Wilson Daily Times, 16 August 1946.
We read here of Cockrell’s Grocery, which stood at the corner of Green and Pettigrew Streets one block east of the railroad and served a largely African-American clientele. Above, a clearer view of the photograph accompanying an article about the store, with William White, at center, and Billy Strayhorn, at far right.
Wilson Daily Times, 5 August 1935.
——
On 22 December 1894, William Pittman, 36, of Wilson township, married Mollie Dew, 30, daughter of Easter Dew, in Wilson. Missionary Baptist minister Jeremiah Scarborough performed the ceremony in the presence of Haywood Sessoms, Mary A. Sauls, and Victoria Moore.
In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Vance Street, William Pittman, 52, wagon shop laborer; wife Mollie, 42, laundress; son General, 27, odd jobs laborer; daughter Lena, 24, family cook; and adopted daughter Bettie, 10.
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Carroll Street, William Pittman, 55, wagon factory laborer, and wife Mollie, 50.
In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Pittman Wm (c; Mollie) h 120 Queen
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson: at 1202 Queen Street, owned and valued at $1000, William Pitman, 74, tobacco factory laborer; wife Molly, 63, laundress; and sons James, 10, and Joseph, 8.
William Pittman died 1 August 1935 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 73 years old; was born in Halifax County, N.C.; lived at 1202 Queen Street, Wilson; was married to Mollie Pittman; and worked as a laborer.
[Sidenote: Though the obituary states that Pittman was buried in Rountree Cemetery, he probably was actually buried in what we now call Vick Cemetery. He was not a member of Rountree Missionary Baptist church or, apparently, an Odd Fellow, and thus likely not buried in those cemeteries. “Rountree,” however, was the name by which the three conjoined graveyards were commonly known.]
Clipping courtesy of J. Robert Boykin III.
Wilson Daily Times, 2 October 1896.
——
Perhaps, in the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer John Ellis, 50; wife Edith, 44; children Robert, 20, Lucy, 18, Katie, 17, Windon, 16, Jane, 13, Harry, 10, and John A., 8; and grandson Edgar, 2.
The obituary of Walter Scott Hines contains unusually detailed information about his career. He and his brother William Hines operated competing barber shops and built rental housing across East Wilson.
Wilson Daily Times, 9 August 1941.
Walter D. Hines presented his father’s will to the clerk of court to file for probate, swearing that he had found the document, drafted in 1924 “among the valuable papers and effects of … Walter S. Hines … within a certain iron safe having a combination lock, which was situated in Walter S. Hines’ home ….”
Wilson Daily Times, 12 August 1941.
——
In the 1880 census of Cocoa township, Edgecombe County: Joshua Hines, 52; wife Cally, 47; children Jerry, 20, Deller, 22, Lizer, 17, Joshua, 15, Caliph, 13, William, 11, Robert, 7, and Adline, 4; nephew Allen Harris, 3; and grandson Walter, 1 [Della’s son.]
In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: hotel porter Dave Barnes, 40; wife Della; and children Walter, 20, William, 15, Lucy, 13, Dave, 5, and Viola, 11. [Walter, William, and Lucy were, in fact, Hineses and were Della Hines Barnes’ children.]
On 6 September 1907, Walter S. Hines, 27, of Wilson, N.C., barber, son of Walter S. Hines [sic] and Della Barnes, and Sara E. Dortsch, 24, of Goldsboro, N.C., school teacher, daughter of Whitmore Dortsch and Mary Burnett, were married in Boston, Massachusetts.
In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: barber Walter Hines, 30; wife Sarah, 29; children Elizabeth, 2, and Walter D., 8 months; and boarder Inez Moore, 31, a school teacher.
In 1918, Walter Scott Hines registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 26 October 1879; lived at 616 Green Street; worked as a barber at Tate & Hines; and his nearest relative was Sarah E. Hines. He was described as tall and slender, with blue eyes and black hair.
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: barber Walter Hines, 40, wife Sara, 37, Elizabeth, 11, Walter Jr., 10, and Carl, 5.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: barber Walter Hines, 50, wife Sarah, 48, and children Elizabeth, 21, Walter, 20, Carl W., 16, and Clifton R., 7.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Walter S. Hines, 60; wife Sarah E., 58; son Carl W., 24, teacher; son’s wife Ruth, 23, teacher; and son Ray W., 17.
Walter Scott Hines died 9 July 1941 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 24 October 1879 in Edgecombe County, N.C., to Walter S. Parker and Della Hines; and lived at 617 East Green Street, Wilson. His brother, Dr. B.O. Barnes, was the certifying physician.
Clippings courtesy of J. Robert Boykin III.
Wilson Daily Times, 19 May 1936.
——
Wilson Daily Times, 19 August 1941.
“North Carolina State College” of Durham was, of course, what we now know as North Carolina Central University!
Wilson Daily Times, 18 July 1934.
Madison Mincey was also known as Ben Mincey Jr. and singlehandedly wrestled Odd Fellows Cemetery from the woods in the 1970s.
Wilson Daily Times, 14 July 1941.
An obituary for Charles Oats, a Darden Funeral Home employee whose grave is one of the few still marked in Odd Fellows Cemetery, followed two days later.
Wilson Daily Times, 22 August 1941.
When the Daily Times reported the shooting of Ephraim Joyner on 18 August 1896, several days after the fact, it noted “the wound would probably result fatally.”
Wilson Daily Times, 28 August 1896.
Raleigh’s News and Observer got the story out a day earlier, but gave conflicting information about Joyner. The headline screams “murder” and speaks of searches for the “murderer,” but concedes Joyner was alive when the article went to press.
News and Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), 27 August 1896.
Did Ephraim Joyner die after all?
It’s not clear. No death records exist for the period, and I have found no further news articles about this incident. However, there is evidence of a man named Ephraim Joyner living in the Elm City area after 1896. If he is the same man, not only did Ephraim Joyner survive the shooting, he lived a good, long life. His son Marvin Ransom was not as fortunate.
——
In the 1880 census of Cooper township, Nash County, N.C.: brothers and hirelings Ephram, 22, and Dallas Joyner, 16. Also, in the 1880 census of Rocky Mount township, Nash County: Harrett Joyner, 42, and sons Ephram, 21, Dallas, 16, Ballie, 15, and Lon V., 1.
On 9 January 1888, Ephraim Joyner, 25, married Mary Ann Cooper, 22, in Nash County.
Marvin Ransom died 17 June 1928 in Township #1, Edgecombe County, N.C. Per his death certificate, he was born in 1899 in Edgecombe County to Ephram Joyner of Wilson County and Jennie Shaffer of Halifax County, N.C.; was married to Dicy Ransom; was engaged in farming; and was buried at Cherry Place. Jenny Shaffer was informant.
“Gunshot wound of abdomen wounding intestine in several places. Gunshot wound of perineum & scrotum. Homicide.”
In the 1930 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: widower Eph Joyner, 80, farm laborer and widower, living alone.