Month: June 2024

William Alston buys a lot on Mercer Street.

In January 1913, William Alston purchased Lot Number 9 of the Winona subdivision from Samuel and Annie Washington Vick for $1225.

Deed book 97, page 21, Wilson County Register of Deeds Office, Wilson.

——

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Winona Road, farmer William Alston, 30, and wife Annie, 23. [Apparently, the Alstons were living on Mercer Street before they bought property from the Vicks.]

In the 1920 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Alston Wm (c; Anna) farmer h 1020 Mercer

In the 1922 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Alston Wm (c; Anna) farmer h Mercer nr Five Points

In the 1925 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Alston Wm (c) farmer h Mercer nr Mill Rd

In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Alston Wm (c) farmer h 1025 Mercer 

Historic Black Business Series, no. 27: William Allen’s grocery.

The 500 block of East Nash Street is justly remembered as the 20th century epicenter of Wilson’s African-American-owned businesses. However, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Black entrepreneurs and tradespeople also operated across the tracks. As Wilson’s downtown experiences a resurgence, let’s rediscover and celebrate these pioneering men and women.

Check in each Sunday for the latest in the Historic Black Business Series!

William Allen‘s grocery was in a block of South Goldsboro Street packed with black businesses in the very early 20th century. The site will soon lie under a baseball stadium.

Allen is listed in the 1908 and 1912 Wilson city directories as a grocer at 412 South Goldsboro Street.

1908 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County, Ann Allen, 32, was described as a grocery clerk. Though her 33 year-old husband Will Allen’s occupation was farm laborer, he seems likely to have been the grocer above.

The Gazette speaks of people you know.

Not surprisingly for an era in which newspapers were the primary source of information beyond one’s neighborhood, Samuel H. Vick subscribed to more one than one.

Augustus S. Clark was a county commissioner? How so? He finished his theology degree at Lincoln in 1897, when he was about 23 years old, and went to Georgia a few later. A bit of research reveals a contemporary county commissioner named Robert S. Clark, who is likely the person intended.

Miss Carrie Smith of Wilson appears several times in the Gazette’s society columns circa 1897. She is likely the Carrie Smith, 20, nurse, in the household of her uncle and aunt Ed, 49, and Sallie Smith, 44, in the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County. Channie Smith, 24, another niece, also lived in the household.

Rev. “Woodward” was likely W.T.H. Woodard, a Missionary Baptist minister. I have not identified Rev. Strickland.

The Gazette (Raleigh, N.C.), 8 May 1897.

Odius and Della Coleman Farmer, exodusters.

Odius and Della Coleman Farmer were among the Wilson County migrants who streamed to Arkansas in the last Exoduster wave.

In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Washington Farmer, 43, wife Wady, 44, children Edith, 14, Fortin, 13, Gimsey, 11, John W., 8, Nancy, 6, and Orgius, 6, and farm laborer Nelson Thomas, 21.

In the 1880 census of Old Fields township, Wilson County: Washington Farmer, 52, wife Waity, 50, children Edieth, 25, Gincy, 21, John W., 18, Nancy, 16, and Ojus, 13, and granddaughters Mariah J., 5, and Margaret, 2.

In the 1880 census of Taylors township, Wilson County: farmer Nancy Coleman, 45, widow, and children Margaret, 13, Thomas, 12, Amos, 10, Della, 9, Henry, 7, and Fannie, 5.

On 6 February 1884, Washington Farmer, 55, married Nancy Coleman, 45 [Squire Coleman’s widow], at Nancy Coleman’s in Wilson County.

On 17 June 1887, Ossie Farmer, 20, of Wilson County, son of Wash Farmer and Nannie Coleman [sic] married Dellar Coleman, 17, of Wilson County, daughter of Squire Coleman and Nancy Coleman, at Washington Farmer’s in Oldfields township, Wilson County. J.H. Locus, N.T. Bagley, and Thomas Coleman witnessed the ceremony. [Odious Farmer and Della Coleman were step-siblings.]

In the 1900 census of Spring Creek township, Lee County, Arkansas: Odias Farmer, 33, farmer, born in North Carolina; wife Della, 25; and children Green, 11, Fannie, 7, Odias, 4, Mittie, 2, and Jackson, 10 months.

On 25 February 1912, Odeaus Farmer, 45, married Lizzie Jamerson, 34, in Aubrey, Lee County, Arkansas.

In the 1920 census of Spring Creek township, Lee County, Arkansas: Odius Farmer, 54, farmer, born in North Carolina; wife Annie, 41; and children Mittie B., 23, and Albert, 10. Next door: Odius Farmer Jr., 24; wife Mary E., 24; and son Tommy, 1.

In the 1930 census of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois: at 162o West 14th Street, Oidus Farmer, 60, lumberyard laborer, and wife Ida, 40.

In the 1940 census of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois: Odious Farmer, 73, widower, in the household of Leo and Evelyn Carter.

1942 draft registration card of Green Washington Farmer, son of Odius and Della Coleman Farmer. Green was born Wilson County shortly before the family migrated to Arkansas.

Odius Farmer, son of Washington Farmer, died 20 September 1940 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.

Walter and Sarah Hines buy a lot on Green Street.

In April 1913, painter Butler E. Jones sold Walter and Sarah Dortch Hines a lot on Green Street adjacent to Hines’ half-brother David Barnes, Wiley Barefoot, Short Barnes, and others. The Hineses invested heavily in rental property, and this was not the lot on which their “home house” stood at 617 East Green Street.

Deed book 97. page 87, Wilson County Register of Deeds Office, Wilson.

The family of Nathan and Lucy Barnes, exodusters.

Nathan and Lucy King Barnes and their children were among thousands of North Carolinians, many from Wilson County, who sought greener pastures in Arkansas.

On 29 March 1877, Nathan Barnes married Lucy King in Wayne County, North Carolina.

In the 1880 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: Nathan Barnes, 28; wife Lucy, 20; and children Morrison, 2, and Dinah, 6 months.

On 31 January 1897, Deana Barnes and John Edmondson were married in Cross County, Arkansas.

In the 1900 census of Searcy township, Cross County, Arkansas: farmer Nathan Barnes, 48; wife Lucy, 37; children Marson, 22, Mary Jane, 16, Claudie, 14, Elroy, 12, Maggie, 8, and Rosco L., 5; son-in-law John Edmondson, 21; daughter Diana, 21; grandson Snode, 6 months; and boarder, Mack Stewart, 19. The Barnes’ two youngest children were born in Arkansas; the rest in North Carolina. Thus, we can pinpoint their migration to years between 1888 and 1892.

In the 1910 census of Searcy township, Cross County, Arkansas: farmer Nathan Barnes, 48; wife Lucy, 37; and children Claudy, 23, Leroy, 22, May[illegible], 17, Reskin, 15, and Tike, 10. All, curiously, were described as born in Alabama except Tike, who was born in Arkansas.

In the 1910 census of Smith township, Cross County, Arkansas: Marshel [sic] Barnes, 32; wife Valley, 20; and son Thomas L., 1.

Nathan Barnes died 7 September 1917 in Searcey township, Cross County, Arkansas. Per his death certificate, he was born 1 January 1852 in North Carolina to Ben Barnes; was a farmer; and was buried in Mount Zion Cemetery. C.D. Barnes was informant.

In 1918, Morrison Barnes registered for the World War I draft in Cross County, Arkansas. Per his registration card, he was born 15 January 1878; lived in Vanndale, Cross County; worked as a farmer; and his nearest relative was Vallie Barnes.

On 11 January 1920, Roscoe Barnes married Bessie R. Vause in Cross County, Arkansas.

In the 1920 census of Searcy township, Cross County, Arkansas: Morrison Barnes, 41; wife Vallie, 31, and children Thomas, 11, Tennie, 7, Sister, 3, and Elliott, 1.

In the 1920 census of Searcy township, Cross County, Arkansas: Elroy Barnes, 31; wife Daisy, 21; and children Callie, 8, and Savannah Barnes, 3, and Ernest Futrel, 4.

Daddy [Claudie] Barnes died 11 January 1930 in Forrest City, Madison township, Saint Francis County, Arkansas. Per his death certificate, he was 44 years old; was born in North Carolina to Nathan and Lucy Barnes; worked as a farmer for C. Barton; was married to Lucy Barnes; and was buried in Hinton cemetery.

In the 1930 census of Smith township, Cross County, Arkansas: Marshal Vaughnes [sic], 53; wife Rosey, 42; children Surtina E., 13, John E., 11, and Joshway R., 9; and mother Lucy Barnes, 68.

In the 1940 census of Wynne township, Cross County, Arkansas: Lucy Barnes, 87, is a lodger in the household of Alex Abraham.

In 1942, Elroy Barnes registered for the World War II draft in Saint Francis County, Arkansas. Per his registration card, he was born 23 May 1888 in Wilson, N.C.; lived in Palestine, Saint Francis County, Arkansas; and his contact was Daisy Barnes.

On 16 October 1932, Morrison Barnes, 54, married Mary Sweeten, 27, in Wittsburg, Cross County, Arkansas.

In 1942, Roscoe Lee Barnes registered for the World War II draft in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Per his registration card, he was born 12 March 1895 in Wynne, Arkansas; lived on Valley Forde Road, Devon, Chester County; his contact was daughter Lolly Barnes; and he worked for McAlvoy Brickyard, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.

On 15 September 1945, Roscoe L. Barnes, 50, widower, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, born in Arkansas to Nathaniel and Lucy Barnes, married Thelma H. Moultrie, 39, of Philadelphia, born in South Carolina to West and Addie Hunter, in Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware.

Elroy R. Barnes died 23 December 1962 in Saint Louis, Missouri. Per his death certificate, he was born 23 May 1888 in North Carolina to Nathan Barnes and Lucy (maiden name unknown) and was a minister. Daisy Barnes was informant.

Roscoe Barnes died 24 January 1966 in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Per his death certificate, he was born 12 March 1895 in Wynne, Arkansas, to Nathan Barnes; lived in Chester, Pennsylvania; was a widower; and worked as a laborer.

B.W.A. Historical Marker Series, no. 7: Samuel H. Vick Elementary School.

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.

SAMUEL H. VICK ELEMENTARY

Opened in Dec. 1936 for first through 5th grades with 600 students transferred from overcrowded Sallie Barbour School. After integration in 1970, housed first through third grades. Closed in 1979. In 2007, Vick Elementary reopened on former site of Darden High School. OIC now operates in this building.

Happy birthday to me.

While organizing my files a few weeks ago, I found a letter that I could not recall ever having seen. In the summer of 1964, my father was in Raleigh, North Carolina, taking teacher-training courses at his alma mater, Saint Augustine’s College. On June 22, he took pen in hand to write my mother a few lines. “I really will be glad when the baby comes,” he said.

The baby? Me.

“Every time the phone rings I listen to hear if it is for me,” he continued. “I’ll be home Friday evening or Saturday depending on what we have to do.”

He came home early Friday, June 26. And I was born at Mercy Hospital that afternoon.

My mother the month before I arrived, in Sunday-best, kitten-heel slingbacks and oversized cloche. 

Today I am 60 years old. It’s an odd thing for me to hear coming out of my mouth, but I am grateful for every year. My father didn’t quite make it to see me here, but my mother’s love buoys me every day.

My father and me the month after I arrived. We lived at 706 Ward Boulevard (on land once owned by Samuel H. Vick) until early the following year.

I’ve been blessed in so many ways across these six decades — in family, friends, love, health, career. There are no greater gifts. Cheers to the next!