1910s

Where did they go?: Pennsylvania death certificates, no. 8.

The eighth in a series — Pennsylvania death certificates for Wilson County natives:

  • Amanda Merritt

In the 1870 census of Upper Conetoe township, Edgecombe County, N.C.: Salomon Merritt, 18, farm laborer.

In the 1880 census of Wilson township, Wilson County, N.C.: laborer Solomon Merritt, 24; wife Amanda, 23; and Robert, 1.

In the 1900 census of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania: at 1326 Wood Street, hostler Solomon Merritt, 39; wife Amanda, 40; and sons Robert, 20, and Kinney, 16, all born in North Carolina.

1918 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, city directory.

In the 1920 census of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania: at 951 Jessup Street, Amanda Merritt, 57, keeper of lodging house; nephew Earl J. Lane, 18, railroad station elevator operator; niece Nanie Kearney, 18, servant; boarder Lloyd J. Ross, 8; and lodgers Clifford Holtz, 26, lathe machinist at steel works; and Anner Butler, 22, restaurant cook.

Solomon Merritt died 10 April 1926 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Per his death certificate, he was 61 years old; was born in North Carolina; was married to Amanda Merritt; and worked as a driver.

In the 1930 census of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania: at 112 North 59th Street, widow Amanda Merritt, 65; granddaughter Dorthy Maller, 17; Clarence Miller, 23, grandson-in-law; granddaughter Reba Merritt, 12; great-grandson Clarence Miller, Jr.,

In the 1940 census of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania: widow Lulu Langford, 49; granddaughter Lulu Rucker, 16; and lodger Emanda Merritt, 83.

Amanda Merritt died 29 January 1942 in Philadelphia. Per her death certificate, she was born 1 May 1860 in Wilson to Clarssie Taylor; was a widow; and lived at 1604 Seybert Street.

  • Hattie Smith

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Stephens Smith, 40; wife Hattie, 31; and children Essie, 13, Bertie, 7, Mary, 2, and Marvin, 4 months.

In the 1930 census of Enfield township, Halifax County, N.C.: Stephen Smith, 60; wife Hattie, 38; and children Mary L., 12, Marvin, 10, Annie B., 8, Hattie B., 5, and Dorsey L. Smith, 5 months.

Hattie Smith died 24 May 1937 in Philadelphia. Per her death certificate, she was 52 years old; was born in Wilson, N.C., to William Porter and Louisa Barnes; was married; lived at 611 North 36th Street; and was a housewife. S.B. Smith was informant. [In fact, per census records, Hattie Smith was born in Georgia.]

  • Emma Bunn

In the 1870 census of Taylor township, Wilson County: farmer Hilliard Ellis, 43; wife Feribee, 40; and children Caroline, 16, William, 14, George, 11, Emily, 9, Hilliard, 6, Mary H., 4, and Warren, 8 months.

On 8 April 1880, Joshua Bunn, 21, married Emma Hill, 19, in Wilson County.

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Joshua Bunn, 40; wife Emma, 37; daughter Hattie T., 22; son-in-law James Thorpe, 22; lodgers Bettie Lucas, 21, and Calonia Lane, 19; adopted daughter Nora Bunn, 8.

In the 1930 census of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania: at 1819 Van Pelt Street, owned and valued at $1800, Emma Bunn, 65; daughter Hattie Stevens, 46; son-in-law Samuel, 46, laborer for City of Philadelphia; grandchildren Walter, 12, and Joseph Stevens, 6; and several roomers.

  • Theodosia Parker

In the 1910 census of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania: at 1735 Woodstock Street, Henry Parker, 37; wife Charity, 34; and children Leon, 12, and Theodosia, 9; four lodgers; and boarder Samuel Parker, 27. All the Parkers were born in North Carolina.

Theodosia Parker died 31 March 1918 in Philadelphia. Per her death certificate, she was 17 years old; was born in Wilson, N.C., to Henderson Parker and Charity Hunter; lived at 1911 Montgomery Avenue; was a school girl; and was buried in Elm City, N.C.

  • Etta E. Logan

In the 1920 census of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania: at 922 South 17th Street, widow Martha Roundtree, 42, restaurant cook, and daughter Etta Logan, 22.

Etta E. Logan died 17 August 1920 in Philadelphia. Per her death certificate, she was born in 1895 in Wilson, N.C., to Windsor [no surname listed] and Martha Daniel; lived to 922 South 17th Street; and was married. Joseph L. Logan was informant.

Vicks visit “thriving Afro-American settlement.”

Philadelphia Tribune, 19 August 1916.

In 1916, Samuel H. Vick drove his “big touring car” on a visit to Whitesboro, New Jersey, with his young son George White Vick, Clarence Dillard, and Alfred Robinson. On the way back, they stopped in Washington, D.C.

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Artis is the first to volunteer.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 5 February 1918.

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We knew Columbus E. Artis migrated from Wilson to Washington, D.C., between 1915 and 1918 and remained just a few years. Now we know what drew him North.

Early in 1918, Artis jumped to respond to a call for volunteer shipbuilders and was lauded as the first to get his application in. Though it is not clear what skills Artis brought to the job — he had been a farm laborer, a grocer, a restaurateur, and an undertaker — he was recognized as “honor man” for his enthusiastic response.

The Baker family, redux.

Verona Barnes True allowed me to make a clearer copy of the photo of her mother’s family, which I first posted here.  Mollie Cooper Baker and James Baker stand at far right. Their little dog, with a ribbon around his neck, stands between them and their children. In ascending order, they are Lossie, Roney, Moses, and Rena, plus Mollie Baker’s younger brother. The house is believed to have been on Stantonsburg Street (now Pender Street S/Black Creek Road S).

Roney Baker’s class portrait.

At Wilson Colored Graded School (also known as Stantonsburg Street School and, later, Sallie Barbour School), classes regularly posed for group photos on the school’s front steps.

In this photo, taken in the late 1910’s, Roney Baker sits third from right on the second row. He was about six years old. Though this was one teacher’s class, notice the range in her pupils’ ages. As noted here, “[t]hree thousand African-American children in Wilson County were enrolled in eight grades during the 1923-1924 school year. They ranged from six to twenty years of age. The 1689 first graders ranged from six to seventeen years old, and nearly two-thirds were classified as ‘over age.’ There were three nineteen year-old second graders, and a full fifth of all third graders were thirteen years old. One was twenty. Only 17 of 269 fourth graders were age-appropriate. The eighth grade class — the highest grade offered to black children — tallied a single pupil.”

Do you recognize the teacher or any other students?

Many thanks to Verona Barnes True for sharing this photo.

B.W.A. Historical Marker Series, no. 24: Williamson 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 SCHOOL

African-American elementary school built with Rosenwald funds ca. 1917 on present-day Willing Worker Rd. Consolidated with 8 other schools in 1951 when Springfield High School built.

The obituary of Jarrett Staton.

Norfolk Ledger-Star, 4 March 1915.

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In the 1870 census of Deep Run township, Edgecombe County, North Carolina: farmer Jarrett Staton, 34; wife Penina, 32; and children Henry, 18, William, 15, Louisa, 12, Nancy, 10, Hoyt, 7, and Ida, 4.

In the 1880 census of Deep Run township, Edgecombe County, North Carolina: farmer Jarrett Staton, 42; wife Penina, 32; and children Nancy, 19, Hoyt, 16, Ietta, 14, Jarrett, 9, and Leander, 6.

On 4 January 1899, Jarrett Staton, 60, of Edgecombe County, son of Rena Staton, married Mary Jane Knight, 30, of Edgecombe County, in No. 2 township, Edgecombe County.

On 9 August  1907, Jarrett Staton, 68, of Edgecombe County, married Mary Ellen Alsbrook, 35, of Edgecombe County, in Edgecombe County.

In the 1900 census of Deep Creek township, Edgecombe County: Jarrett Staton, 64; wife Mary J., 38; and grandsons William, 17, and Jarrett Langley, 21.

In the 1910 census of Deep Creek township, Edgecombe County: farmer Jarrett Staton, 70; wife Mary, 37; and children Ida, 18, Pattie, 17, and Carrol, 1.

On 25 January 1915, Jarette Staton, about 80, died in Wilson. Per his death certificate,  he was born in North Carolina, but informant J.Z. Staton could provide little additional information.

On 28 February 1937, Jarrett Z. Staton died in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he resided at 905 Viola Street; was 66 years old; was born in Edgecombe County to Jarrett Staton and Penina Thomas; was divorced; and had worked as a laborer. Informant was [his sister] Nancy Staton Boykin, 812 East Viola Street.

Nancy S. Boykins died 12 December 1946. Per her death certificate, she was 88 years old; was born in Edgecombe County to Jarrett Staton and Pennina [last name unknown]; resided at 812 East Viola; was a retired midwife; and was buried in Rountree cemetery. Nina Pitts of East Vance Street was informant.

Ietta R.M. Reid died 14 February 1951 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 12 August 1867 in Edgecombe County to Jainett [sic] Staton; was a widow; and was a retired teacher. Odessa Reid was informant. [Ietta R.M. Staton married veterinarian Elijah Reid of Wilson.]

 

Lane’s Chapel F.W.B. Church buys a lot.

Deed book 97, page 245, Wilson County Register of Deeds Office, Wilson.

On 23 December 1912, Major J. Lofton, for $18, sold the trustees and deacons of Lane’s Chapel Free Will Baptist Church a quarter-acre lot near Contentnea Creek on the north side of “the Aycock road, running from the town of Wilson.”

Neither Aycock Road nor Lane’s Chapel rang a bell, but I started wondering about Lofton. It’s not a common surname in Wilson County, but shows up on both an African-American graded school and a church. Lofton School sat on 1 3/4 acres on what is now Downing Street, just below Contentnea Creek. The deed for the property gives the road’s original name — Aycock — and it appears Lofton School stood on the other side of the bridge from Lane’s Chapel’s lot. Was it named for Major Lofton? And Lofton Chapel? It was a Free Will Baptist Church, like Lane’s. And we know its building was moved from elsewhere to its (or, rather, its successor’s) site on Bishop L.N. Forbes Street. Perhaps, as was commonly done, Lane’s was renamed Lofton for the grantor of the land it stood on near Contentnea Creek.

  • Major J. Lofton

In the 1880 census of Indian Springs township, Wayne County, N.C.: Robert Loftus, 34; wife Ednie, 34; and children Sylvester, 10, Robert, 8, Emma, 7, Benjamin F., 6, Alice A., 5, Major, 3, and Donas, 10 months.

In 1918, Major James Lofton registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 16 July 1876; lived on Route 3, Wilson; was a self-employed farmer; and his nearest relative was his father Robert Lofton.

Major Lofton applied for a marriage license for Sam Barron, 24, son of Ben and Mary Barron, and Jessie Lofton, 24 daughter of Robert and Evaline Lofton, both of Gardners township, Wilson County. The marriage took place in Wilson on 30 December 1919.

In the 1920 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Major J. Lofton, 42, widower; mother Evaline, 71, widow; brother-in-law Sam Barron, 24; sister Jessie Barron, 24; and nieces Donnie, 13, Maybelle, 12, and Marie Barron, 10.

Major Lofton applied for a marriage license for Festus Simms, 29, and Maebelle Lofton, 18, both of Black Creek. The marriage took place in Wilson on 1 April 1925.

In the 1930 census of Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia: at the U.S. Penitentiary, Major Loften, 53, prisoner, born in North Carolina.

In the 1950 census of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: widower Lubie Oliver, 67; partner Major Lofton, 74, widower; and brother Henry Oliver, 50, truck driver.

  • S.C. Chadmon — Slade Chatman?

In the 1910 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Josiah Hinnant, 38; wife Mary, 34; stepdaughter Estella, 17, widow; daughter Sarah, 12; son Cleotha, 6; niece Lessie Locus, 13; and boarder Slade Chatman, 40.

In the 1920 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Slade Chatman, 52, widower.

In the 1930 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Slade Chatman, 52; wife Almenia, 27; and children Ned S., 7, Eddie, 6, Willie, 4, Bertie L., 2, and Charlie, newborn.

In the 1940 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Slade Chatmon, 65; wife Almenia, 37; and children Ned, 17, Ed, 16, Willie, 14, Bettie, 12, Charlie, 10, Joseph, 8, Ernest, 6, Ruby Lee, 3, and Freddie, 3 months.

In 1942, Ed Chatman registered for the World War II in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 30 June 1924 in Wilson County; lived on Route 1, Wilson; and his contact was father Slade Chatman.

In 1942, Ned Chatman registered for the World War II in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 15 June 1922 in Wilson County; lived on Route 1, Wilson; and his contact was father Slade Chatman.

In 1943, Willie Chatman registered for the World War II in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 4 November 1925 in Wilson County; lived on Route 1, Wilson; his contact was father Slade Chatman; and he worked at Carl Aycock farm.

In the 1950 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Slate Chapman, 73; wife Almenia, 48; children Willie, 24, Betty, 22, Charlie, 20, Joseph, 18, Earnest, 16, Ruby, 13, Luddie, 11, Virgina, 7, Dorthy, 5, and Sylva, 1; and granddaughter Alma, 1.

On 29 October 1951, Slade Chatman, 75, of Lucama, son of Jerry Chatman and Catherine Greene Chatman, married Almenia Chatman, 49, of Lucama, daughter of Reddick Simms and Bettie Boykin Simms, in Wilson.

Slade Chatman died 17 December 1954 in Lucama, Cross Roads township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 14 April 1876 in Craven County, N.C., to Catherine [maiden name unknown]; was married to Almena Chatman; worked in farming; and was buried in Dew Cemetery, Lucama.

  • Will Vick
  • James Johnston
  • R. Loftin — perhaps, Major Lofton’s father Robert Lofton.
  • Jesse Herring