These death certificates suggest that most pre-Great Migration migrants from Wilson County to Chicago had spent a decade or two in Lower Mississippi Valley states.
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- Nathan Fields
Nathan Fields died 7 June 1929 in Chicago, Illinois. Per his death certificate, he was 63 years old; was born in Wilson, N.C., to Nathan Fields Sr.; worked as laborer; and was buried in Wilson.
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In the 1920 census of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois: at 3857 State Street, Fountain Thurman, 51, apartment janitor, and roomer Nathan P. Fields, 53, packing company laborer.
- Samuel Ellis
Samuel Ellis died 19 December 1943 in Chicago, Illinois. Per his death certificate, he was about 67 years old; was born in Wilson, N.C., to Wisdom Ellis; was married to Nancy; and worked as a junker.
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On 4 February 1888, Wisdom Ellis, 46, son of Strickmore and Jane Ellis, married Mima Fields, 47, daughter of Rachel Fields, at Wisdom Ellis’ house in Wilson. Free Will Baptist minister Solomon Arrington performed the ceremony.
In the 1940 census of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois: at 4104 Wabash, Samuel Ellis, 64, born in N.C.; wife Nancy, 42, born in Mississippi; and three lodgers.
- Babe James
Babe James died 16 March 1932 in Chicago, Illinois. Per his death certificate, he was 49 years old; was born in Wilson, N.C., to Berry James; was married to Annie; and worked as a building wrecker.
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In the 1930 census of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois: at 1619 Ashland, owned and valued at $4000, Babe James, 45, born in S.C.; wife Annie, 39, born in Georgia; and children Lurenda, 15, and John, 13, both born in Florida.
- Ida James
Ida James died 2 August 1927 in Chicago, Illinois. Per her death certificate, she was 37 years old; was born in Wilson, N.C., to Ned and Beedee Scarborough of Wilson; was married to Henry; and was a housewife.
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In the 1870 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: Ned Scarborough, 23; wife Obedience, 18; and children Rufus, 3, and Ida, 1.
In the 1880 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: laborer Ned Scarboro, 35; wife Bedie, 27; and children Rufus, 14, Lida, 11, Jinnie, 8, Polly, 6, Martha, 3, and Penny, 1.
- Arthur Tart
Arthur Tart died 17 December 1928 in Chicago, Illinois. Per her death certificate, she was born 29 June 1891 in Wilson, N.C., to John Tart of Wilson, N.C.; and was married to Carneelia.
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In the 1917, Arthur Tart registered for the World War I draft in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. Per her registration card, he was born 29 July 1892 in Wilson, N.C.; lived in DeQuincy, Louisiana; worked as a brakeman for Gulf Coast Line R.R.; and had a wife and child.
In the 1920 census of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois: at 2558 Park Avenue, Arthur Tart, 28, car shop laborer, born in N.C.; wife Cornelia, 30, sewing, born in Mississippi; and daughter Genieve, 8, born in Mississippi.
Lucile Tart was born 17 September 1921 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, to Arthur Tart, born about 1891, and Cornelia Tart, born about 1890.
Vivian Arthur May Tart was born 23 November 1922 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, to Arthur Tart, born 1889 in Wilson, N.C., and Cornelia Campbell, born 1889 in Jackson, Mississippi.
In the 1930 census of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois: at 2713 Fulton Street, widow Cornelia Tart, 40, and children Geneva, 18, Lucile, 8, Vivian, 7, Arthur, 5, David, 4, and Beatric, 1. The five younger children were born in Illinois.
- Jessie Taylor
Jessie Taylor died 15 August 1939 in Bremen township, Cook County, Illinois. Per her death certificate, she was born 30 September 1903 in Wilson, N.C., to a father whose last name was Taylor and a mother whose last name was Bailey; and was the widow of a Taylor.
- Mary Minor
Mary Minor died 4 June 1943 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Per her death certificate, she was born about 1875 in Wilson, N.C., to Louis Barnes; and was the widow of Mose Minor.
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On 27 April 1897, Mary Lester, 24, married Moses Minor, 27, in Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas.
In the 1900 census of Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas: fisherman Moses Minor, 33; wife Mary, 28; and son Isom, 7 months.
Pine Bluff Daily Graphic, 13 May 1904.
In the 1920 census of Kimbrough township, Lincoln County, Arkansas: farmer Mose Minor, 55; wife Mary, 48; and children Roberta, 15, Rosa, 10, Mose Jr., 13, and Joseph, 9. All were born in Arkansas except Mary, who was born in North Carolina.
Illinois Deaths and Sillbirths Index 1916-1947, http://www.ancestry.com.