Seeds of Hope Wilson grows food, distributes food, stocks a free food pantry, distributes hygiene items, tends beehives, educates children, stocks a gardening library, shares seeds, hosts a Day of the Dead festival, and so much more from its house and garden at the heart of East Wilson. Be a hedge for our community — donate, sponsor, share.
Wilson Daily Times, 14 November 1942.
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In the face of stiff resistance by tobacco stemming companies against paying a minimum wage — $11/week — the ever-fiery Rev. Richard A.G. Foster made a blunt statement. As these businesses wanted to “keep Negroes poor and ignorant,” and “the white South still feels that Negro labor is slave labor,” “Negroes that live in the South must turn their attention to self help.”
Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 19 November 1938.
Chicago Defender, 26 August 1939.
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Chicago Defender, 19 July 1947.
Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 19 July 1947.
The Ruffins feature prominently in newspaper articles about successful Black Wilson County farm families. This piece highlights not only the “what” of their success, but the “why” — the education of their children.
As the family lived in the Saratoga area close to the county line and their parents were active in Yelverton Farm and Home Demonstration Clubs, the Ruffin children likely attended Yelverton School. That school, however, went only to seventh or eighth grade. In 1947, the only high schools for Black children in Wilson County were Williamson, near Lucama, and Frederick Douglass in Elm City. The Ruffin children may have boarded with friends or relatives in Wilson to attend Darden High School or may have crossed county lines to attend a closer high school in a neighboring county.
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In the 1910 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: on Howards Path, farmer Jesse Ward, 26; wife Arey, 32; and children William, 14, Walton, 10, Henrietta, 10, Susan, 6, Kizie, 5, and Juanita, 1 month.
In 1918, Charlie James Ruffin registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 22 May 1900; lived at Route #3, Walstonsburg, Greene County, N.C.; farmed for J.R. Eagles; and his nearest relative was Ida Ruffin.
On 25 January 1920, Charlie Ruffin, 21, of Saratoga township, son of Ida Ruffin, married Henretta Moore, 18, of Saratoga township, daughter of Ara Moore. Disciple minister Washington Little performed the ceremony at John Bynum’s residence.
In the 1920 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Charles Ruffin, 19; wife Henrietta, 19; mother Ida, 50; sister Daisy, 13; and niece Mary, 12.
In the 1930 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Charles Ruffin, 30; wife Henrietta, 28; and children Bertha, 9, Charlie Jr., 8, James R., 6, Juntia, 2, and Gladis L., 10 months.
In the 1940 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Charles Ruffin, 39; wife Henrietta, 38; and children Bertha, 19, Charles, 17, James R., 16, Juanita, 12, Gladys Lee, 10, Christine, 8, Bruce, 7, Bertie Mae, 4, and Curtis, 10 months.
In 1942, Charles James Ruffin registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 12 May 1900 in Wilson; lived at Route 1, Fountain, Saratoga township, Wilson County; and farmed for J.B. Eagles.
In the 1950 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Charles Ruffin, 49; wife Heneretta, 47; and children James, 25, Juanita, 23, Gladys, 20, Christine, 18, Bruce, 17, Bertha M., 14, and Curtis, 10.
On 16 March 1871, a Wilson County Probate Court judge ordered eight year-old Patrick Beaman, 8, Lydia Beaman, 9, Jennie Beaman, 10, and Chloe Beaman, 15, bound as apprentices to Lawrence Ward until the girls reached 18 and the boys reached 21 years of age. He was to be trained for farmwork.
The Beamon children, then using the surname Pope, were living in Lawrence Ward’s household before they were formally apprenticed.
In the 1870 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Larrence Ward, 25; wife Mary, 20; and daughter Mary A., 3; plus Chloie, 14, Jenny, 11, Lydia, 10, and Patrick Pope, 7; and Sophia Ward, 48.
Wilson County Apprentice Bonds 1869-1914, database at https://familysearch.org.
Though this newspaper article issued a few years after Black Wide-Awake’s coverage, I could not resist its images of East Wilson.
The Afro-American (Baltimore, Md.), 21 February 1953.
Below, the 500 block of East Nash Street, Wilson’s former Black commercial center. The three-story building at right is the Odd Fellows Building, built by Samuel H. Vick in 1894. Beside it, we see the verandas of the Biltmore Hotel (earlier known as the Union and the Whitley), Wilson’s only Green Book hotel. On the left, we see the hedges that fronted several residences that once lined that side of the street.
Below, Yancey’s Drug Store, which stood at 563 East Nash.
Other buildings shown include Mercy Hospital, the then-brand-new Elvie Street School; Jackson Chapel First Baptist Church; the home of Daniel and Bertha Carroll, which still stands on Lincoln Street; and a taxi and driver of United Cab Company.
Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 14 July 1945.
S.P. Artis advised and guided African-American families to home ownership for decades, eventually acting as a building contractor for many, including my parents.
