Month: October 2025

Mitchell vs. Smith and Moore.

In 1911, Annie Mitchell filed suit against Rev. Owen L.W. Smith over a land dispute. In 1907, Mitchell had purchased from Smith a lot in what is now the 500 block of East Nash Street. Per the deed, the lot measured 44 1/4 feet by 210 feet.

Soon, though, Mitchell learned that the lot was only 147 feet deep and that the back 63 feet that she thought she owned in fact was R.J. Taylor’s lot. She sued for the difference in the values of the full lot and the lot she got.

For reasons unstated, the court granted O.L.W. Smith’s motion to add Edward Moore as a party.

On 15 February 1913, Judge B.D. Cline ordered Smith to pay Mitchell $125, plus interest, and Moore to pay Smith $100, plus interest.

Civil Action Papers Concerning Land, Wilson County, N.C., 1908-1916; Wilson County, N.C., Court Records 1904-1916; http://www.familysearch.org.

Sallie Coleman Bynum remembers.

Wilson Daily Times, 24 February 1994.

What a testimony!

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  • Sallie Coleman Bynum

In the 1910 census of Oldfields township, Wilson County: Henry Coleman, 38, farmer; wife Mary J., 28; and children Stella, 13, Willie, 8, Josiah, 7, William, 5, Mattie J., 4, and Sallie, 2.

In the 1920 census of Oldfields township, Wilson County: on Old Wilson and Raleigh Road, farmer Henry Coleman, 50; wife Mary Jane, 40; and children Stella, 22, Willie, 19, Joesire, 17, William H., 16, Mattie J., 13, Sallie, 12, Bell, 10, Stephen, 8, Wiley, 7, and Eva, 1.

In the 1930 census of Oldfields township, Wilson County: farmer Henery D. Coleman, 58; wife Mary J., 52; children Bill, 18, Stephen, 17, Willey, 15, Mattie, 22, Sallie, 20, Eva, 13, Guyes E., 9, Gurtice, 5; and grandson Ollie L., 10 months.

Sallie Coleman Bynum died 6 December 1994 in Wilson.

Lamm’s School stood on Lamm Road just north of present-day U.S. 64. The school was built in 1923 as Wilson County consolidated one- and two-room schools for white children into modern masonry buildings. The building was recently demolished to make way for a Chick Fil A.

  • Sugar Hill — An African-American neighborhood just west of Sims’ town limits.

Images of Historic Wilson County N.C., Images of North Carolina, lib.digitalnc.org.

The obituary of Lillie Mae Wallace McNair, 104.

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Lillie Mae Wallace McNair, 22 January 1913-14 May 2017.

“Ms. Lillie Mae Wallace McNair, age 104, resident of Avante’ Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of Wilson entered into her eternal rest on Saturday, May 14, 2017.

“Funeral services will be held 2 PM Saturday, May 20, 2017 at Piney Grove Free Will Baptist Church, 309 Vick Street, Wilson, NC. Interment will follow in Rest Haven Cemetery.  Bishop Robert J. Smith will officiate.  A viewing will be held on Friday, May 19, 2017 from 5 PM to 8:30 PM with the family receiving friends from 7 PM to 8 PM at Carrons Funeral Home.

“Lillie Mae leaves to cherish her loving memories to her daughter, Sandra Watson of Baltimore, MD; two granddaughters, Wanda MacDonald of Fayetteville, NC and Karen Smith of Randallston, MD; six great grandchildren; nieces; nephews; other relatives and friends.”

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In the 1920 census of 364th Militia District, Dodge County, Georgia: farm manager Ben Wallace, 56; wife Hendie, 49; children Susie, 16, Kisom, 12, Lillie Mae, 6, and James, 3; stepdaughter Hattie Burch, 22, widow, and her children Corine, 4, and Lizzie, 8 months; and stepdaughter Alice Roberson, 30, widow.

In the 1930 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: farm laborer Ben Wallace, 55; wife Endie, 50, laundress; and children Alice R., 39, laundress, Isham, 18, farm laborer, Lillie M., 15, servant, and James, 12.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 716 Viola, India Wallace, 69, widow; son-in-law Willie Thomas, 26, city utilities laborer; daughter Linnie B. Thomas, 27, tobacco factory hanger; daughter Lillie M. Wallace, 21, servant; and grandson Albert Applewhite, 20, tobacco factory laborer.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 627 Viola, James McNeil [sic], 44, farm implement company mechanic; wife Lillie Mae, 30, servant; mother India Wallace, 67; and niece Sandra Wallace, 9.

Endia Wallace died 6 October 1957 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 6 May 1882 in Georgia to Isham and Emily Dandy; was a widow; and lived at 627 Viola Street. Lillie Mae McNair was informant.

Isaac Woodard of Smithfield, North Carolina.

The Johnsenior (1926), yearbook of Johnston County Training School, Smithfield, N.C.

Undertaker Isaac Woodard of Smithfield, Johnston County, N.C., was a Wilson County native.

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In the 1880 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farm laborer Isaac Woodard, 32; wife Anner, 26; and children Fannie, 12, Nellie, 10, James, 9, Frank, 6, Isaac, 3, and Sis, 1.

In the 1900 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Frank Farmer, 22; wife Fannie, 23; son John H., 4; nephew George, 18; and boarder Isaac Woodard, 20.

In the  1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: house mover John Boykin, 50; wife Dicy, 44, cooking; and children Sallie, 19, cooking, James, 18, day laborer, Dotia, 14, Susia, 14, Lillie, 10, and Eliza, 7.

On 26 November 1905, Isaac Woodard, 23, of Wilson, son of Isaac and Susan Woodard (he, living in Arkansas), married Sudie Boykin, 19, of Wilson, daughter of Jno. and Eliza Boykin, in Wilson township, Wilson County. Missionary Baptist minister W.H. Woodard performed the ceremony in the presence of C.L. Darden, Thomas Barnes, and J.J. Langley.

In the 1908 Rocky Mount, NC., city directory: Woodard Isaac (c) blksmith h 907 Beal

In the 1910 census of Rocky Mount, Nash County, N.C.: Isaac Woodard, 25; wife Sudie, 24; children Pauline, 3, and Russell, 18 months; and grandmother Edith Woodard, 65.

In 1918, Isaac Woodard registered for the World War I draft in Johnston County. Per his registration card, he was born 4 July 1882; lived on Market in Smithfield; worked for himself as a horseshoer and undertaker; and his contact was Sudie Woodard.

In the 1920 census of Smithfield, Johnston County: blacksmith Isaac Woodard, 35; wife Sudie, 33; and children Pauline, 13, and Russell, 11; and grandmother Edith Woodard, 83.

Edith Woodard died 16 October 1920 in Smithfield, Johnston County. Per her death certificate, she was 86 years old; was born in Wilson to Ester (no surname given); was a widow; and was buried in Wilson County by Isaac Woodard. Sudie Woodard was informant.

In 1926, Russell Woodard was one of four boys in the Johnston County Training School’s junior class. From the The Johnsenior.

In the 1930 census of Smithfield, Johnston County: on Market Street, Isic Woodard, 43, undertaker; wife Sudie, 40, public school teacher; children Pauline, 23, Russell, 21, Isic Jr., 4, and Hattie, 11 (adopted); and boarder St. Julian Walker, 25, high school teacher.

In the 1940 census of Smithfield, Johnston County: funeral director/undertaker Isaac W. Woodard, 48; wife Suda, 46, public school teacher; and son Isaac Jr., 14.

In 1943, Isaac Woodard Jr. registered for the World War II draft in Smithfield, Johnston County. Per his registration card, he was born 15 November 1925 in Smithfield; lived at 811 East Market Street; his contact was Isaac Woodard Sr.; and he was a student at A.&T.

The Washington Star, 19 November 1978.

The incorporation of the Patriotic Order of Ethiopians of America.

The Order of Ethiopians did not last long, but they had lofty goals. For more about this organization, see here, here, here, and here.

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22806

Certificate of Incorporation of

The Patriotic Order of Ethiopians of America, Inc.

This is to certify that we, the undersigned, do hereby associate ourselves into a non-stock corporation under and by virtue of the laws of the State of North Carolina, contained in Chapter 21 of the Revisal of 1905, entitled “Corporations,” and the several amendments thereto, and to that end do hereby set forth:

1. The name of this corporation is The Patriotic Order of Ethiopians of America, Inc.

2. The location of the principal office of the corporation in this state is at No. ___ Street, in the town of Wilson, County of Wilson.

3. The objects for which this corporation is formed are as follows:
(a) To promote the principles of unity, justice, order, solidarity, love, virtue, loyalty, honor, and fidelity; to raise the standard of social life; inspire race culture; reduce illiteracy; encourage morality; promote enterprise, good health, and charity.

This corporation shall have the exclusive right to establish subordinate divisions.

And in order properly to prosecute the objects and purposes above set forth, the corporation shall have full power and authority to purchase, lease and otherwise acquire, hold, mortgage, convey and otherwise dispose of any and all kinds of property, both real and personal, both in this state and in all other states and territories and dependencies of the United States, and generally to do and perform all acts which may be deemed necessary to the proper and successful prosecution of the objects and purposes for which this corporation is created.

4. The corporation is to have no capital stock.

The names and post office addresses of the incorporators are as follows:

Name Post Office Address
Jas. Alex Mebane Wilson, N.C.
Glenn S. McBrayer Box 373, Wilson, N.C.
M.E. Dubissette, M.D. Wilson, N.C.
Dan Rogers Wilson, N.C.
W.C. Crawford Wilson, N.C.
James Crocker Wilson, N.C.
Levi Arrington Wilson, N.C.
N.A. Pierce Wilson, N.C.
J.S. Spell Wilson, N.C.

5. The period of existence of this corporation is limited to 99 years.

6. Members may be admitted after organization upon the following plans:
By initiation or payment of a fee.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and applied our seals this the 20th day of January A.D. 1923.

Jas. Alex Mebane
Glenn S. McBrayer
M.E. Dubissette, M.D.
Dan Rogers
W.C. Crawford
James H. Crocker
Levi Arrington
N.A. Pierce
J.S. Spell

Signed, sealed, and delivered in the presence of
D.C. Yancey, Notary Public

State of North Carolina } ss.
County of Wilson }

This is to certify that on this 20th day of Jan. A.D. 1923, before me, a Notary Public, personally appeared Jas. Alex Mebane, Glenn S. McBrayer, M.E. DuBissette, Dan Rogers, W.C. Crawford, James H. Crocker, Levi Arrington, N.A. Pierce, J.S. Spell, who, I am satisfied are the persons described in and who executed the foregoing certificate of incorporation of The Patriotic Order of Ethiopians of America Company, and having first made known to them the contents thereof, they did each acknowledge that they signed, sealed, and delivered the same as their voluntary act and deed for the uses and purposes therein expressed.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and applied my official seal, this the 20th day of January A.D. 1923.

D.C. Yancey, Notary Public
My commission expires Sept. 20, 1924.

Filed Jan. 22, 1923.
J. Bryan Grimes, Secretary of State
State of North Carolina,
Department of State

I, W. N. Everett, Secretary of State of the State of North Carolina, do hereby certify the foregoing and attached paper writing to be a true copy of the certificate of incorporation of The Patriotic Order of Ethiopians of America, Inc., and that the same is taken from and compared with the original filed in this office on the 22nd day of January A.D. 1923.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and applied my official seal.
Done in Office at Raleigh, this 22nd day of January in the year of our Lord, 1923.

W. N. Everett
Secretary of State
(State Seal)

Corporations Book 2, page 470, Wilson County Register of Deeds Office, Wilson.

Bertha Bryant becomes Mrs. Dewitt Hawkins.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 24 October 1942.

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In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 596 Wainwright Street, tobacco factory laborer Isham Bryant, 27; wife Rossie, 21; and children Beatrice, 5, Bertha, 4, and Inez, 1.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 805 Roberson Street, Isom Bryant, 37, factory laborer; wife Rossie, 32, public school maid; and daughters Beatrice, 15, Bertha, 14, and Inez, 11.

Bertha Bryant married Dewitt Hawkins on 8 September 1942 in New York City. Hawkins died 21 October 1956. Per a Report on Interment, he served in 3294 QM Svc. Co. QMC from 1942 to 1945 as a private first class and was buried in Long Island National Cemetery. His next of kin was Bertha Hawkins, 183-48 Dunlop Avenue, Saint Albans, New York — “Widow Bertha to be buried in the same grave.”

Bertha Bryant Hawkins returned to Wilson and later married Dan Carroll, who owned a popular Nash Street pool room.

B.W.A. Historical Marker Series, no. 29: Williamson High School.

In this series, which will post on occasional Wednesdays, I populate the landscape of Wilson County with imaginary “historical markers” commemorating people, places, and events significant to African-American history or culture.

We been here.

WILLIAMSON HIGH SCHOOL

African-American merchant-farmer Paul T. Williamson donated the land on which the Wilson County School Board built a six-room high school to serve black students in southwestern Wilson County. Williamson High School opened in 1941. Merged with new Springfield H.S. in 1951.

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, October 2025.

Tobacco factories dismiss stemmers, citing law and machinery.

In the fall of 1938, federal minimum-wage law and mechanization combined to erase hundreds of stemming jobs from Wilson tobacco factories.

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Wilson Daily Times, 24 October 1938.

“Each year here in Wilson hundreds of negroes leave private employment in the fall to take more lucrative jobs in the factories while hundreds of other negroes who are out of work at the time get work at that time.”