1940s

Private First Class Willie Davis, in South Carolina.

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In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 506 East Spruce, Floyd Davis, 28, farm laborer; wife Marie, 26; children Willie, 10, Thelma, 5, Ella M., 3, and Floyd Jr., 2 months; and roomer Eddie Simmons, 25, tobacco farm laborer.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Willie Davis, 22, farm laborer, lodger in the household of white farmer Edward H. Suggs, 49.

In 1940, Willie Abert Davis registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 7 April 1919 in Wilson; lived at 528 Smith Street, Wilson; his contact was mother Marie Jones Davis; and he worked at American Suppliers, Inc., Wilson.

On 11 April 1946, Willie A. Davis, 27, son of Floyd Davis and Marie Burnett Davis, married Inez Dublin, 24, daughter of William and Isabell Dublin, in Wilson.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Nathan Jefferies, 68, unable to work; Bessie Jefferies, 42, housekeeper; Willie Davis, 31, hogsheads maker at tobacco factory, and wife Inez Davis, 26, house cleaner.

Willie A. Davis died 27 August 1971 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 7 April 1919 to Marie Burnett; was married to Inez Dublin Davis; lived at 902 Atlantic Street and was a laborer.

Image courtesy of Veterans of World War II Wilson County, spiral-bound volume, Wilson County Public Library.

You’ll be glad to know she is happily married.

Wilson Daily Times, 29 July 1940.

Ed and Rosa McDaniel Gause arrived in Wilson from Mullins, South Carolina, in the 1920s. The family settled at 716 East Green Street, and Maude Gause is listed in the 1930 city directory as a factory laborer.

On 22 July 1940, Maude Gause married J.P. Perks in Greensville, Virginia. Essentially, they eloped. Just over the border from North Carolina, Emporia, Virginia, was a popular marriage location because the state did not require witnesses, blood tests, or waiting times.

For reasons presently unknown, the marriage did not last long. In July 1942, the Atlanta Daily World ran a photo of Rev. and Mrs. J. Porter Perks, but Mrs. was the former Susie C. Clark of Louisiana.

The Hargrove heirs settle an inheritance.

Deed book 290, page 587, Wilson County Register of Deeds office.

We first met Duncan J. Hargrove here, going down slow after believing himself to be hoodooed. The deed above reveals a different source of stress in Hargrove’s latter years, financial foes that led to the loss of much of his real estate.

About 1913, Hargrove bought a lot on Carolina Street from Wilson Insurance & Realty Company. Sometime later, on a basis unstated here, a man named Hugh Sheppard won a substantial judgment against Hargrove and his wife Viney Hargrove. A thirty-foot-wide strip of the lot was set off for the Hargroves as homestead property, and the rest of the lot — a twenty-foot strip — was sold at public auction to R.E. Townsend, a white real estate manager with a fat East Wilson portfolio.

Duncan Hargrove died 27 May 1935, leaving his wife and four sons, Willie, Ben, Jacob, and John Hargrove. Viney Hargrove died 9 April 1943.

Via the deed above, Willie Hargrove and wife Mary Lou Hargrove of Wilson, Ben Hargrove and wife Alice of Washington, D.C., and Jacob Hargrove and wife Curtis Hargrove of Washington, D.C., sold their interest in the Carolina Street lot to John Hargrove of Wilson.

Seaman First Class James Goodman, sent to the South Pacific.

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James Goodman was born 11 July 1919 in Harmony township, Clarendon County, South Carolina, to Ed Goodman and Annie Blanding of Alcolu, S.C.

In the 1920 census of Plowden Mills, Clarendon County, South Carolina: farmer Edd Goodman, 26; wife Annie, 19; and James, 8 months.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: laborer Ed Goodman, 29; wife Annie, 26; and children James, 10, Authur, 9, Remel, 6, Louise, 3, Annie M., 2, and Gladys, 1.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Ed Goodman, 45, public service laborer; wife Annie, 36; and children James, 20, clothing store attendant, Arthur, 19, candy company deliveryman, Helen, 14, Annie Mae, 12, Gladys, 11, Isiah, 7, Dorthy, 6, and Eddie Jr., 4.

In 1940, James Goodman registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 11 July 1919 in Manning, S.C.; lived at 214 South Reid Street, Wilson; his contact was mother Annie Goodman; and he worked for Moss & Co., Wilson. Goodman was described as six foot six inches, 170 pounds.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 813 Viola, Pheny Williams, 78; son  James Goodman, 32; wife Lena, 28; and children Evon, 7, James Jr., 6, and Tyron, 3.

James Goodman died 15 May 1963 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 11 July 1919 in Manning, S.C., to Edward Goodman and Annie Blanding; was married to Lena Cherry Goodman; lived at 813 Viola Street, Wilson; and was a World War II veteran.

Private First Class Arthur Goodman.

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Arthur Goodman was born 20 October 1920 in Plowden’s Mill, Clarendon County, South Carolina, to Ed Goodman and Annie Blanding, both of Alcolu, S.C.

In the 1920 census of Harmony township, Clarendon County, S.C.: Edward Goodman, 27; wife Annie, 25; and son Arthur, 10 months.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: laborer Ed Goodman, 29; wife Annie, 26; and children James, 10, Authur, 9, Remel, 6, Louise, 3, Annie M., 2, and Gladys, 1.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Ed Goodman, 45, public service laborer; wife Annie, 36; and children James, 20, clothing store attendant, Arthur, 19, candy company deliveryman, Helen, 14, Annie Mae, 12, Gladys, 11, Isiah, 7, Dorthy, 6, and Eddie Jr., 4.

In 1942, Arthur Goodman registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 3 October 1920 in Manning, S.C.; lived at 1201 East Atlantic Street, Wilson; his contact was Annie Goodman, 214 South Reid Street, Wilson; and he worked for James R. Shannon at Acme Candy Company, 123 West Barnes Street, Wilson.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 303 Carroll Street, Arthur Goodman, 29, truck driver for wholesale candy company, and wife Estelle, 26, house cleaner.

Arthur Goodman died 3 January 1981.

The obituary of Sissie Earp Robinson.

Wilson Daily Times, 28 October 1941.

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In the 1880 census of Old Fields township, Wilson County: farmer Sidney Earp, 39; wife Nancy, 35; and children Marzilla, 14, Chistiny, 11, Cissy, 7, Lysaney N., 6, Octavia, 4, and Ive Sidney, 2.

On 16 December 1891, William R. Robinson, 20, of Old Fields, son of Katie Freeman, married Sallie W. Earp, 19, of Old Fields, daughter of Sidney and Nancy Earp at Sidney Earp’s residence.

In the 1900 census of Old Fields township, Wilson County: blacksmith William Robinson, 29; wife Sissie, 27; and children Loomis, 7, Theodore, 6, Walter, 5, Mary N., George M., 2, and Joseph S., 10 months.

In the 1910 census of Old Fields township, Wilson County: farmer William R. Robinson, 40; wife Cicero, 36; and children Lunice, 17, Lucian T., 16, Walter L., 15, Naney M., 14, George M., 12, Joe S., 10, Pauline, 8, Levesta, 6, Thelma, 4, Olza B., 3, and Katie S., 1.

In the 1920 census of Old Fields township, Wilson County: farmer William R. Roberson, 49; wife Sissie, 48; and children Mary N., 22, Pauline, 18, Lemmon, 16, Sink, 14, Olzia, 12, Katie, 9, and William, 6.

In the 1930 census of Old Fields township, Wilson County: farmer William R. Robinson, 59; wife Sissie, 58; children Katie, 21, and William, 16; and grandchildren Jessie, 11, Lessie, 9, and Joe S., 8.

In the 1940 census of Bailey township, Nash County, N.C.: Lamon Robertson, 36; wife Ina, 35; daughter Katrina, 15; mother Sissie W., 67, widow; and brother William, 25.

Sissie Robinson died 26 October 1941 near Bailey, Nash County, N.C. Per her death certificate, she was 69 years old; was born in Wilson County to Sidney Earpe and Mary Nancy [no maiden name]; was the widow of William Robinson; worked as a farmer; and was buried in New Vester Cemetery. Mary Nancy Reid was informant.

Private First Class Simon Ellis, sent overseas.

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In the 1930 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer James Ellis, 42; wife Matilda, 38; and children Christine, 14, Simon, 10, and Naoma, 5.

In the 1940 census of South Whitakers township, Nash County, N.C.: farmer James Ellis, 53; wife Matilda, 49; and children Simon, 20, and Naoma, 14.

In 1941, Simon Ellis registered for the World War II draft in Edgecombe County, N.C. Per his registration card, he was born 17 February 1920 in Wilson County; lived in Rocky Mount, Edgecombe County; worked as farm laborer for Richard Fountain; and his contact was James Ellis.

Simon Ellis received an honorable discharge in October 1945 as a Technician Fifth Grade.

Simon Paul Ellis died 18 August 2000 and was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery.

News and Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), 20 August 2000.

Image courtesy of Veterans of World War II Wilson County, spiral-bound volume, Wilson County Public Library; North Carolina Discharge and Statement of Service Records, http://www.ancestry.com.

Thomas Ellis, stationed at San Francisco.

In 1942, Thomas Ellis registered for the World War II draft in Washington, D.C. Per his death certificate, he was born 22 July 1924 in Wilson; lived at 1217-6th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.; his contact was Dora Ellis, 200 Pender Street, Wilson; and he worked at a Greek restaurant on Eye Street, N.W.

Thomas Ellis married Eva M. Young in Washington, D.C., on 22 September 1943.

In 1948, Ellis re-registered for the draft in Washington, D.C., declaring that he worked as a laborer for the Federal Works Agency.

In the 1950 census of Washington, D.C.: at 2401 – 16th Street, Thomas Ellis, 25, messenger at General Services Administration; wife Eva M., 29; sons Thomas G., 3, Phyllis, 2, and, Ronald M., born in March; mother-in-law Ella Young, 58; brother-in-law Lu W. Young, 28; and lodger William Hall, 34.

Thomas Ellis died 19 April 1973 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.

Image courtesy of Veterans of World War II Wilson County, spiral-bound volume, Wilson County Public Library.