Greensboro Daily News, 27 June 1918.
- “the incident”
- Reid — J.D. Reid
- Mary Euell
City of Wilson
“Why are they messing with poor black folks around here?”
I cringed when I read Rick Bragg‘s article in real time, but my perspective has since shifted.
New York Times, 2 January 1998.
She taught him to play.
Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), 11 May 1954.
When I first saw “Hinnant,” “jazz,” and “church organ,” I thought this was the obituary of one of the hundreds of African-American natives of Wilson County that migrated to Washington, D.C.
However — no. The clue: Carl Hinnant learned to play piano from “his old colored mammy and helped him sound out ‘Coonshine.'”
Carl Hinnant was born in Wilson in 1896. No “colored mammy” is listed in his family’s household in 1900 or 1910, and we may never know the name of the talented African-American woman who launched his musical career.
Vick and others incorporate theatre business.
I knew Samuel H. Vick founded a vaudeville hall and movie theatre on the second floor of the Odd Fellows building, and I knew he (and later his son, Samuel Vick Jr.) booked talent for his venue. I was surprised, however, to learn that Vick had joined with other Black North Carolina businessmen to incorporate First National Negro Theatre Corporation in 1926.
The theatre corporation’s purview was broad — financing, theatre operation, vaudeville development, film production, booking services, and standardized theatre plans. “In the case of the First National … the Negro banker and business man and the theatre owner or operator will join hands and will unite capital and experience in the promotion of the corporation.” S.H. Vick was a charter member and treasurer. “Movie King” Frederick K. Watkins of Durham, N.C., and William S. Scales of Winston-Salem, N.C., were also charter members, and notable Durham lawyer R. McCants Andrews signed on as legal advisor.
New York Age, 23 January 1926.
I have found little additional mention of the First National Negro Theatre Corporation and suspect it tanked during the Great Depression.
Wilsonians in town.
Washington Bee, 2 September 1916.
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- Rev. C. Dillard — Clarence Dillard.
- Hon. S.H. Vick — Samuel H. Vick.
- Master G.W. Vick — his son, George White Vick.
B.W.A. Historical Marker Series, no. 5: Saint Luke A.M.E. Church.
In this series, which will post on occasional Wednesdays, I populate the landscape of Wilson County with imaginary “historic markers” commemorating people, places, and events significant to African-American history or culture.
We been here.
In 1906, Saint Luke A.M.E. trustees purchased lot on Suggs St. and erected church. In 1930s, St. Luke moved to present location on Vick Street.
Tobacco graders cause small fire.
Abolitionist drummed out of Wilson.
Columbian Register (New Haven, Conn.), 8 December 1860.
The obituary of Martha Sharpe Haskins, formerly of Wilson County and Washington, D.C.
Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), 13 February 1963.
Martha Sharpe Haskins, the daughter of Damp Haskins and Hester Sharpe, was born 13 January 1882 in Edgecombe County, N.C., and reared in Wilson County.
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In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farm laborer Damp Haskins; wife Hester, 43; and children Dora, 24, Martha, 19, Lossie, 18, Robert, 16, William, 15, James, 13, Lesley, 10, John, 9, Norma, 7, Earnest, 4, and Damp, 1.
In the 1910 census of Wilson, WIlson County: on “N&S RR,” farmer Damp Haskins, 60; wife Stella, 52, servant; children Martha, 23, cook, James, 18, wagon factory laborer, Lessie, 16, lumber mill laborer, John, 15, lumber mill laborer, Annie, 8, Earnest, 7, and Damp, 3; plus grandsons Simeon, 15, retail grocery laborer, and Ambrose Hoskins, 7.
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Warren Street, Hester Haskins, 56; and Estella, 18, Annie, 22, Martha, 36, Ernest, 21, Ambroga, 17, Damp, 12, and [grandson] Joseph Haskins, 8.
On 15 November 1922, George Pitt, 31, of Nash County, son of Wiley Pitt and Ida McNair, married Martha Haskins, 30, of Wilson, daughter of Damp and Hester Haskins. James Haskins applied for the license, and Missionary Baptist minister John A. Mebane performed the ceremony in the presence of Glenn S. McBrayer, Jeff Holloway and Eula Farmer.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1200 Wainwright Street, owned and valued at $1700, Damp Haskins, 24, laborer at Coca-Cola plant; wife Sudie B., 21; children Damp Jr., 2, and Hellen, 6 months; widowed mother Hester, 72; brother [nephew] Joseph, 18; Martha Pitt, 52; and nephew Jim R. Haskins, 10.
On 18 February 1931, Joseph F. Haskins, 19, son of James Haskins and Martha H. Pitt, married Beatrice Bryant, 17, daughter of Isham and Rossie Bryant, at Isham Bryant’s house. Rev. J.T. Douglas of Calvary Presbyterian performed the ceremony in the presence of Judge Mitchell, Isham Bryant, and Rossie Bryant.
In 1940, Joseph Franklin Haskins registered for the World War II draft in Washington, D.C. Per his registration card, he was born 18 January 1913 in Durham, N.C.; lived at 1231 W Street, N.W., Washington; his contact was mother Martha Whitehead Haskins; and he worked for Dr. R.M. Williams, 1914 – 11th Street, N.W.
In the 1940 census of Washington, D.C.: at 1231 W Street, N.W., barber John Jones, 37, wife Sarah, 37, and daughter Ruby, 13; and hotel waiter Joseph Haskins, 27, mother Martha, 58, and uncle James Haskins, 36, post office department laborer. Both Joseph and Martha reported being divorced, and both had lived in Wilson, North Carolina, five years previously.
In 1942, Ernest Haskins registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 12 May 1898 in Wilson; lived at Route 1, Wilson; his contact was Martha Haskins, Washington, D.C.; and he worked for Wilson Tobacco Company.
Martha S. Haskins died 10 February 1963 in Middleburg, Loudoun County, Virginia. Per her death certificate, she was born 23 January 1897 in North Carolina to Damp Sharp and Hester Lassiter; and was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery, Wilson. Rev. Joseph Haskins was informant.
The obituary of James B. Ruffin of Washington, D.C, barber and musician.
Evening Star, 13 July 1975.
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In the 1930 census of Washington, D.C.: at 828 – 12th Street, barber James G. Ruffin, 45; wife Parthenia, 36; and children Emma, 19, laundress, Mary E., 18, laundress, Cora, 16, Naomi, 15, Kernice, 12, Parthenia, 11, James B., 9, Linwood, 7, Izah, 6, Calvin C., 4, and Canlice, 2. All but the youngest two children were born in North Carolina.
In the 1940 census of Washington, D.C.: James Ruffin, 18, porter in barbershop; wife Effie, 16; and son Daniel E., 1 month; with lodgers Alfred Breto, 53, David Hall, 27, and James Beaner, 20.
In 1942, James Badger Ruffin registered for the World War II draft in Washington, D.C. Per his registration card, he was born 17 March 1920 in Wilkerson [sic], North Carolina; lived at 1818 – 4th Street, N.W., Washington; his contact was Parthenia Ruffin, 828 – 12th Street, N.E.; and he worked at Ruffin’s Barber Shop, 1229 – 7th Street, N.W.