Month: February 2024

Young woman fatally stabbed by ex-boyfriend.

Wilson Daily Times, 25 February 1949.

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  • Charlie Bennette — In 1942, Charlie Bennette registered for the World War II draft in 1942. Per his registration card, he was born 30 May 1903 in New Zion, South Carolina; lived at 113 S. (A.C.L) Railroad Street, Wilson; his contact was Adeline Fleming, New Zion, N.C.; and he worked at Marine Barracks, Jacksonville, N.C. In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 654 Wiggins Street, tobacco factory machine operator Charlie Bennett, 48, widower, and lodger Annie M. Williams, 19, maid.
  • Irene Sethem — Irene Sessoms died 23 February 1949 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 10 November 1925 in Johnston County, N.C., to Z.S. Sessoms and Louella Williams; lived at 113 Pettigrew Street, Wilson; was not married; and worked as a laborer. She died of hemorrhage and shock after a knife wound to her right carotid artery.

Snaps, no. 111: Dolores L. Hines.

Dolores Hines was the daughter of William and Ethel Cornwell Hines. In addition to capturing the little girl’s charm, this photo depicts the 600 block of East Green at, arguably, its peak. (Dolores Hines was 7 in 1922, by the way.)

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In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 614 East Green, barber William Hines, 35, wife Ethel, 25, and children Delores, 4, and William, 2.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: barber William Hines, 46, wife Ethel L., 36, and children Deloris L., 14, and William Jr., 11.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 615 East Green Street, barber shop operator William Hines, 56, wife Ethel L., 46, and children Delores L., 24, and William C., 21. [Dolores Hines was by then a physical education instructor in Wilson schools. She later phys.ed. and dance taught at Talledega College and offered dance instruction when she returned to Wilson in retirement.]

Photo from Richard L. Mattson, “The Cultural Landscape of a Southern Black Community: East Wilson, North Carolina, 1890-1930,”

Volunteer fire department?

How have I missed this? On the 1930 Sanborn fire insurance map of Wilson, tucked behind a duplex at 504 A & B Stantonsburg [now Pender] Street, a small wooden building is marked “Volunteer Fire Dep’t (Colored) 300′ 2 1/2″ hose.”

This was not Ben Mincey‘s backyard. He lived at 712 [formerly 651] Wiggins Street, just visible at the top of the image. Mincey’s brother Jack Mincey, a tobacco factory worker, lived next door at 500 Stantonsburg, but rented his house. The duplex at 504 was also a rental property.

So who maintained this building? It does not appear in the 1922 Sanborn map. Where there others scattered about the East Side? I’ll keep looking for answers.

Berry Williams, cemetery keeper.

The 1908 Wilson city directory lists Berry Williams as the keeper of Oaklawn Cemetery. Oaklawn, also known Oakland and Oakdale, preceded Vick Cemetery as Wilson’s Black public burial ground. It lent its name to Cemetery Street.

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On 13 April 1890, Berry Williams, 33, of Wilson township, son of Gilly Batchelor, married Penina Campbell, 19, of Wilson township, daughter of Sidney and Maggie Campbell, at Walter Ward‘s in Wilson township. Free Will Baptist minister Crocket Best performed the ceremony in the presence of Anthney Vick, Ransom Ruffin, and Hardy Ellis.

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: carpenter Berry Williams, 49, and wife Penina, 29.

In the 1908 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Williams Berry (c) keeper Oaklawn Cemetery h 146 Suggs

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farm laborer Berry Williams, 51, and wife Penny, 39.

In the 1912 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Williams Berry (c) carpenter h 146 Suggs [146 Suggs Street, later numbered 701, was at the corner of Suggs and Moore Streets, just north of the cemetery.]

In the 1916 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Williams Berry (c) farmer h 146 Suggs

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Suggs Street, Berry Williams, 65, and wife Penina, 42, tobacco factory worker.

In the 1920 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Williams Berry (c) laborer h 147 Suggs

In the 1925 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Williams Berry (c) farmer h 701 Suggs

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Williams Berry (c; Penina) farmer h 701 Suggs

Berry Williams died 19 November 1929 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 74 years old; was born in Nash County, N.C., to Gillie Batcher; was married to Pennie Williams; lived at 701 Suggs Street; worked as a common laborer; and was buried in Wilson [most likely, in Rountree Cemetery, but possibly Oakdale.]

Pfc. Elmer Sherrod earns diploma in Army.

Wilson Daily Times, 4 March 1949.

In the 1930 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Harpers Road, farmer Soloman Sheard, 50; wife Josephine, 42; and children Javis, 20, Doretta, 18, Linton O., 16, Minnie B., 13, Solomon, 11, Flora, 3, Bulah, 3, and Elmore, 1.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 802 Viola Street, Solomon Shearard, 60; wife Josephine, 52; and children Flora, 15, Beulah, 13, Elmer, 11, and Solomon, 21; plus “son’s wife” Mildred, 18, and grandson Ernest E., 8 months.

Elmer Sherrod registered for the draft in 1947:

Photograph courtesy of C. Paulin.

Uzzell dazed, horse killed in lightning strike.

As a bad thunderstorm rolled over Wilson in August 1899, a bolt of lightning stunned Green Uzzell and killed a horse in the barn in which he was working.

The Wilson News, 10 August 1899.

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In the 1870 census of New Hope township, Wayne County, North Carolina: farmer James Tolar, 42; wife Sallie, 51; children Haywood, 16, Elizar, 19, Dilla, 15, and Margarett, 13; Green Uzzel, 6; and Darkis Atkinson, 85.

On 19 November 1892, Green Uzzell, 26, married Molly Wood, 24, in Wayne County, N.C.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farm laborer Green Uzzell, 35, and wife Mollie, 30, wash woman.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: factory laborer Green Uzzell, 40, and wife Mollie, 35, laborer.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 709 South Goldsboro Street, tobacco factory laborer Green Uzzell, 61, and wife Mollie, 48, laborer.

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Uzzell Green (c; Mollie) tobwkr h 709 S Goldsboro

Molly Uzzell died 26 October 1928 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was about 55 years old; was born in Lenoir County, N.C., to Bob and Molly May; was married to Green Uzzell; and was buried in Wilson. [Mollie Uzzell’s fine marble headstone is one of the few standing in Rountree Cemetery. Presumably, Green Uzzell was buried nearby.]

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 709 South Goldsboro Street, tobacco factory laborer Green Uzzell, 60, widower.

Green Uzzell died 24 May 1935 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 61 years old; was born in Wayne County, N.C., to Harriet Uzzell; was the widower of Mollie Uzzell; lived at 709 South Goldsboro; and worked as a laborer. Margaret Haggans of Stantonsburg, N.C., was informant. Uzzell was buried in Wilson.

511 East Green Street.

The one hundred ninety-second 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.

This terribly pixelated view of 511 East Green (formerly numbered 514) is taken from a 2003 aerial photograph.

As described in the nomination form for the East Wilson Historic District, 509 [actually, 511] East Green is: “ca. 1893; 1 story; two-room house with slender chamfered porch posts; aluminum sided.” The house was demolished between 2003 and 2007.

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In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: McArthur Edward (c; Mabel) lab Williams Auto Co h 511 E Green

In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: McLean Della (c) lndrs h 511 E Green

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 511 East Green, rented for $16/month, widow Della McClain, 46, boarding house cook, with roomers Jessie, 30, laundress, and Bruce Campell, 20, filling station laborer

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 511 East Green, barber Samuel Williams, 42; wife Emma, 36; and children Addie, 19, James, 17, Billie, 13, Samuel Jr., 11, and Dazzarine, 9.

In the 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Williams Saml (c; Emma) barber John Hargrove h 511 E Green

In the 1947 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Stevens David L (c; Lola; Stevens & Ricks) h 511 E Green [Stevens & Ricks was a grocery at 620 East Nash.]

Whereas.

To mark Wilson’s 175th birthday on January 29, 2024, the City’s Facebook page featured posts about the Mayor’s birthday proclamation; the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad; Wilson Energy; Wilson Fire/Rescue Services; Greenlight; and Buckhorn Reservoir. As with its Martin Luther King Jr. Day announcement — which was all about closures, said nothing about the man himself, and closed with a cheery “if you have the day off, take advantage of this long weekend and enjoy your well-deserved break!” — the City missed opportunities for inclusion in its write-ups about its honorees. At a minimum — especially during Black History Month — Ben Mincey and the Red Hots should have gotten a nod in the FRS post.

Let’s look a little closer at the proclamation though.  The “whereas” is accurate, but I can’t see Wyatt Moye’s name without thinking of his other legacy, one that resonates in the blood of African-Americans from Wilson County to Louisiana.

So:

WHEREAS, Wyatt Moye was a slave trader who moved surplus enslaved people in coffles from North Carolina to the deepest South, and

WHEREAS, his business, which ripped men and women from their families and communities forever, made the incorporator of the Town of Wilson wildly wealthy.

There. Fixed it.

Lane Street Project: more from Green Street Cemetery.

A few more photos from Green Street Cemetery, where the City of Statesville is modeling care and inclusion for cities like Wilson, which are standing off to the side, muttering under their breath.

The recently dedicated signboard at the cemetery, which includes a map of the GPR survey,  a history of the site, a QR code, and an impressive set of public and private partners.

On the back, a list of the roughly 1400 known burials — of 2200+ detected graves — in Green Street. Few of the graves are marked.

John Walker Colvert, John Walker Colvert II, Lon Walker Colvert, Adeline Hampton Colvert, Selma Eugina Colvert, Lewis Colvert, and Laura Colbert are my people.

Edmond and Esther Petty are my extended kin. Both grew up enslaved in Wilkes County, and Edmond Petty was a soldier in the United States Colored Troops during the Civil War. This corner of North Carolina was far from Union lines, and African-American veterans were rare. Petty’s story was self-authored: Union General George Stoneman’s Raid passed through Wilkes County in late March 1865, capturing Wilkesboro. Petty escaped the Benjamin F. Petty plantation and fell in with Union troops as contraband, following them all the way to Tennessee, where he enlisted to fight the Confederacy.

Photos of Lisa Y. Henderson, February 2024.