1930s

Marking Rest Haven Cemetery’s origins.

Earlier this week, a small group gathered at the back of Rest Haven Cemetery to dedicate a bronze marker. The men — Rev. H. Maurice Barnes, Dr. Michael Barnes, and James Pender — are descendants of Jesse R. and Sarah Barnes Barnes, who once owned the acres of land of which Rest Haven was established in 1933.

Wilson Daily Times, 3 May 2024.

I wrote about the Barneses and Rest Haven’s roots here and am honored to have contributed to the marker’s wording. “Thank you” to the Barneses for taking action to memorialize their family’s — and the community’s — story and to Heather Goff for working with the Barnes family to install the marker.

[P.S. Dr. Boisey O. Barnes was not the first Black doctor in Wilson, but certainly was the most prominent during the decades he practiced. He was preceded by, notably, Dr. Frank S. Hargrave and Dr. William A. Mitchner.]

Mother and accomplices believed to have kidnapped boy.

Wilson Daily Times, 19 May 1937.

When 16 year-old John Lane was snatched from one of U.H. Cozart’s fields in May 1937, authorities blamed his mother. Seven years earlier, she had allowed a family named Williams to adopt the boy, and she migrated to Washington, D.C. A radio bulletin went out seeking three men and a women traveling in older model Paige automobile with D.C. tags.

Augustus Moody injured in fall.

Washington Times, 5 August 1936.

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Augustus Moody migrated with his family to Washington, D.C., between 1895 and 1900.

In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Sarah Darden, 57, son-in-law Algia Vaughn, 23, daughter Mittie, 22, and grandchildren Joseph, 8, Sarah, 6, and Macinda Vaughn, 5 months. [Joseph “Vaughn” was actually Joseph H. Ward, listed with his stepfather’s surname. “Macinda” was Minerva Vaughn.]

In the 1900 census of Washington, D.C: William Moody, 27, wife Sarah S., 24, and children Augustus, 5, and Crist Moody, 4, plus sister-in-law Minerva Vaughn, 10, mother-in-law Mittie Vaughn, 46, and mother Fannie Harris, 55, all born in North Carolina.

In the 1910 census of Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana: at 722 Indiana Avenue, Joseph H. Ward, 39, doctor at sanatorium; wife Zela, 27; son Joseph H. Jr., 1; roomers Fern G. Gibson, 22, and Grace M. Winburn, 26, nurses at sanatorium; nephew Agustus A. Moody, 17, student; and roomer Beaula Porter, 42, schoolteacher.

On 7 March 1914, Augustus Moody, 22, married Adelle Minor, 18, in Washington, D.C.

In the 1915 Washington, D.C., city directory: Moody Augustus waiter r 43 Hanover nw

In 1917, Augustus Moody registered for the World War I draft in Washington, D.C. Per his registration card, he was born 27 June, about 1892, in Wilson, North Carolina; lived at 43 Hanover, N.W., Washington; worked as a waiter at Washington Terminal Company; and was married.

Augustus Moody’s signature on his World War I draft registration card.

In the 1933 Washington, D.C., city directory: Moody Augustus paperhngr Wm M Moody r 1032 Whittingham pl ne

In the 1936 Washington, D.C., city directory: Moody Augustus interior decorator r 1032 Whittingham pl ne

In 1942, Augustus Moody registered for the World War II draft in Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Per his registration card, he was born 27 June 1892 in Wilson, N.C.; resided at 64 Larkin Street, Annapolis (later, 1525-5th Street N.W., Washington, D.C.); his contact was Sadie Harvey, 1525-5th Street; and he was a self-employed contractor.

Colored barber wanted.

News and Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), 1 June 1925.

News and Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), 29 August 1938.

News and Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), 25 September 1947.

Walter S. Hines Barber Shop regularly advertised for barbers in the Raleigh News and Observer. Hines died in 1941, but his son Carl W. Hines continued to manage the business. By 1947, Hines’ ad touted the availability of housing — likely in the family’s large real estate portfolio — for a family man.

Wilson County admits African Americans to jury duty.

The Black Dispatch (Oklahoma City, Okla.), 13 June 1935.

Of course, I went looking to find out what the Daily Times had to say about this.

Not a whole lot. On page 4 of the 4 June 1935 edition, halfway down a column headlined “Salary Increases Given to County Employees Today”:

Wilson Daily Times, 4 June 1935.

The lead case challenging the systematic exclusion of African-Americans from juries was Norris v. Alabama, 294 U.S. 587 (1935). Wilson County Attorney Harry G. Connor Jr.’s advice was terse and understated: “… it would be wise and safe[,] I might say wiser and safer, to put the names of several hundred negroes in the jury list. In doing this, care should be taken to get the best negroes in the county and not only that, I think it would be equally wise and safe to distribute them by townships as nearly as possible.”

The question, of course, is whether any of these “best negroes” made it onto juries.

The obituary of Samuel Leonard.

Wilson Daily Times, 15 September 1938.

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In the 1922 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Leonard Saml (c) lab h 617 Darden al

In the 1925 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Leonard Saml (c) porter h 617 Darden al

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Leonard Saml D (c) porter The Market Store h 512 Church

In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Leonard Saml D (c; Annie) driver The Market Store h 512 Church

Samuel David Leonard died 13 September 1938 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 12 February 1872 in Columbus, Georgia, to Hiram and Margarett Leonard; was married; worked as a laborer; and was buried in Wilson [likely, Vick Cemetery.] Informant was Annie Leonard.