Month: August 2022

Annie Lewis slain by husband.

Wilson Daily Times, 31 July 1942.

Annie Russell Bethune Lewis was felled with a blow from an axe in her own yard. Her husband James Lewis was quickly arrested and allegedly confessed, claiming he “just couldn’t get along with her.” On September 9, the Daily Times reported that Lewis had entered a plea of not guilty by virtue of insanity. On September 11, the paper reported that a jury convicted him of manslaughter, and a judge sentenced him to 10-15 years in state prison.

James Lewis did not serve his full sentence. By 1949, he had returned to Black Creek — where he was shot in the back and killed on November 25.

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In the 1900 census of Sammy Swamp township, Clarendon County, South Carolina: Theodore Bethune, 34; wife Mary A., 25; and children Florence, 8, Alberta, 7, Amanda, 5, Oneitha, 3, and an unnamed girl infant, 2 months.

In the 1910 census of Stony Creek township, Wayne County, N.C.: Duckery Lewis, 42; wife Smithy, 36; and children John, 12, Ben, 10, James, 8, Floyd, 7, Albert, 6, and Needham, 3.

In the 1910 census of Manning township, Clarendon County, South Carolina: on Georgetown Road, Theodore Bethune, 45; wife Ann, 36; and children Florence, 18, Elberta, 17, Charlotte A., 15, Arnetha, 12, and Annie R., 10.

In the 1920 census of Sammy Swamp township, Clarendon County, South Carolina: Theodore Bethune, 45; wife Annie, 44; and daughters Charlotte, 17, Onithea, 15, and Annie, 13. [The children’s ages are wildly off.]

In the 1920 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Duckrey Lewis, 50; wife Smithy, 40; and children Ben, 20, James, 19, Floyd, 17, Albert, 15, Needham, 13, and Duckrey Jr., 7.

On 31 March 1931, James Lewis, 29, of Black Creek, son of Duckrey Lewis and Smithie [maiden name not given], married Annie R. Bethune, of Wayne County, 25, daughter of Theodore and Annie Bethune, in Wilson.

In the 1940 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: Theodore Bethune, 70; wife Annie, 60; daughter Annie Lewis, 30; and grandchildren Annie M., 7, Willie, 5, and Ned, 2.

“Murdered hit on head with axe by husband James Lewis killing her instantly” 

In 1942, James Willie Lewis registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 7 July 1901 in Wayne County; lived on Clifton Tomlinson’s farm, Black Creek township; his contact was Sip Rogers, Route 1, Black Creek; and he worked for Clifton Tomlinson, Route 1, Black Creek.

On 25 November 1949, James Willie Lewis died at Mercy Hospital, Wilson, of a gunshot blast to the back. Per his death certificate, he was born 7 July 1900 in Wayne County to Duckrey Lewis and Smithie Barnes; was a widower; and lived at Route 1, Black Creek.

The obituary of George Bynum.

Wilson Daily Times, 29 June 1948.

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In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Suggs Street, odd jobs laborer Archie Bynum, 37; wife Lillie, 31; and children Nnez, 11, Junis, 7, George, 4, Rena, 2, and Bessie, 6 months.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 617 East Suggs Street, owned and valued at $1000, Lillie Bynum, 50, widow; children Gorge, 21, Earnest, 28, Rosa L., 17, Estella, 14, Lillie M., 11; and grandchildren Leroy, 6, and Mattie B., 4.

In the 1940 census of Richmond, Virginia: in the Virginia State Penitentiary, George Bynum, 32, divorced, born in North Carolina.

In 1943, George Bynum registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 1 October 1907 in Wilson; lived at 665 Suggs Street; his contact was mother Lillie Barnes of the same address; and he was not employed.  

812 East Vance Street.

The one hundred-seventy-sixth 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. 1913; 1 story; L-plan cottage with hip-roofed porch.”

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In 1922, William Pritchitt of 812 East Vance Street advertised finding a set of keys.

Wilson Daily Times, 22 February 1922.

In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Jenkins Jesse (c; Hattie B) car washer h 812 E Vance

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 812 East Vance, minister Roosevelt Wheeler, 26; wife Minnie, 24; and lodger Jessie Edwards, 17.

In 1940, Roosevelt Wheeler registered for the World War II in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 4 March 1910 in Darlington, South Carolina; lived at 812 East Vance Street, Wilson; his contact was wife Minnie Beatrice Wheeler; and worked for Armour & Co., Railroad Street, Wilson.

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, May 2022.

Police shoot man for “resisting arrest.”

Wilson Daily Times, 1 June 1949.

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In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Bessie Ward, 36, hanging tobacco at redrying plant, and her children Percy, 19, assistant attendant at gasoline filling station, Essie Mae, 17, hanging tobacco at redrying plant, Charlie, 16, janitor at theatre; Magdeline, 13, Luther, 12, Le Roy, 11, Marvin Jr., 7, and Dorphine Poole, 1; as well as sister Mattie Williams, 21, widow.

Luther “Pat” Poole registered for the World War II draft in Wilson in 1945. Per his registration card, he was born 7 June 1927 in Wilson County; lived at 217 West Walnut Street; his contact was mother Bessie Poole; and he worked for Morehead City Fish Market, Wilson.

The obituary of Rev. Eddie H. Cox, Baptist minister.

Wilson Daily Times, 6 May 1949.

In addition to being a Free Will Baptist minister (and leading the rebuilding of Piney Grove in 1939), Rev. Eddie H. Cox operated a clothes cleaners on East Nash Street and sold insurance.

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In the 1900 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farm laborer Henrietta Cox, 15, and her daughter Julia, 2 months, and her siblings Piercy L., 14, Hardy, 12, Jesse, 10, Eddie, 8, James W., 7, and Lena A., 3.

In the 1916 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Cox Eddie (c) presser h S Reid nr Robinson

In 1917, Ed Cox registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 3 November 1892 in Sampson County, N.C.; lived in Reid Street, Wilson; worked at a pressing club for W.T. Powell; and had a wife and one child.

In the 1920 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Eddie Cox, 27; wife Mattie, 27; and daughter Ebenezer Cox, 11.

On 15 March 1920, Jasper Robinson, 30, of Wilson, son of Edgar Robinson and Susanna [maiden name not known] married Ebenezar Pender, 20, of Wilson, daughter of James Dixon and Mattie D. Cox. E.H. Cox applied for the license, and Free Will Baptist minister H.Y. Dillard performed the ceremony on Reid Street, Wilson, in the presence of Willie Sanders, Demetrius Brain, and Mrs. J.B. Hargrove.

In the 1925 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Cox Edward H (c) propr Cox’s Pressing Club h 111 Carroll; also Cox Ebenezer (c) h 111 Carroll

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Cox Edward H (c; Mattie) clnr and presser 531 E Nash  h 308 N Reid

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 308 North Reid, rented for $16/month, insurance agent Eddie Cox, 40; wife Mattie, 42; grandson Evergreen Robinson, 21, tobacco factory laborer; and lodgers Jasper, 28, meat market laborer, and James Robinson, 20, tobacco factory laborer.

Mattie Cox died 19 August 1933 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 6 May 1892 in Wilson County to Lovett Locus and Sidnie Locus; was married to Eddie Cox; and lived at 308 North Reid, Wilson.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 625 Green Street, owned and  valued at $2300, Rev. Eddie H. Cox, 49, minister, and wife Carrie H., 32, registered nurse.

Wilson Daily Times, 23 August 1947.

Eddie Harrison Cox died 30 April 1949 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 3 November 1891 in Wayne County, N.C., to Washington Cox and Julia Ann Evans; lived at 625 East Green Street; was a widower; and had worked as a minister. Lela Wright, 204 North East Street, was informant.