1018 [sic] Wainwright av [In the householders’ section of the directory, the house number is listed at 1020.]

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Barnes Wm (c; Julia) lab h 1020 Wainwright av

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1020 Wainwright, owned and valued at $900, William Barnes, 46, lumber mill laborer; wife Julia, 42; and children Evelyn, 13, Mary B., 11, and William Jr., 8.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1020 [Wainwright], William Barnes, 58, cotton mill engineer; wife Julia, 55; children Evylene, 25, beautician in beauty parlor, Mary, 19, and William, 17, shoeshine boy in shoe shop; and adopted daughter Nebraska, 11.

In the 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Barnes Wm (c) lab h 1020 S Wainwright Av

On 27 April 1946, Clarence Hoskins, 22, of Wilson, son of Lonnie Hoskins and Gertrude Hines [sic] Hoskins, married Nebraska Barnes, 18, of 1020 Wainwright Avenue, Wilson, daughter of William Barnes and Julia Fields Barnes, in Wilson. Missionary Baptist minister H. Hoskins performed the ceremony in the presence of Azzel F. Hall, Joseph Zeigler Jr., and Agnes M. Hoskins.

In the 1947 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Barnes Wm M (c; Julia) mech Sou Oil Co h 1020 S Wainwright Av; also, Barnes Wm M jr (c) student h 1020 Wainwright

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, April 2022.

A tribute to Judge Mitchell.

Wilson Daily Times, 9 May 1944.

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On 22 February 1905, Judge Mitchell, 21, of Wilson, married Jane Simms, 22, of Wilson, daughter of Zanie Jordan, at B.S. Jordan‘s residence in Wilson. Missionary Baptist minister William Baker performed the ceremony.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Judge Mitchell, 25; wife Jane, 24; and children Lillian, 8, and Raymond, 1.

In 1918, Judge Mitchell registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 12 November 1881; lived on 115 Manchester Street, Wilson; worked packing tobacco for Selby Anderson and H.G. Whitehead; and his nearest relative was Jane Mitchell.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Judge Mitchell, 39, tobacco factory worker; wife Jane, 46; and son Wylie, 1.

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Mitchell Judge (c; Jane) porter h 116 Manchester

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 116 Manchester, janitor Jerry [sic] Mitchell, 55; wife Jane, 40; and son Wiley, 12.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: public service laborer Judge Mitchell, 59; wife Jane, 50; and son Wiley, 22, tobacco factory laborer.

In 1940, Wiley Thomas Mitchell registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 28 March 1919 in Wilson; lived at 301 South Vick Street; his contact was his father Judge Mitchell, same address; and he worked for C.H. Darden Funeral Home, Wilson.

Judge Mitchell died 3 May 1944 at his home at 312 South Vick Street, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 59 years old; was born in Nash County, N.C., to Wiley Mitchell and Bessie Taylor; was married to Jane Mitchell; and worked as a laborer. He was buried in Rountree cemetery.

Jane Mitchell died 24 January 1948 at the Wilson County Home. Per her death certificate, she was born 12 May 1881 in Wilson County to Jack Simms and Fannie Simms; was the widow of Judge Mitchell; and was buried in Rountree Cemetery.

Winstead’s Mighty Minstrel Show.

Wilson Daily Times, 18 April 1946.

“E.S. ‘Fat’ Winstead’s shows were based in Fayetteville, where he owned houses and operated an extensive bootlegging, prostitution, and gambling network. Winstead’s Mighty Minstrels had been barnstorming the South since 1931, gathering many outstanding performers whose shows had not survived into the Depression. By 1937 Winstead was challenged in the South only by Silas Green from New Orleans. …” D. Alex Albright, “Mose McQuitty’s Unknown Career: A Personal History of Black Music in America,” Black Music Research Journal, Vol. 11, No. 2 (1989).

 

The obituary of Zillie Woodard Howard.

Wilson Daily Times, 7 June 1943.

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In the 1880 census of Taylors township, Wilson County: farmer Alfred Woodard, 50; wife Sarah, 45; children Florence, 28, Mary, 22, Howell, 18, Sarah E., 16, Zilly A., 17, Lundon, 13, Minnie, 12, Willie, 10, Josephine, 7, and Evvy, 4; and grandchildren Elizabeth, 7, Robt. B., 5, and John H. Bynum, 4.

On 5 June 1901, Jesse Howard, 33, of Black Creek, son of Delius [Zealous] and Rhoda Howard, married Zillah Woodard, 32, of Taylor township, daughter of Alfred and Sarah Woodard, at Sarah Woodard’s in Wilson County. Willie Rountree registered for the license, and Missionary Baptist minister E.P. Pearsall performed the ceremony in the presence of Rountree, Phyllis Hagans, and Sarah Woodard.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farm laborer Jessee Howard, 45; wife Zilla, 40; and children Henry, 25, florist, Marenda, 19, public school teacher, Lena, 17, Kensey, 15, farm laborer, Leaola, 13, and Jessie Jr., 1.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: laborer Jesse Howard, 54; wife Zillia, 54; and children (or grandchildren) Cleo, 21, Ella M., 14, William, 7, and Samuel, 4.

In the 1925, 1928, and 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory, Zillie Howard is listed at 934 Carolina Street.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 934 Carolina, owned and valued at $2000, Zellia Howard, 40, widow, maid, and grandsons William, 17, shoe shop cobbler, Oliver, 15, and Samuel Howard, 12, and Howard Artist, 4.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 934 Carolina, valued at $800, widow Zilla Howard, 75; her sister Nora Hinton, 64, divorced; also, paying $4/month, Helen Ford, 22, and Lydia, 5; grandson Sammie Howard, 22; and, paying $2/month, Annie Jenkins, 69.

In 1940, Oliver Lee Howard registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 12 August 1914 in Wilson; he lived at 934 Carolina Street; his contact was his grandmother Zillie Woodard Howard; and he worked for Imperial Tobacco Company, Barnes Street, Wilson.

In 1940, Buster Howard registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 1 September 1924 in Wilson; he lived at 934 Carolina Street; his contact was his grandmother Zillie Howard; and he worked for R.P. Watson & Company, Lodge Street, Wilson.

Zillie Woodard Howard died 6 June 1943 at her home at 934 Carolina Street, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 29 April 1865 in Wilson to Alfred Woodard and Harriett [last name unknown] and was the widow of Jessie Howard. Oliver Howard of the home was informant.

On 30 October 1944, . Howard had left all her property to her sister, Nora Hinton, and named John M. Barnes as executor. Almus A. Lovett and Letitia H. Lovett witnessed.

Clipping courtesy of J. Robert Boykin III.

Decorated soldier Fred Perry returns to work.

Wilson Daily Times, 3 June 1946.

Fred D. Perry was not a boy. In June of 1946, when he returned to Wilson after serving in Europe and North Africa, he was 28 years old.

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In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: widow Mahailey Harris, 75; her sister Manda Perry, 73, widow; and grandson Fred Perry, 22, tobacco factory laborer.

In 1940, Fred Douglas Perry registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 17 October 1917 in Kenly, N.C.; lived at 107 South East Street, Wilson; his contact was grandmother Mandy Perry; and he worked for Heilig & Meyers Furniture Company, Barnes Street, Wilson.

On January 1947, Fred D. Perry, 29, of Wilson, son of George Perry and Victoria Edwards Barnes, married Louise Marshall, 30, in Wilson. Missionary Baptist minister Fred M. Davis performed the ceremony in the presence of Fred Davis Jr., Minnie J. Davis, and Marie Davis. 

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 702 East Nash Street, Fred Perry, 33, furniture repairman at local furniture store, and wife Louise, 36.

 

The obituary of Jake Blackwell.

Wilson Daily Times, 24 May 1943.

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In the 1920 census of Taylor township, Wilson County: farmer William Blackwell, 45; wife Sally Ann, 29; and children Bennie, 10, Curvis, 7, Jakie, 5, and Nancy, 1.

In October 1940, Jake Blackwell registered for the World War II draft in Atlantic County, New Jersey. Per his registration card, he was born 15 December 1914 in Wilson County, N.C.; lived at 923 Virginia Place, Atlantic City, New Jersey; his contact was Mabell Ingram, friend; and he was unemployed.

In the 1940 census of Prince George’s County, Maryland: at Glenn Dale Sanatorium, [a tuberculosis hospital], Jake Blackwell, born in North Carolina, resident of Washington, D.C.

Clipping courtesy of J. Robert Boykin III.