1930s

Bon voyage to the Butterfields; Dr. Ward stops through; and other social doings.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 18 July 1931.

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The affidavit of Sarah A. Coward.

Georgia Crockett Aiken died 17 August 1939 in Wilson. The following spring, Sarah A. Coward provided an affidavit attesting that Aiken’s sole heir was her niece Rachel Crockett Williams. Williams lived in New York City at the time of Aiken’s death, but by 1941 was living in the house she inherited at 120 North Pender Street.

Deed book 277, page 247, Wilson County Register of Deeds Office, Wilson.

The Sanchas-Bowden family fights to save their house.

On 22 September 1924, John Sanchas, his wife Mary Adams Bowden Sanchas, and her sons Timothy and Willie Bowden mortgaged their house on Finch Street to secure payment of a $150 loan from William Adams. The Sanchas-Bowden family paid off the loan, the mortgage deed was void. If they defaulted, the house would be sold at public auction.

The Sanchas-Bowden house at 210 Finch Street, as shown in the 1922 Sanborn fire insurance map of Wilson.

A note stamped across the document noted that the mortgage and note had been satisfied as of November 1925.

Deed book 155, page 24, Wilson County Register of Deeds Office, Wilson.

In March 1928, John and Mary Sanchas took out another mortgage on their house. This time, however, they defaulted, and trustee D.S. Boykin advertised a public sale in March 1931. However, as late as 1937, Sanchas appears in published tax lists as owner of a lot on Finch Street.

Wilson Daily Times, 28 March 1931.

The Prince meets the law.

Wilson Daily Times, 13 March 1937.

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In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 515 Warren, barber Andrew Pierce, 35; wife Loss, 35; and children Alice, 15, Mayzie [Boisy], 11, Hellen, 7, Benford, 5, and Ruby, 3.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1212 East Nash, Andrew Pearce, 44, barber; wife Lossie, 43, private family nurse; and children Boisy, 22, Hester, 17, Benford, 16, Ruby, 13, and Louise, 3.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 707 Vance, Andrew Pierce, 55, nurse at home (usually barber); wife Lossie, 55, in hospital; daughters Alice, 35, and Hester, 27; sons Boise, 29, cafe [cook?], and Binford, 14; daughter Ruby, 19, “cook school;” and grandchildren Randolph, 9, and Montheal Foster, 7, and Mickey Pierce, 1.

In 1942, Benford Pierce registered for the World War II draft at the D.C. Reformatory, Lorton, Virginia. Per his registration card, he was born 31 March 1915 in Wilson; lived at 1231 W Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.; and his contact was mother Lossie Pierce, 538 East Nash Street, Wilson.

County teachers meet.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 30 January 1937.

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  • E.M. Barnes, “supervisor” — Edward M. Barnes.
  • J.D. Reid, “principal of the Stantonsburg Street School” — here we find the surprising return of J.D. Reid to the principalship of the Graded School. I don’t think the stint lasted long.
  • Mr. Lee
  • Mrs. Whitehead, “fifth grade teacher of Wilson High School” — Mamie Ethel Key Whitehead.
  • M.D. Williams, “principal of the new S.H. Vick graded school” — Malcolm D. Williams.
  • Stanley Gilliam, “principal of the Williamson school”

The Frogs host a hop.

In 1931, the Frog Social Club sponsored its second annual holiday party — the Frog Hop. Held in Samuel H. Vick‘s “casino” in the Odd Fellows building, the soiree promised a good time to the select with an “admit card.”

The Frog Club drew its members from the rarefied heights of Wilson’s African-American social circles.

The Journal and Guide‘s 10 January 1933 issue described the Frog’s first New Year’s party.

Founded by black movers and shakers, Frogs social clubs sprang up throughout the country in the decades prior to World War II. The legendary precursor to all of them was formed in Harlem in 1908 by legendary theatrical pioneers Bert Williams, George Walker, and Sam Corker. Named after Aristophanes’ play, The Frogs, the Harlem club’s peak years were the 1910s and 1920s, but its renown inspired the formation and tone of the clubs like the one in Wilson.

Thank you, Vicki Cowan, for sharing!

The funeral of Bertha Ayers.

News and Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), 20 August 1930.

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Members of the Ayers family were among a handful of families in the Lucama area who transitioned from black to white racial classification in the early 1900s. Bertha Ayers‘ grandfather Jesse Ayers was described as colored as late as 1914, and her aunt Harriet Ayers‘ had been prosecuted for marrying a white man in 1895. By 1920, however, this set of Ayerses had gained acceptance within the white community.

Applications for military headstones, no. 5: Rountree Cemetery.

None of these veterans’ headstones have yet been found in Rountree, Odd Fellows, or Vick Cemeteries, the cemeteries collectively known as “Rountree.”

  • Cleveland Daniels

In the 1910 census of Beall Springs district, Warren County, Georgia: farm laborer Peter Daniel, 46; wife MaryJ. 46; and children Forest, 15, Cleveland, 13, Ella, 11, Mary, 9, and Peter Jr., 4.

In the 1925 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Daniels Cleveland firemn h 207 S Reid

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Daniels Cleveland (c; Hattie L) firemn h 207 S Reid

In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Daniels Cleveland (c; Hattie L) firemn h 207 S Reid

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 207 Reid Street, owned and valued at $1600, Cleverland Daniels, 33, light plant fireman, and wife Hattie, 29, both born in Georgia; niece Christine Owens, 8, and nephew Filman Owens, 4.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 908 Wainwright, owned and valued at $1500, Cleveland Daniel, 40, fireman at city plant; wife Hattie, 38, saleswoman; and father-in-law Mack Owens, 60, farm laborer. All were born in Georgia.

In 1942, Cleveland Daniels registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 15 April 1897 in Warrengton, Georgia; lived at 908 Wainwright Avenue, Wilson; his contact was Mrs. Dora Godwin, 910 Wainwright; and he worked for the City Light Plant.

George Cleveland Daniels died at his home at 908 Wainwright on 19 August 1949. Per his death certificate, he was born 15 April 1897 in Warren County, Georgia, to Peter and Jane Daniels; was a fireman; was married to Hattie Daniels; was a veteran of World War I; and was buried in Rountree Cemetery.

  • Roscoe Pitt

In the 1910 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: on Rose Bud Church Road,  James Pitt, 45; wife Lucy, 48; and children Carter, 19, Arthur, 16, John D., 11, Harriett, 8, Rosco, 6, and William, 2.

Roscoe Pitt registered for the World War I draft in Newport News, Virginia, in 1917. Per his registration card, he was born 4 May 1892; lived in Wilson, N.C.; was single; and worked as a laborer for Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company.

Private First Class Roscoe Pitt of Company D, 333rd Service Battalion (Colored), appears on the passenger list for the Santa Rosa, which set sail 10 June 1919 from Bordeaux, France. 

On 20 July 1927, Roscoe Pitt, 35, of Wilson, son of Martha Pitt, married Mary Arrington, 36, of Wilson, daughter of Martin Pender, in Wilson. John P. Battle applied for the license, and Disciples minister W.W. Webb performed the ceremony in the presence of Battle, Victoria Webb, and Ella Adams.

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Pitt Roscoe (c; Mary) lab h 404 S Goldsboro

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Roscoe Pitt, 38, truck driver for Williams Lumber; wife Mary, 42; and roomer Life Wright, 70, widower, street sweeper.

On 27 June 1935, Rosco Pitt, 40, of Edgecombe County, N.C., son of Jim and Lucy Pitt, married Lillie Eatmon, 34, of Edgecome County, daughter of Avery and Harriet Eatmon, in Wayne County, North Carolina.

Roscoe Pitt died 15 August 1937 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 42 years old; was married to Lillie Pitt; worked as a common laborer; was born in Wilson County to James Pitt of Edgecombe County and Lucy Barnes of Wilson County. Dallas Pitt, 700 Lodge Street, was informant. 

  • Jesse Farmer

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: drayman Jefferson Farmer, 40; wife Blanch,  28; and children May, 12, Turner, 11, Jesse, 8, Charley, 4, and Gola, 2.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 615 Hines Street, Jeff Farmer, 50; wife Blanch, 37; and children Turner, 20, Jessie, 16, Charlie, 13, Goler, 10, Jeff Jr., 7, Henry, 3, Allice, 2, and Gola, 1.

On 13 November 1921, Jessie Farmer, 28, married Henrietta Wright, 20, in Wilson.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1112 Carolina Street, rented for $16/month, Jessey Farmer, 34, tobacco factory laborer; wife Henerator, 26, laundress; and children Jessey Jr., 8, Ervin, 4, and Trumiller, 3.

Jesse Farmer died 26 September 1931 at the Veterans Administration Hospital, Asheville, Buncombe County, North Carolina. Per his death certificate, he was born 1 October 1893 in Wilson County to Jeff Farmer and Blanche Gay; was married to Henrietta Farmer; worked in a factory; and lived in Wilson.

  • Will Walker

Will Walker died 8 August 1849 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 15 May 1896 in Mount Olive, N.C., to Nelson Walker and Jane Herring; was married to Irene Walker; lived at 403 Murry [Maury?] Street, Wilson; and worked as a laborer.

  • Hood Vick

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Marther Vick, 46, widow, washing, and sons [sic] Peater, 20, and Hud, 6.

In the 1908 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory, Martha Vick, Peter Vick, and Hood Vick, the latter two described as laborers (though Hood was only 14 years old) are listed at 105 Pender.

Mildred Ward died 9 January 1914 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 24 October 1913 in Wilson County to Hood Vick of Wilson County and Lucy Ward of Pitt County; and lived at the corner of Nash and Railroad Streets. Lucy Ward, Wilson, was informant.

In 1917, Hood Vick registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 10 June 1894 in Wilson; lived on Pender Street; worked as a machine operator at a moving picture theater for C.L. Jones; and was single. He signed his name to the card.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 105 Pender Street, Martha Vick, 65, widow, and grandchildren Aretha Stokes, 15, and Hood Vick, 25, laborer.

In 1942, Hood Vick registered for the World War II draft in Norfolk, Virginia. Per his registration card, he was born 10 June 1897 in Wilson; lived at 411 Church Street, Norfolk; worked for Union Bus Company, Norfolk; and his contact was Lucy Wilson, 411 Church Street.

  • Thomas Cook

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Alfred Cook, 53, farmer; wife Caroline, 36; children Dora, 18, Leora, 17, Maggie Ann, 16, Thomas, 6, Charlie, 4, and Albert A., 2; and adopted son Oscar, 5.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farm laborer Alfred Cook, 56; wife Caroline, 48; and sons Thomas, 16, Oscar, 14, Charlie, 13, and Albert, 11.

Thomas Cook registered for the World War II draft in 1917 in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 18 May 1894 in Wilson; worked as a carpenter for Garfield Grantham; and signed his name with an X.

On 5 February 1927, Thomas Cooke, 36, married Mary Sauls, 23, in Wilson. Baptist minister B.F. Jordan performed the ceremony in the presence of B.F. Jordan Jr., Marion B. Jordan, and Maggie L. Jordan.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: house painter Thomas Cook, 35, and wife Mary, 22.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County:  at 900 Stantonsburg Street, painter Thomas Cook, 45, and wife Mary, 35.

In 1942, Albert Anderson Cook registered for the World War II draft in Norfolk, Virginia. Per his registration card, he was born 20 April 1898 in Wilson County; lived at 317 West Lenoir Street, Raleigh; his contact was Thomas Cooke, 1104 Stantonsburg Street; and he was employed by Third Division, Railway Mail Service, Washington, D.C., Norfolk & Raleigh R.P.O.

Thomas Cooke died 26 April 1944 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 49 years old;was born in Wilson County to Alfred Cooke and Caroline Robins; lived at 900 Stantonsburg Road; and was buried in Rountrees Cemetery [probably, Vick Cemetery.]