Samuel Vick‘s Lincoln Benefit Society did business well beyond Wilson. In 1909, Annie Graham, executrix of the estate of Fred Graham of Wilmington, North Carolina, sued Lincoln for a $500 benefit the company refused to pay out, claiming the Grahams paid the final premium to an unauthorized person.
Wilmington Morning Star, 16 July 1909.
In 1902, Samuel H. and Annie M. Vick sold Joseph S. Jackson a narrow strip of land lying between Jackson’s lot at 618 East Green Street and the Vicks’ lot.
The Jacksons’ two-story house at 618 East Green Street, shown here on the 1922 Sanborn map of Wilson, no longer stands.
It was replaced relatively recently by this small gable-front house:
Book 68, page 551, Register of Deeds Office, Wilson County Courthouse.
In the winter of 1902, doctors in Wilson County commenced a vaccination campaign to counter the spread of smallpox across North Carolina. Physicians in the county were paid ten cents per resident inoculated and sent in lists of patients to justify their fees. Dr. T.L. Brooks, who operated Brooks & Whitley, Druggists, with W.R. Whitley, practiced in Black Creek and surrounds. In February 1902, the County paid him $13.70 for fees and expenses related to 136 vaccinations.
The following list of African-American patients is abstracted from the roll Dr. Brooks submitted to the County:
Earnest Parker, 17
Fred Dawson, 19
Francis Farmer, 22
Nettie Atkinson, 22
Nellie Atkinson, 19
Julia Fields, 18
Naomy Atkinson, 15
Sallie Jordan, 16
Lucy Atkinson, 14
Jane Jordan, 13
Cresy Whitaker, 12
Charity Fields, 8
Rosa Jordan, 13
Nettie Newsome, 10
Lewis H. Newsome, 7
Alford Jordan, 9
George Jordan, 11
Patsy Whitaker, 19
Mary Jordan, 9
Matthew Whitley, 16
Clara Crumidee, 13
Orangy Barnes, 23
Geo. Dew, 26
Bud Crawford, 26
Frank Tomlin, 30
Bud Tomlin, 18
John Whitley, 56
Richard Whitley, 19
In the winter of 1902, doctors in Wilson County commenced a vaccination campaign to counter the spread of smallpox across North Carolina. Physicians in the county were paid ten cents per resident inoculated and sent in lists of patients to justify their fees. Dr. Edwin G. Moore practiced in Elm City and surrounds. On 3 February 1902, the County paid him $52.70 for fees and expenses related to 164 vaccinations (including ten pounds of sulphur used to treat three houses.)
The following list of African-American patients is abstracted from the roll Dr. Moore submitted to the County:
Sidney Harriss, 8 January 1902, age 18
Clarence Drake, 8 January 1902, age 14
Fred Gaston, “, age 12
Ivy Barnes, “, age 15
Nellie Ellis, “, age 17
Blanche Barnes, “, age 12
Haywood Ellis, “, age 13
Martha Ellis, 9 January 1902, age 20
Haywood Ellis, “, age 10
Lily Hall, “, age 18
Cora Gaston, “, age 16
Violet Bullock, “, age 16
Lena Armstrong, “, age 18
Wm. Armstrong, “, age 7
Ricks Whitaker, “, age 14
Ben Whitehead, 10 January 1902, age 19
Jennie Bunn, “, age 16
Ivrah Farmer, “, age 23
Almeta Williams, “, age 14
Mag Bullock, “, age 12
Elmer Gaston, 11 January 1902, age 9
Alma Gaston, “, age 7
Tom Coggins, “, age 16
Mag Armstrong, “, age 14
Etta Kelly, “, age 14
Pearly Mitchell, “, age 11
Viola Kelly, “, age 8
Flossie Gaston, “, age 7
Ada Gaston, “, age 15
Georgia Gaston, “, age 17
Serena Hunter, “, age 12
Julius Mitchell, 13 January 1902, age 10
Nina Gaston, “, age 13
Walter Locus, “, age 11
James Rosser, “, age 9
Maggie Ricks, “, age 16
Mancy Gaston, “, 9
Gus Gaston, “, 7
Malvina Johnson, 14 January 1902, age 16
Arie Williams, “, age 15
Catherine Hall, “, age 6
Anna Belle Hall, 15 January 1902, age 12
Minerva Anderson, 16 January 1902, age 15
James Anderson, “, age 9
Jno. Red Barnes, “, age 18
Redmond Barnes, “, age 66
Kinny Ellis, ” , age 17
Will Barnes, 17 January 1902, age 26
Scilla Parker, “, age 40
Nathan Williams, 18 January 1902, age 60
Alice Williams, “, age 40
Emma Williams, “, age 14
Melvina Whitehead, “, age 42
Wily Bynum, “, age 38
John Ellis Sr., “, age 46
Ed Barnes, “, age 27
Caroline Reid, 20 January 1902, age 21
Farro Sanders, 21 January 1902, age 13
George Sanders, “, age 13
Wily Barnes, 30 January 1902, age 30
Jno. Ellis Jr., “, age 19
Nan Williams, “, age 13
Miscellaneous Records, Wilson County Records, North Carolina State Archives.
Several of the founders of Indianapolis’ North Carolina Club were natives of Wilson:
Indianapolis Star, 23 November 1908.
Raleigh Times, 30 September 1907.
This table reveals the stark disparities in wealth between whites and blacks in early twentieth century Wilson County.
The columns, representing tax categories and values, are Number of Polls; Number Acres Land; Value Land and Timber; Number Town Lots; Total Value Real Estate; Total Value Personal Property; Aggregate Value Real and Personal.
[I am intrigued by the differences in land ownership among African-Americans in different townships. Some surely is attributable merely to population, but I wonder about additional causes of inequality. Why so few taxable individuals or landowners in Stantonsburg township? Why were African-Americans in Spring Hill township so much more prosperous? I have some theories, but I want to explore more. — LYH]
Report of the North Carolina Corporation Commission as a Board of State Tax Commissioners (1907).
To secure debt of $54.55 and an additional loan of $100, Spencer S. Shaw agreed in the event of default to convey to Hawley & Revell an iron gray mule, a Hackney top buggy, five hogs, a one-horse wagon, and several farm tools.
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In the 1900 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: Spencer Shaw, 40, wife Tabitha, 41, and children George A., 17, James R., 11, Hattie, 9, Joeseph G., 6, Seth T., 5, and Albert S., 2.
In the 1910 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: on Wilson and Raleigh Branch Road, Spencer Shaw, 51, wife Bitha, 49, and children James R., 21, Joseph T., 16, Seth T.,14, Albert S., 11, Merlin S., 9, Willie H., 7, and Alice M., 5.
In the 1920 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: on Shaw Avenue on Springhill Road, farmer Spencer S. Shaw, 60; wife Bitha, 60; and children Albert, 22, Marlie, 19, Willie, 16, and Alice, 14.
Wilson Daily Times, 12 January 1920.
In the 1930 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: on Buckhorn Road, farmer Spencer S. Shaw, 70; wife Bitha J., 70; sons William H., 26, and Seth T., 34; daughter-in-law Georgeanna, 24; and grandchildren Alice M., 4, Seth T. Jr., 2, and Franklin S., 6 months.
Book 72, Page 292, Register of Deeds Office, Wilson County Courthouse, Wilson.
Newspaper reports reveal a strike (or series of strikes) by African-American brick masons in Wilson in the first decade of the 20th century. Though the record is sparse, these articles offer rare glimpses of black workers flexing their economic muscle, and surprising hints of the reach of organized labor during a time and place well-known for hostility toward unionization.
Wilmington Messenger, 21 October 1902.
Brickmasons led by Goodsey Holden struck for a nine-hour work day consistent with that required by “the International union.” The protest, at least temporarily, resulted in concessions from the contractors for whom they worked.
News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), 2 April 1903.
Six months later, bricklayers struck again, crippling progress on the construction of several large brick commercial buildings, including Imperial Tobacco’s new stemmery. Contractors brought in nearly 20 masons from Raleigh and Durham to pick up the work. The sub-headline suggests that the men refused to cross picket lines once they arrived in Wilson, but the article does not address the matter. Masons in those cities were also engaged in strike activity.
Greensboro Daily News, 18 March 1906.
Three years later, Will Kittrell was arrested and charged with conspiracy and blackmail for allegedly warning a Henderson brickmason to leave town. Contractors continued to import masons from across North Carolina to fill the gap created by Wilson workers’ refusal to work without limits on long workdays.
——
Wilson Sharpe died without a will in late 1900, and the Court appointed Samuel H. Vick and Braswell R. Winstead to assist as commissioners in the handling of his estate.
Sharpe’s sole heir was his widow Cherry Sharpe, who was entitled to an immediate portion of his assets for her support. There was not much; she received an old buggy and harness, an old gun, some cart wheels, and pile of old tools. This being insufficient, on 15 January 1901 the commissioners reclaimed property that T.R. Lamm had taken, presumably to settle a debt — a forty-dollar mule, eight hogs, and $25 worth of corn and fodder.
——
In the 1870 census of Taylors township, Wilson County: farm laborer Wilson Sharp,42, and wife Cherry, 27.
In the 1880 census of Taylors township, Wilson County: farmer Wilson Sharp, 52; wife Cherry, 45; nephew Jerry Bynum, 6; and James Mitchel, 47, with wife Rosa, 33, and son James G., 11.
In the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer Wilson Sharp, 65; wife Cherry, 40; and children Willie, 16, Eva, 9, and Besse, 2 months. [These were likely foster children.]
In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Tilman’s Road, widowed farm laborer Cherry Sharp, 65, living alone.
Images of estate documents available at North Carolina Wills and Estates, 1665-1998 [database on-line], http://www.ancestry.com.
