Three hundred children showed up for a Halloween party at Reid Street Community Center in 1940. Instructors presented “an interesting program of contests, stunts, and games” and awarded prizes in various competitions.
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Deborah Swindell — in the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Deborah Swindell, 40, beautician in own shop; daughter Deborah, 16; and lodger Noble Wade, 38, cook in railroad shop, born in Georgia.
Virginia Melton — in the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1206 Washington Street, T[illegible] Barnes, 72, washing, widow; daughter Cora Melton, 42, private cook, widow; grandchildren Lucy, 16, Virginia, 15, and John, 14, all farming green tobacco, W.T., 8, and Hilda, 7; and daughter Lillie Barnes, 40.
Prof. M.D. Williams — Malcolm D. Williams, principal of Vick Elementary School.
Frances Eliza Williams
Thomas Freeman — in the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1114 Washington Street, owned and valued at $3000, brick mason Julius Freeman, 52; wife Pattie, 40; and children Julius L., 20, Doris, 19, Robert and Richard, 18, John, 16, Charles, 14, Eunice, 12, Mary, 11, Ruby, 10, Tom, 9, Dan, 8, Lillian, 6, and Henry, 2.
John Farmer
Paul Bryant
Silas Bryant
Office Clark — Offie Clark. In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1300 Washington Street, William Clark, 47, mechanical helper in guano factory; wife Katie E., 47; and children Offie E., 18, Addie E., 15, and William T., 12; and grandson Milton Grady, 2.
Virginia Williams
Hilda Gray Young
Dan Freeman — brother of Thomas Freeman, above.
Irvin Sutton
Dillon Bell — in the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1309 East Nash, auto body company blacksmith Charlie Bell, 58, born in West Virginia; wife Nina, 31, cook; and children Dillon, 14, and Benson, 10.
On an unstated date in 1915, David Hines, 23, of Green County, N.C., son of Carrie Hines, married Julia A. Best, 23, daughter of Tom and Lizzie Best, at the “Patret Place” [D.W. Patrick’s farm] near Snow Hill, Greene County.
Toney Hines died 3 April 1917 in Olds township, Greene County. Per his death certificate, he was born 2 April 1917 in Greene County to David Hines of Pamlico County and Julia Ann Best of Greene County; and was buried on the D.W. Patrick farm.
George Washington Hines died 29 June 1919 in Beaver Dam township, Pitt County, N.C. Per his death certificate, he was born 16 June 1919 in Pitt County to David Hines of Pitt County and Julie Best of Greene County; and was buried on the D. Patrick farm.
In the 1930 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer David Hines, 46; wife Julia, 37; daughter Mary E., 9; and lodger Elijah Jones, 20.
In the 1940 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmhand David Hines, 56; wife Julia Anne, 46, cook; daughter Mary Elizabeth, 19; and farmhand Jeana Ionia Mainer, 16, lodger.
David Hines died 11 October 1949 in Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 13 May 1893 in Pamlico County, N.C., to Benjamin Hines and Carrie [maiden name unknown]; was married; worked as a laborer; and lived in Lucama, Wilson County.
In the 1880 census of Buckhorn township, Wake County, N.C.: Nash Horton, 46, minister; wife Hannah, 27; son Gray Horton, 27; stepchildren Martha, 13, Alvis, 8, and William Walker, 5; boarders [who were his children] Jane, 17, and Susan Horton, 15; children Bartley and Matthew, 10, and Leonidas Horton, 8; and nephew Rufus Horton, 6.
On 5 July 1896, Rufus Horton, 23, of Johnston County, N.C., son of Nash and Elizabeth Horton, married Mary J. Davis, 19, of Johnston, daughter of Ollin and Mary F. Davis, in Pine Level, Johnston County. [Rufus, in fact, was a grandson of Nash Horton and was reared by Horton and his wife.]
In the 1910 census of Pine Level township, Johnston County: farmer Rufus A. Horton, 37; wife Mary J., 33; and children William O., 12, Fredie, 10, Alonzo V., 9, Callie M., 7, Flossie V., 5, Romie, 3, and Rufus Jr., 2 months.
In the 1920 census of Smithfield, Johnson County: farmer Ruffes Horton, 47; wife Mary J., 44; and children Van Dan, 19, Calla M., 18, Flosie, 16, Ramon, 13, Ruffes, 9, and Etheal, 4.
In the 1930 census of Smithfield, Johnson County: Baptist minister Ruffus A. Horton, 55; wife Mary J., 51; and children Ruffus, 19, Elthel, 15, and Ulla M., 8.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 721 East Green Street, Floyd Johnson, 28, tobacco factory laborer; wife Flossie, 32, tobacco factory hanger; daughters Ella M., 11, Ernestine, 5, and Bobbie J., 2; and mother-in-law Mary Horton, 59.
James Wiggins, in fact, was fatally wounded. In fact, by time this article ran, he had been dead four days and buried two.
James Wiggins died 14 November 1921 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 26 years old; was born in Edgecombe County, N.C., to George Wiggins and Mary Pitt; and was a common laborer.
Isaac Ford
On 10 October 1912, Isaac Ford, 22, married Jane Peaton, 21, both of Black Creek, were married at Peaton’s father’s house in Nahunta township, Wayne County (though their marriage license was issued in Wilson County.) H.R. Minshew applied for the license, and Missionary Baptist minister N.S. Newton performed the ceremony in the presence of John R. James, Peter Applewhite, and Charlie Newton.
In 1917, Isaac Ford registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 6 August 1889 in Fremont [Wayne County], N.C.; lived in Fremont; was a self-employed farmer; and had a wife and child.
In the 1920 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Isaac Ford, 32; wife Jane, 35, farm laborer; and son Calvin, 8.
On 28 May 1927, Isaac Ford, 37, of Black Creek, married Nora Dickerson, 26, of Black Creek, in Wilson in the presence of Braxton Davis, Hugh Campbell, and Calvin Ford.
Moses Milton Ruffin Jr. died 2 November 1950 near Saratoga, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 23 February 1927 in Wilson County to Moses Ruffin and Pennie Bynum; was married; and was engaged in farming. Blossie Ruffin was informant.
In the spring of 1912, conflict between William Henry Pender and Dock Applewhite over Pender’s wife Mollie Pender came to a violent head.
Henry Pender, witness for the state, being sworn, states that he and wife had some trouble about the intimacy existing between his wife and Doc. Applewhite. Henry and his wife had a quarrel, and his wife left him. He imagined that his wife and Doc. were together at Doc.’s sister’s. Says he went there about one or two o’clock in the night, and asked if his wife was there and was told that she was not. He lay around the house, and after day they both came out of the house and started off the same way. I spoke to my wife and she agreed to go home with me. We started along together and pretty soon I heard a gun fire. I looked and Doc. was in about sixty yards of me, his gun pointing towards me. The shot seemed to strike the ground before they got to me, then arose and struck my coat and pants, but did not enter. He then started towards me cursing saying he was going to kill me. I moved to try to get away from him. Pretty soon my brother ran and overtook me, and said that Doc had run round and was going to cut me off. I then ran.
Mollie Pender, Henry’s wife, tells about the same as Henry, as to the assault.
Done this the 12th day of March 1912 Elias G. Barnes J.P.
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Henry and Mollie Pender
On 7 March 1900, Henry Pender, 24, son of Ed and Caroline Pender, married Molly Pitt, 22, daughter of Joe Pitt, in Black Creek, Wilson County.
In the 1910 census of Jackson township, Nash County, N.C.: H
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Raleigh Road, farmer Henry Pender, 45; wife Molly, 41; and daughter Sally, 10.
In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Pender Wm H (c; Mollie) lab 607 E Green
In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Pender Henry (c; Mollie) farm hd h 710 Viola
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 710 Viola, Earnest McCray, 22, grocery store deliveryman; wife Lizzie, 19; and son LeVaughn, 3; plus roomers Mollie Pender, 48, private servant, and husband Henry, 45, farm laborer.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: carpenter helper William H. Pender, 59; wife Mollie, 52, tobacco factory stemmer; and lodgers Eva Reid, 25, from Elizabeth City, N.C., and Mary J. Pitt, 27, born in Tarboro, N.C. Both were public school teachers.
William H. Pender died 21 October 1945 at Mercy Hospital. Per his death certificate, he was born 21 May 1889 in Edgecombe County, N.C., to Edward Pender and Caroline Atkinson; was married to Mollie Pender; and worked as a carpenter.
Wilson Daily Times, 11 April 1970.
Doc Applewhite
In the 1900 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Enos Applewhite, 71; wife Cherry, 54; children Henry [age illegible], Virginia, 20, Dock, 19, and George, 13; grandson Enos, 2; and niece Rosa Atkinson, 16.
On 22 July 1903, Dock Applewhite, 21, of Stantonsburg, son of Elias [sic]and Cherry Applewhite, married Mary Simms, 23, of Stantonsburg, daughter of Stephen and Zanie Simms, at Stephen Simms’ house in Wilson County.
In the 1910 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: railroad section hand Dock Applewhite, 27; wife Mollie, 27; and children David, 6, and Annie, 3.
In 1918, Dock Applewhite registered for the World War I draft in Greenville, Pitt County, N.C. Per his registration card, he was born 15 March 1881 and worked as a fireman for Greenville Cooperage & Tun Company.
In the 1920 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farm laborer Dock Applewhite, 39; wife Mary, 38, laundress; and children David and Annie M., 14; plus Sadie Cozart, 24.
Dock Applewhite died 20 January 1927 in Greenville, Pitt County. Per his death certificate, he was about 25 years old [actually, 46]; was born in Wilson County to Enos and Cherry Applewhite; and was married to Mary Applewhite.
Criminal Action Papers, 1912, Wilson County Records, North Carolina State Archives.
“Wilson County – July 30, 1940. Levi Simmons, Minshew Club member granted this second A and T College Club Scholarship for achievement in club work. The second project – 2 pigs. He will enter A and T in September to pursue an agriculture course.”
We’ve met David Levi Simmons before, here, here, here, and here. Simmons was a committed member of Minshew 4-H Club, which met at Minshew School near Black Creek.
4-H club member Levi Simmons with pigs for club project, University Archives Photograph Collection, 4-H Youth Development Photographs, UA 023.008, Special Collections Research Center, N.C. State University Libraries, Raleigh, N.C.
Bill Elliott supervised the Darden High School’s Teen Age Club, which held social events at Reid Street Community Center under the joint sponsorship of Darden’s Parent-Teacher Association and Wilson’s Department of Recreation and Parks.
In the 1940 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: S.T. Parker, 39; wife Irene, 20; children Elma, 5, William, 3, and Fannie P., 1; sister Bertha, 34; nephew Jessie Lewis, 8, and Daisy Lee Parker, 4.
Frank Barnes
Wilson Daily Times, 6 October 1950.
Timothy Autry
Wilson Daily Times, 6 October 1950.
In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 507 Hadley Street, plowman Henry L. Hill, 64; wife Rosa, 43, seamstress; daughter Mammie, 36, beautician; and grandchildren Delores, 16, Dorothy, 14, Timothy, 12, and Peggie J., 8.
