Wilson Daily Times, 26 June 1948.
Darden and Sons Funeral Homes moved into temporary space while they completed their iconic faux-Tudor building in the 600 block of East Nash Street. The location? Founder Charles H. Darden’s old “home place” on Pender Street. That house has long been demolished, but appears on a 1940 aerial photograph of the area.
(1) is First Baptist Church; (2) is Saint John A.M.E. Zion; and the old Darden house is indicated with an arrow.
We’ve met L. Henry Daniels and Elizabeth Lassiter Daniels, who joined the migration from Wilson County to Arkansas with their eldest children around 1890.
In the 1900 census of Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas: day laborer Henry Daniels, 55; wife Elizabeth, 46; and children William H., 17, Matilda A., 15, Mary J., 15, and Rice B., 7. All were born in North Carolina except the youngest child.
On 26 May 1904, Matilda Daniels, 19, married R.A. Givens, 30, in Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas. Within months, the Givenses relocated to Muskogee, Indian Territory [now Oklahoma], where Rufus A. Givens opened a jewelry and watchmaking business and blitzed the local Black press with advertising.
Muskogee Cimeter, 28 July 1904.
Muskogee Cimeter, 22 September 1904.
Muskogee Cimeter, 23 February 1905.
Muskogee Cimeter, 4 May 1905.
The Muskogee Unionist, 23 June 1905.
Muskogee Cimeter, 17 August 1905.
Muskogee Cimeter, 9 November 1905.
Muskogee Phoenix, 11 January 1906.
Muskogee Cimeter, 28 February 1908.
In the 1910 census of Muskogee, Porter township, Muskogee County, Oklahoma: at 124 South 2nd Street, Rufus A. Givens, 36, jeweler in own shop; wife Matilda, 35; and children Thelma, 5, Mable E., 4, Neomia Y., 3, and son Rufus P., 1. [Curiously, Matilda’s age is off (she was about 25), and her birthplace is listed as Kentucky, though her parents’ was North Carolina.]
Creek Baptist Herald, 4 January 1912.
In the 1912 Muskogee, Oklahoma, city directory: Givens Rufus A (Matilda A) c[olored] silver smith res Lincoln Add
By 1916, the Givenses had opened an eponymous hotel near the Midland Valley Railroad Depot in downtown Muskogee.
The Muskogee Tattler, 29 July 1916.
The Muskogee Tattler, 5 August 1916.
In 1918, Rufus Adolphus Givens registered for the World War I draft in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Per his registration card, he was born 24 February 1874; lived at 703 Dunbar Avenue, Muskogee; was a self-employed watchmaker at 226 Elgin, Muskogee; and his contact was Matilda Givens.
The Tulsa Star, 2 February 1918.
In the 1930 census of Muskogee, Muskogee County, Oklahoma: at 1103 South 2nd Street, rented for $17/month, Rufus A. Givens, 54, jewelry shop proprietor; wife Matilda, 43; daughter Mable Robins, 23, and granddaughter Juanita Robins, 3; and children Neoma, 20, Rufus Jr., 18, shoe repair apprentice, Lillian, 15, Earl, 11, and Arthuree, 7.
Rufus Adolphus Givens died about 1933.
Arthuree Matilda Daniels Givens died 23 December 1963 in Muskogee.
Many thanks to Thelma Simmons for the tip about her ancestors Matilda and Rufus Givens!
Wilson’s Town Clerk John R. Moore died in 1905, and the administrator of his estate was charged with paying off his debts.
Grant T. Foster, purveyor of beef, pork, mutton, sausage, and country produce at Wilson City Market submitted a bill for $3.37 for small purchases Moore made in December 1904 and January 1905.
Moore’s son submitted a brief note — “Mr. Hales: Please pay Annie Williams $10.00 for services as cook same to be charged to papa’s estate. Respt, J.H. Moore.”
Williams was paid with a check made out simply to “Cook.”
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Wilson, North Carolina, Probate Estate Files 1854-1959, http://www.familysearch.org.
The 500 block of East Nash Street is justly remembered as the 20th century epicenter of Wilson’s African-American-owned businesses. However, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Black entrepreneurs and tradespeople also operated across the tracks. As Wilson’s downtown experiences a resurgence, let’s rediscover and celebrate these pioneering men and women.
Check in each Sunday for the latest in the Historic Black Business Series!
Levi H. Jones operated a barbershop near the site of Wilson County’s Human Relations Office at what was then 105 North Goldsboro Street.
Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory (1908).
Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, December 2024.
Wilson Daily Times, 31 January 1941.
C.H. Darden & Sons, and its successor, Darden Memorial Funeral Home, remained in business another 40+ years.
The 500 block of East Nash Street is justly remembered as the 20th century epicenter of Wilson’s African-American-owned businesses. However, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Black entrepreneurs and tradespeople also operated across the tracks. As Wilson’s downtown experiences a resurgence, let’s rediscover and celebrate these pioneering men and women.
Check in each Sunday for the latest in the Historic Black Business Series!
In the 1908 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Young Isaac J blacksmith 213 S Goldsboro h 427 Banks
In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 315 Spring Street, horseshoer Isaac J. Young, 46; wife Laura, 27; children Cornelius, 12, and Robert, 9; and laborer Henry May, 5 [sic].
In the 1912 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Young Isaac J blksmith 213 S Goldsboro h 427 Banks
Also, in the 1912 directory:
Isic J. Young died 15 March 1913 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 1 May 1864 to Grandison Young and Nancy Cooper; was married; lived at 427 Banks; worked as a horseshoer; and was buried in Oxford, North Carolina. Laura Young was informant.
Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, December 2024.
The 500 block of East Nash Street is justly remembered as the 20th century epicenter of Wilson’s African-American-owned businesses. However, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Black entrepreneurs and tradespeople also operated across the tracks. As Wilson’s downtown experiences a resurgence, let’s rediscover and celebrate these pioneering men and women.
Check in each Sunday for the latest in the Historic Black Business Series!
Moses Parker was a carpenter and wood dealer whose woodyard today would lie under home plate of the Wilson Warbirds baseball stadium, seen under construction above.
Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory (1916).
Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, December 2024.
The 500 block of East Nash Street is justly remembered as the 20th century epicenter of Wilson’s African-American-owned businesses. However, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Black entrepreneurs and tradespeople also operated across the tracks. As Wilson’s downtown experiences a resurgence, let’s rediscover and celebrate these pioneering men and women.
Check in each Sunday for the latest in the Historic Black Business Series!
In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Sidney Wheeler, 40, barber; wife Lou, 40, private cook; and children Sidney, 9, Dave, 7, Floyd, 4, and Emma, 2.
Sidney Wheeler’s twin businesses in the 1908 Sanborn fire insurance map of Wilson.
Sidney Wheeler died 8 March 1912 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 35 years old; was born in Nash County to Richard and Annie Wheeler; worked as a barber; was married; and resided at 710 Vance Street. Lula Wheeler was informant.
Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, December 2024.
The 500 block of East Nash Street is justly remembered as the 20th century epicenter of Wilson’s African-American-owned businesses. However, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Black entrepreneurs and tradespeople also operated across the tracks. As Wilson’s downtown experiences a resurgence, let’s rediscover and celebrate these pioneering men and women.
Check in each Sunday for the latest in the Historic Black Business Series!
Charles Malachi “Mack” Wells‘ blacksmith shop stood on South Tarboro Street near the intersection of Kenan Street. Wells’ broad skill set went beyond blacksmithing to carpentry, wheelwright work, and, late in life, gunsmithing.
In February 1894, Wilson County reimbursed C.M. Wells $2.75 for repair work on a cart.
Wilson Mirror, 26 December 1894.
In September 1896, a man broke into “Mack” Wells’ “tool-chest” and stole some of his tools.
In the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: wheelwright Mack Wells, 40; wife Cherry, 38; and children Bertha, 11, Willie, 9, Clifton, 5, Lillie, 4, and Mary, 2.
1908 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory.
In the 1912 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory, Charles M. Wells is listed as owner of a blacksmith shop, and Clifton and William Wells as blacksmiths working for him.
A few years later, Wells moved his shop across the street. In the 1916 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory, Charles M. Wells is listed as owner of a blacksmith shop at 244 South Tarboro, and Clifton and Willie Wells as blacksmiths working for him.
When Clifton M. Wells’ registered for the World War I draft in 1917, he listed his occupation as blacksmith and machinist for C.M. Wells.
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 624 Viola, blacksmith Mack Wells. 57; wife Cherry, 55, washing and ironing; children Clifton, 25, blacksmith, and Marie, 22, washing and ironing; and granddaughter Minnie Green, 8.
In the 1920 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory, C. Mack Wells is listed as a blacksmith at East Kenan near Tarboro. Clinton [sic] Wells is also listed as a blacksmith.
In the 1922 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory, Charles M. Wells is listed as a blacksmith at 107 East Kenan.
In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory; Wells C Malachi (c; Cherry) gunsmith h 615 Viola.
Charles Malacih [Malachi] Wells died 22 August 1939 at Mercy Hospital in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 23 October 1862 in Nash County to Dennis Wells of Nash and Nellie Adams of Nash; was married; resided at 615 Viola; and was a self-employed machinist at Wells Machinery. Informant was Clifton Wells, 700 Warren Street, Wilson.
As guardian of M.C. Farmer, Warren Woodard filed regular expense reports in Wilson County Superior Court. In 1883, Woodard paid an unnamed washerwoman, who was almost certainly African-American, a total of $12.00 on eleven occasions between January and December. He also paid Lemon Taborn a total of $10.95 for three barber services.
Howell G. Whitehead’s guardian Frank W. Barnes filed regular reports detailing all income and funds paid out for Whitehead’s support, including small payments for two visits to barber Lemon Taborn on 29 December 1890 ($3.30) and 15 December 1891 ($1.40).
Around the same time, Barnes was the executor of Mary J. Anderson’s estate. For October and November 1889, he reported receiving payments for “rent cotton” totaling $83.67 from Mack Bynum and $74.30 from West Bynum. On 23 October 1889, Barnes paid Charlotte Brinkley and her unnamed daughter wages of $10.00 and on 25 November 1889 paid Lemon Taborn’s barber bill in full at $4.95. The Brinkleys were paid $6.00 on December 7 and $4.50 on December 23, and on the 14th Louisa Hinnant received $1.80 for two weeks of washing. Also on the 23rd, a woman named Effie, who was almost certainly Black, was paid 90 cents for “Washing for children.” On 10 February 1890, Barnes paid blacksmith Charlie Battle $3.55.
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Wilson Probate Estate Case Files 1854-1959, http://www.familysearch.org.