Wilson Daily Times, 14 May 1940.
I have not found a North Carolina death certificate for Lubert Thompson.
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In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: widow Lula Sanders, 39, farm laborer, and children Rosa, 22, Rena, 19, Odessa, 13, James, 11, and Rubby, 4.
During a recent visit to Wilson, I drove out toward Elm City to visit with Amanda Mitchell Cameron and follow up on the delightful interview she gave me last month. At 99, Ms. Cameron is a fount of information about her part of the county, and the people and places she mentioned will keep me researching for months.
Among the topics she touched on was the fight by rural African-American parents for school buses to transport students to the new Elm City and Williamson Colored High Schools:
“That first year, we were able to get a bus. That was in ’41 that we got it. … [A]nd my second oldest brother drove the school bus, but getting those buses was not easy. My father [Kester R. Mitchell] and Phil Lindsey, Sidney Harris, Johnny Parker, Robert Mitchell, all of them joined Howard Farmer. They went to Raleigh to talk about getting a bus for these children to ride school, and Mr. Curtis, I think was the name, Mr. [Kader R.] Curtis, told him at that time, “Well, we can furnish you — what you do, you go back to you to your superintendent,” and, well, you know, at that time we had two superintendents. Elm City had a superintendent and Wilson, but Curtis was the county superintendent. He was the county. And that group of men came back at some point, from what I heard, went to Mr. Curtis, and Mr. Curtis furnished two buses. As I said, my brother drove one, and the other one was Fred Armstrong, and he lived way out what now you call 42, not 42 — Langley Road.
“… And then later on they found out that two buses were not enough to pick up. They were only picking up high school students, not the elementary students. Not grammar. You know, you had to be a high school student. And so, they added on one other bus, and that bus was to be driven by Roosevelt Sharp. …”
During my visit, Mrs. Cameron showed me a display prepared by Frederick Douglass High School students in honor of those who led the demand for buses and the early drivers, which also included Thelma Ward Williams.
Interview with Amanda M. Cameron, all rights reserved; image courtesy of Amanda M. Cameron.
Wilson Daily Times, 6 October 1945.
I don’t know Henry Ray or his frame of mind, but I am suspicious of this quick conclusion about his manner of death. His death certificate underscores the cursory nature of any investigation into his shooting, listing his cause of death as “probably suicide gun shot wound in chest” (emphasis added.)
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In 1942, Henry Ray registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was lived in Sharpsburg, Wilson County; was born 23 October 1923 in Nash County, N.C.; his contact was H.P. Massengill, Sharpsburg; and he worked on the Claud Albritton farm, Sharpsburg, Nash County, N.C.
Henry Ray died 5 October 1945 in Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was single; was 20 years old; was born in Nash County to Coley Ray of Nash County and Ida Barnes of Wilson County; he worked in farming; and he was buried in Sharpsburg.
Wilson Daily Times, 12 May 1931.
I can only speculate about what happened at Wilson Chapel to prompt publication of this notice … but speculating I am.
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On 14 May 1917, Henry Dilliard, 21, of Wilson, married Susanna Parker, 18, of Wilson, in Wilson. A.M.E. Zion minister B.P. Coward performed the ceremony.
In 1917, Henry Dillard registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 2 October 1896 in Red Springs, N.C.; lived at 121 Manchester Street, Wilson; worked as a laborer at Farmers Oil Mill; and was married.
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 207 Reid Street, oil mill laborer Henry Dillard, 24, and wife Sudie, 20.
On 29 May 1933, Henry Dillard, 36, of Ayden, son of Jake and Mary Dillard, married Bessie Brown, 28, of Ayden, daughter of Martha Cobb, in Greenville, Pitt County, N.C.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 719 Viola Street, tobacco factory cooper Henry Dillard, 42; wife Bessie, 36; and children Magdeline, 6, Maybelle, 5, Bessie M., 2, and Henry Jr., 1 month.
In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 719 Viola, Henry Y. Dillard Sr., 53, meal cook and foreman at fertilizer plant; wife Bessie, 46; and children Maggie Line, 16, Mabel, 14, Bessie Mae, 12, Henry Jr., 10, and Robert Henry, 6.
Henry Younger Dillard died 23 February 1970 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 21 October 1896 to Jake Dillard; was married to Mildred Barnes Dillard; lived at 1501 Washington Street; and worked as a carpenter and minister.
1948 Ayantee yearbook, North Carolina A.&T. State University.
Wilson County native Idell Jones, seated center, with sorors of Alpha Mu Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
Wilson Daily Times, 25 May 1937.
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In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Woodard Street, widow Etta Reavis, 45, tobacco factory worker; children Louise, 18, and James, 6; brother-in-law Fred Reavis, 26, carpenter; his wife Cornelia, 19, and son Ralph, 4. Louise and Cornelia worked as tobacco factory laborers.
On 4 October 1923, Levi H. Peacock Jr., 22, of Wilson, son of Levi and Hannah Peacock, married Elouise Reavis, 20, of Wilson, daughter of Joseph and Etta Reavis, on 4 October 1922 in Wilson. W.A. Mitchner applied for the license, and Presbyterian minister A.H. George performed the ceremony in the presence of John D. Henry, Henrietta Foster and John H. Parris.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 204 Vick Street, hotel bellboy Levi Peacock, 30; wife Elouise, 28, a public school teacher; children Jewel D., 4, and Thomas L., 14; and mother-in-law Etta Reaves, 50, post office maid. [This entry contains errors. Jual D. Peacock was a daughter, rather than son, of Levi and Eloise Peacock, and Thomas was in fact just over a year old in 1930.]
Mary Etta Reavis died 22 May 1937 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 59 years old; was born in Vance County, N.C., to Thomas Fain and Clara Thomas; was a widow; lived at 418 Reid Street; worked as a charwoman in government service; and was buried in Wilson [probably, Vick Cemetery.] Eloise Peacock was informant.
Elouise R. Peacock died 15 June 1951 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 4 July 1906 in Wilson to Etta Fain; was a public school teacher; was married; and resided at 414 North Reid Street. Informant was Jeuetta Anderson.
Kudos to the Taylor-Swinson Historic Memorial Association for their exemplary stewardship of their family cemetery.
Taylor-Swinson likely contains graves of people who had lived in Wilson County and certainly holds the work of Clarence B. Best, Wilson’s extraordinary headstone cutter.
Watch the video here.
Wilson Times, 7 May 1918.
John Pettiford was likely closer to 90 than 106.
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On 31 December 1885, John Pettiford, 50, married Dizey Stancil, 50, at the Wilson County Court House.
In the 1900 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer John Pettifoot, 75; wife Diza A., 70; and niece Cassanda Aycock, 22, farm laborer.
On 7 September 1883, Charles H. Smith filed a divorce action in Wilson County Superior Court against his wife Jennie Smith. Smith had been principal of Wilson Academy (the private graded school that preceded the Colored Graded School) and was an up-and-coming figure in the A.M.E. Zion Church. He also founded a school in Black Creek. Jennie Smith was the sister of Braswell R. Winstead, educator, postal clerk, and close associate of Samuel H. Vick. J.W. Hood highlighted Charles H. Smith in One Hundred Years of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church; or, the Centennial of African Methodism. Hood’s bio of Smith does not mention his marriage to Virginia Smith.
The plaintiff complains and alleges
(1) That on the ____ day of 1871 (or 72) he intermarried with the defendant Jennie Smith
(2) That he and said defendant were then and have ever since been citizens and residents of the State of North Carolina
(3) That he and said defendant had lived together as man and wife in various places in this State after their said marriage until on discovering the various acts of adultery hereinafter mentioned, he separated from her
(4) That in or about the Summer of 1881 (for want of information plaintiff is unable to state this or any subsequent dates with greater particularity) the defendant at the residence in the County and town of Wilson committed adultery with one Patrick Brewer
(5) That in or about April 1881 in Greene County, N.C., at or near the house of Hagar Edwards, the defendant committed adultery with one Scott Ward
(6) That in the winter of 1880 and also in [illegible] ’81 in the County and Town of Wilson, N.C., in or about the winter of 1881, and at her residence, the defendant committed adultery with said Scott Ward
(7) That at her residence in the County and Town of Wilson, N.C., in or about the summer of 1881, the defendant committed adultery with one Wardson Ward
(8) That in the County and Town of Wilson, N.C., in or about the winter of 1881, at her residence, the defendant committed adultery with one Joseph Freeman
(9) That there were born of the said marriage a son named Charles H. Smith aged five years, and a daughter named Araminta Smith aged nine years, now in the care and custody of the plaintiff
[Jurat omitted]
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Perhaps: in the 1870 census of Town of Wilson, Wilson County: farm laborer William Smith, 27; wife Temperance, 31; son Charles, 20, farm laborer; and Nancy Brown, 51.
On 28 August 1874, Charles Smith, 22, married Jennie Barnes, 17, in Wilson County.
In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Pettigrew Street, minister Charles Smith, 26; wife Virginia, 22; and children Arminta, 7, John T., 3, and Charles H., 1; and brother-in-law Braswell Winstead, 20, teaching school.
On 28 August 1874, Charles Smith, 22, married Jennie Barnes, 17, in Wilson County.
In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Pettigrew Street, minister Charles Smith, 26; wife Virginia, 22; and children Arminta, 7, John T., 3, and Charles H., 1; and brother-in-law Braswell Winstead, 20, teaching school.
In the 1880 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: day laborer Scott Ward, 23; wife Tena, 24, cook; and children Beauty, 1, and Nathan, 3.
Perhaps, in the 1880 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Warren Ward, 53; wife Sarah, 52, washing; and children Manda, 8, Henry, 7, and Lawrence, 19.
In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Pettigrew Street, farmer Haywood Freeman, 53; wife Emily, 40; and children Joseph, 17, and Sydnor, 15.
In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Pettigrew Street, minister Charles Smith, 26; wife Virginia, 22; and children Arminta, 7, John T., 3, and Charles H., 1; and brother-in-law Braswell Winstead, 20, teaching school.
On 17 April 1901, Chas. H. Smith married Elizzie Reed in Fair Bluff, Columbus County, N.C.
In the 1910 census of Tatums township, Columbus County: Charley Smith, 30, lumberyard foreman, and wife Lizzie, 28.
In 1918, Charlie Henry Smith registered for the World War I draft in Columbus County, N.C. Per his registration card, he was born 7 October 1879; lived in Boardman, Columbus County; worked as a lumberman for Butlers Lumber Company; and his nearest relative was Elizabeth Smith. He signed his card “Charles Henry Smith.” [Not to be confused with another Charlie Smith, who also registered in 1918. Per his registration card, he was born 12 August 1876; lived in Acme, Columbus County; worked as a laborer for Acme Manufacturing Company; and his nearest relative was Lizzie Smith. The form was signed with an X.]
In the 1920 census of Tatums township, Columbus County: lumber camp overseer Charlie Smith, 38, and wife Lizzie, 36.
Charles H. Smith died 9 June 1932 in Fair Bluff, Columbus County, N.C. Per his death certificate, he was 54 years old; was born in Wilson to Charlie H. Smith; was married to Annie Smith; and worked in a sawmill. Charlie Maultsby was informant.
In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Pettigrew Street, minister Charles Smith, 26; wife Virginia, 22; and children Arminta, 7, John T., 3, and Charles H., 1; and brother-in-law Braswell Winstead, 20, teaching school.
In December 1898, Charly Maultsby, son of Sophia Maultsby, married Araminta Smith, daughter of C.H. Smith and Jennie Smith, in Columbus County, N.C.
In the 1900 census of Whiteville, Columbus County, N.C.: day laborer Charles Maultsby, 25, and wife Araminta, 22.
Wilson County Divorce Records 1859-1913,