In this series, which will post on occasional Wednesdays, I populate the landscape of Wilson County with imaginary “historic markers” commemorating people, places, and events significant to African-American history or culture.
We been here.
Founded 1906 by G.J. Branch. Church built in 1912 at this site on Lodge Street between Walnut and Banks. Mother church of Branch’s Mem0rial Tabernacle United Holy Church.
Washington Star, 18 November 1978.
——
In the 1910 census of Spring Hill township, Wilson County: farmer Vandorne Hinnant, 48, wife Betsy J., 47, and children Ezekiel, 22, Billie, 19, Willie, 13, Oscar, 12, Luther, 10, Regest W., 9, Roland, 8, Ralon, 6, Ollion, 4, and Roy E., 2.
In 1918, Luther Hinnant registered for the World War I draft in Johnston County, N.C. Per his registration card, he was born 12 January 1900; lived at Route 3, Kenly, Johnston County; farmed for Vandorn Hinnant; and his nearest relative was Vandorn Hinnant.
Harriet Bernice Hinnant was born 17 February 1919 in Richmond, Virginia, to Luther Hinnant, 20, farmer, of North Carolina, and Hattie Jackson, 27, of 406 Baker Street, public school teacher, of Virginia.
Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), 10 March 1919.
Luther Hinnant, 21, married Hattie M. Jackson, 27, on 21 March 1919 in Washington, D.C.
Luther Hinnant was among 90 pupils awarded diplomas for “complet[ing] the elementary course in the colored night schools” in May 1924.
Evening Star, 29 May 1924.
A summary of house transactions in the 11 July 1925 edition of the Evening Star reported that J.R. Brooks had sold Luther Hinnant the property at 729 Girard Street, N.W. [This Columbia Heights row house, the western half of a duplex, is just a few blocks north of Howard University. Its May 2024 value is $800,000+.]
In the 1930 census of Washington, D.C.: at 729 Girard Street, owned and valued at $7000, Luther Hinnant, 31, cleaner at dry cleaning establishment; wife Hattie M., 33, chambermaid; and daughters Harriet B., 11, and Mildred L., 8.
In 1930, Hinnant received a diploma from Armstrong Night High School:
Evening Star, 30 May 1930.
In the 1940 census of Washington, D.C.: at 729 Girard Street, rented for $50/month, presser Luther Hinnant, 40; wife Hattie, 42, servant; and daughters Harriet, 21, and Mildred, 18.
Richmond Afro-American, 9 August 1947.
In the 1950 census of Washington, D.C.: at 729 Girard Street, Hattie J. Hinnant, 57, beauty parlor maid; wife Luther, 52; and daughters Harriet B., 29, waitress, and Mildred L., 27, elementary teacher.
Washington Star, 22 January 1980.
Cumberland Times-News, 22 December 1992.
Luther Hinnant died 26 March 1998.
Evening Star, 22 January 1980.
Wilberforce University graduate Hattie Jackson Hinnant taught briefly in Wilson before migrating to Washington, D.C. There she met her husband, Luther Hinnant, a Wilson County native. (More about them soon.)
Evening Times (Washington, D.C.), 3 July 1897.
I have not been able to find out much more about this strange abduction tale, other than the circus in question was Barnum & Bailey. The Thorntons were an interesting family. Presley Thornton Sr., before going straight and getting on with the government, had some larceny history. Son Presley Thornton Jr. carried on the tradition, as did son Harry Thornton, who was arrested around the time Phillip Thornton went missing. Sister Fannie Thornton disappeared for weeks in the spring of 1896 and, also around the time her brother was snatched, was badly injured when trampled during a “fire panic” at school. It beggars belief that a ten-year old boy could vanish without wider attention paid to his plight or show up alone in rural Wilson County seeking (and obtaining) a job, but — 1897.
Slaveowners needing additional labor sometimes looked beyond the borders of Wilson County for supply. J.J. Williams, W.M. Gay, B.G. Albritton, and C.L. Vines agreed to pay Dr. W.R. King $450 for twelve months’ hire, beginning on or before 1 January 1861, of enslaved men Caesar and Dick. The men were to be returned to King in Louisburg, Franklin County, the following Christmas Day 1861, barring “unavoidable accident.”
Twenty year-old Marine Archie Lee Cooper died in action in Trung Tin, Quang Nam province, Vietnam, on 7 September 1967. Cooper was the son of Annie Marie Cooper and grandson of James W. and Amanda Alberta Artis Cooper. and a graduate of Darden High School, where he had been a honor roll student and sports standout.
——
In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 110 – 4th Street, James Cooper, 61, machinist helper at tobacco factory; wife Amanda A., 50; children George C., 18, Alberta, 15, Chester, 13, Lillie B., 11; and grandsons Gary L., 7, Floyd J., 5, and Archie L., 3.
Wilson Daily Times, 23 March 1966.
Greensboro Daily News, 19 September 1967.
Wilson Daily Times, 21 September 1967.
Application for military headstone for Archie Lee Cooper.
Wilson Daily Times, 2 November 1967.
U.S. Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1861-1985, http://www.ancestry.com.
Columbus Stewart registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County in 1917. Per his registration card, he was born 25 December 1895 in Fuquay Springs, N.C.; lived in Wilson; was a convict in Wilson County; and was married.
Stewart was inducted on 30 March 1918 and sent to Camp Grant, Illinois, for training.
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: blacksmith Lewis Striver [sic], 73; wife Ellen, 43; children Columbia, 23, Albert, 21, Mary L., 16, Lizzie, 15, Burnice M., 12, Lewis Jr., 9, and Boss, 8; and grandchildren James, 7, and Paulian Harper, 6.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 604 Spruce Street, rented for $10/month, retail grocery salesman Columbus Stewart, 47; wife Pearl, 29; daughter Eva, 5; nieces Mary E., 14, and Rita G. Wright, 12; and nephew Jessie Matthews, 27.
In 1940, Jesse Lee Matthews registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 16 September 1922 in Harnett County, N.C.; lived at 602 West Spruce Street, Wilson; his contact was father Columbus Stewart; and he worked for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, South Tarboro Street, Wilson.
In 1942, Samuel Hyman registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 25 December 1901 in Edgecombe County, N.C.; lived at 610 East Green Street, Wilson; his contact was Columbus Stewart, 600 block of Spruce Street; and he worked for Fred Flowers, 310 Sunset Drive, Wilson.
In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 211 Stantonsburg Street, manager/owner of grocery store Columbus Stewart, 54; wife Pearl, 39, grocery saleslady; daughter Eva E., 14; and niece Barbara Simmons, 8.
Columbus Stewart died 6 June 1961 in Durham, N.C., at the Veterans Administration hospital. Per his death certificate, he was born 15 September 1891 in Wake County, N.C., to Lewis Stewart and Ellen McCoy; was married to Pearl Stewart; was a retired grocer/merchant; and was buried in Rest Haven [sic] cemetery.
In the 1900 census of Bull Head township, Greene County, N.C.: farmer William Hardie, 36; wife Carolin, 40; and children Devrow, 15, Bill, 11, Louisa, 9, Ardelia S., 7, Lee C., 6, Fenel F., 4, and James C., 3.
In the 1910 census of Speights Bridge township, Greene County, N.C.: farmer William Hardy, 51; wife Caroline, 49; Arrobella, 18, Cliff, 16, Finner, 14, James, 12, Carrie, 9, and Daniel, 8.
In 1917, Clifton Hardy registered for the World War I draft in Greene County. Per his registration card, he was born February 1893 in Greene County; lived in Walstonburg, Greene County; and worked as a tenant farmer for William Hardy.
In the 1920 census of Speights Bridge township, Greene County: W.M. Hardy, 59; wife Carolina, 59; and children Arbear, 26, Clifton, 26, Finnel, 24, James, 22, Daniel, 18, Hurman, 13, and Fannie May, 11.
On 14 March 1928, Clifton Hardy, 33, of New Bern, N.C., married Della Griswold, 32, of Wilson, in Wilson. Presbyterian minister A.H. George performed the ceremony in the presence of Jas. T. Parker, Mrs. Ashley Hines, and M.B. George.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: owned and valued at $2000, barber Clifton Hardy, 36; wife Della, 33, private cook; and Caroline Hardy, 65, widow.
In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: barber Clifton Hardy, 54; wife Della, 54, house cleaner; and Lucille Joyner, 24, teacher, grammar department, rural schools.
Clifton Hardy died 1 January 1968 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Durham, N.C. Per his death certificate, he was born 22 February 1893 in Greene County, N.C., to Bill Hardy and Carolina Hardy; worked as a barber; and was buried in the Masonic cemetery.
U.S. Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1970, http://www.ancestry.com.
Bert Peacock of Black Creek township died 8 January 1918, perhaps of “dropsy,” a fatal edema. His death certificate is matter-of-fact about his employment. He either worked in or owned a blind tiger, an illegal liquor house.
More than six years ago, I wrote about a letter my grandmother Hattie Henderson Ricks received from her friend Cora Miller Washington Artis. The note contained this brief mention:
At the time, I could not identify “Pet” Reid, but my recent discovery of her obituary cleared the mystery.
Evening Star, 8 December 1958.
“Pet” Reid was Eleanor P. Frederick Reid, long-time Wilson teacher and principal of the Colored Graded School after her husband J.D. Reid was forced out in the wake of the Mary C. Euell incident.
