1920s

Studio shots, no. 272: the Charles and Eva M. Hines family.

Back in late spring, when the design of interpretive signage for Vick Cemetery finally got underway, I reached out to the McIntosh family — “could we include a photo of their patriarch Charles Hines in the sign’s graphic?” Ever generous, they said yes, and Charles A. McIntosh sent me an image.

Today, as the McIntosh family prepares to lay Mrs. Henrietta Hines McIntosh to rest, I thank them again and say a prayer for the life of a woman whose generosity to Lane Street Project was just the tiniest portion of her munificent spirit. Rest well, Mother McIntosh!

——

Charles Hines, wife Eva Messick Hines, and children Anna Lee, born 1916, and Charles Erwin, born 1919. (That’s Picture-Taking Barnes’ one-armed chair.)

On 9 April 1885, Charles Hines, 22, married Sophia Williams, 28, at Lewis Williams’ in Edgecombe County. These were Mrs. McIntosh’s paternal grandparents.

Sophia Williams Hines died in the late 1890s, and on 8 September 1898, Charley Hines, 33, son of Wesley and Olive Hines of Edgecombe County, married William Ann Wilkins, 25, daughter of Richmond and Pollie Wilkins, of Toisnot, in Toisnot township, Wilson County.

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Charles Hines, 39; wife William Ann, 25; and children James Lewis, 14, Charles, 12, Emma, 10, Olive C., 8, Shady, 7, Dora, 4, and Charlie, 3.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Railroad Street, Heneretta Hines, 28, and her brother Charles Hines, 20, office janitor.

On 22 February 1913, Charlie Hines, 23, and Eva Messedge [Messick], 22, were married in Wilson. Missionary Baptist minister Fred M. Davis performed the ceremony in the presence of Nancy Taylor, Bessie Farmer, and Willie Wells.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Wiggins Street, Charlie Hines, 31, grocery man; wife Eva, 29; children Anna, 3, and Charlie Jr., 7 months; and cousin Maria King, 10.

Charlie Hines died 23 May 1935 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 45 years old; was born in Wilson County to Charlie Hines and Sophia Williams; was married to Eva M. Hines; lived at 310 Walnut Street; and worked as a laborer. Dora Hines was informant.

On 24 November 1938, Willie Robinson, 25, of Wilson County, son of Linnie and Louise Robinson, married Anna Lee Hines, 22, of Wilson County, daughter of Charley and Eva Hines, in Nashville, Nash County, North Carolina. Eva M. Hines applied for the license

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 303 Elba Street, Eva Hines, 50, household servant; son Charlie, 21, yard boy; and daughter Henrietta, 13, shared a household with Louis Hines Jr., 21, whiskey storage loader; wife Dolly M., 19, tobacco stemmer; and daughter Martha L., 6 months.

In 1940, Charles Erwin Hines registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 28 March 1919 in Wilson; lived at 303 Elba Street; his contact was mother Eva Messick Hines; and he worked at Imperial Tobacco, Barnes and Lodge Streets.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 303 Elba, widow Eva M. Hines, 60, cook; daughter Anna Lee Robinson, 33, and her children James T., 11, and Annie E. Robinson, 10; daughter Henrietta Hines, 23, widow, and her children Patricia, 3, and Janet L. Hines, 2.

On 15 May 1954, Andrew McIntosh, 22, son of James and Mary Holmes McIntosh, married Henrietta Hines, 27, daughter of Charles and Eva Messick Hines, at Saint Alphonsus Catholic Church, Wilson.

Eva Messick Hines died 24 May 1971 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 12 February 1890 to James Messick and Isabella King; was a widow; and lived at 303 Elba Street. Henrietta McIntosh was informant.

Where we worked: Wilson Marble & Granite Company.

Freddie Sauls‘ death certificate reveals that he, like Clarence B. Best, worked for a marble company in Wilson.

City directories show that Sauls and Turner Mitchell were employed as stone polishers as early as 1912. They likely worked for E.L. Cobb’s Wilson Marble and Granite Company (also known circa 1920 as Wilson Marble, Mantle & Tile), which was established in 1908 and succeeded J.C. Lanier’s Wilson Marble Company, which was active as early as 1891. Cobb’s business operated at 108 West Nash Street, then 106 North Railroad.

Wilson Mirror, 23 December 1891.

When Clarence Best registered for the World War I draft, he described himself as a stone rubber at Wilson Marble Mantle & Tile Company and, by 1920, as a marble cutter. Within a few years, Best was designing and cutting headstones for African-American clients as a side gig. In 1946, after 32 years with E.L. Cobb, Best opened his own monument business.

Though not a stone cutter, William J. Brake also worked for Wilson Marble, listing his occupation as driver in the 1928 Wilson city directory.

Wilson Times, 21 October 1921.

Bynum accidentally shoots son.

Wilson Daily Times, 5 August 1924.

Wilson Daily Times, 3 September 1924.

Though John Wesley Bynum‘s death certificate describes his father John H. Bynum as “drunken,” the elder Bynum was not charged in the boy’s accidental death.

In the 1900 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Gray Bynum, 41; wife Hagar, 41; and children Rose, 17, John, 15, Martha, 9, Gray, 7, and Isaac, 12.

In the 1910 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer John H. Bynum, 25; wife Carry, 20; daughter Queen E., 5; mother Cherry, 52; and sisters Cora, 18, and Leeoner, 15.

In the 1920 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer John Bynum, 35; wife Carrie, 29; children Rosetta, 6, and John, 4; and nephew and nieces Isaac, 7, and Jeneva Bynum, 4, and Susan Bridges, 19; laborer Bruce Daniel, 19, and niece Susie Ward, 15.

In the 1940 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: on Fountain Road, farm laborer John H. Bynum, 55; wife Carrie, 44; children Johnnie Jr., 15, Carrie, 8, and Beatrice, 5; mother Hagar Best, 87; nephew John W. Baker, 8; and cousin Ruth Farmer, 23. [John Jr. was born shortly after John Wesley’s death.]

John Wesley Bynum, known as “Snap.”

Snap Bynum’s photo courtesy of Ancestry.com user tashiaj1.