Recommended reading, no. 24: Black Folk, The Roots of the Black Working Class.
Migration
Where did they go?: Washington obituaries.
- Georgia Jiles
In the 1880 census of Oldfields township, Wilson County: Wesley Tayborne, 30; wife Madora, 23; and Martha, 6 months.
The Taborns joined the exodus to Arkansas circa 1891, settling in Saint Francis County,
In the 1900 census of Telico township, Saint Francis County, Arkansas: Wesley Taborn, 47; wife Dora, 43; children Henrietta, 20, Arnie, 18, Lula, 16, Claudia, 13, Georanna, 10, Hattie, 7, and Walter, 1; and boarder Robert Lucas, 46. All were born in North Carolina except Hattie and Walter, who were born in Arkansas.
In the 1920 census of Wynne township, Cross County, Arkansas: Arlie Taborne, 45; sister Gergia, 24; daughter Hattie, 22; daughter Grattice, 2; son Herman, 2; and uncle Robert Lucas, 63. The two children were born in Arkansas; everyone else in North Carolina.
1939 Seattle, Washington city directory.
The Northwest Enterprise (Seattle, Wash.), 6 January 1940.
In the 1940 census of Seattle, King County, Washington: at 1534 – 23rd Avenue, widow Hattie B. Lewis, 43; son Herman L. Lewis, 22; sister Georgia Jiles, 45; nephew Grattis T. Scott, 22; niece Alberta Morrow, 23; and nephew Millard Morrow, 23. All but the Morrows reported they had been in Kansas City, Kansas, in 1935.
Georgia Jiles died 10 February 1956 in Seattle, King County, Washington. Per her death certificate, she was born 20 October 1896 in Wilson, N.C., to Westley Taborn and Dora Jones; was a widow; lived at 1615 – 20th Avenue; and was buried in Washelli Cemetery.
- Mancie Gaston
In the 1900 census of Town of Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County: on Pender Street, barber and plasterer George W. Gaston, 44, wife Cilla, 44, a cook; and children Rosco, 18, bricklayer; John, 16, common laborer; Georgia, 15, cook; Addar, 12, nurse; Nina, 11, nurse; Mancy, 6; Lacy, 6; Augustas, 6; Boston, 1; and Dewey, 6 months.
In the 1910 census of Town of Elm City, Wilson County: on Wilson Street, barber George Gaston, 55, wife Priscilla, 53; and children Roscoe, 28, barber; John, 26, barber; Georgie, 25; Ada, 23, teacher; Nina, 21; Mancie, 17; Augustus, 16; Flossy, 16; Boisy, 14; Dewey, 9; and Lee J. Gaston, 7.
In 1917, Mancie Gaston registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 10 June 1892 in Elm City; lived in Elm City; worked as a barber for G.A. Gaston; and was single.
World War I service card for Mancie Gaston.
1922 Wilson, N.C., city directory.
Dewey Gaston, 23, son of George and Priscilla Gaston, married Mary B. Howard, 24, daughter of Mary E. Darden, on 8 March 1923 in Tarboro, Edgecombe County. Witnesses were Mancie Gaston and Fannie F. Ricks of Elm City.
Around 1930, Gaston headed west, living briefly in Albuquerque, New Mexico, before moving on to Reno, Nevada.
1931 Albuquerque, New Mexico, city directory.
In the 27 October 1932 edition of the Reno Evening Gazette, Mancie Gaston was listed as a registered voter in Washoe County, Nevada. He spent an eventful few years in the state before relocating to Seattle, Washington.
Reno Evening Gazette, 25 January 1933.
Nevada State Journal (Reno, Nev.), 4 February 1936.
In the 1940 census of Seattle, King County, Washington: at 121 Maynard Avenue [a single-room occupancy dwelling], Mancie Gaston, 47, W.P.A. laborer.
In 1942, Mancie Gaston registered for the World War II draft in Seattle. Per his registration card, he was born 10 June 1892 in Elm City, North Carolina; lived at 413 1/2 Maynard Avenue, Seattle; and worked for I.D. Dudley [white barber Isaac D. Dudley], 609 Jackson, Seattle.
At the time he registered for the draft, Gaston lived in Seattle’s Chinatown. This 12 May 1941 photo, courtesy of the Seattle Times Archives, depicts a funeral procession in the block of Maynard, between Jackson and King, that he lived in.
In the 9 June 1943 issue of The Northwest Enterprise, Mancie Gaston is listed as a paid member during a N.A.A.C.P. membership drive.
Mancie Gaston died 7 August 1946 in Seattle, King County, Washington. Per his death certificate, he was born 10 June 1892 in Elm City, N.C., to George Gaston and Priscilla Mercer; lived at 613 1/2 Jackson Street; was a widower; worked as a barber; was a veteran; and was returned to Elm City for burial.
The obituary of Annie Mariah Artis Darden of Mount Vernon, New York.
Mount Vernon (N.Y.) Argus, 7 June 1971.
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- John D. Artis and Sarah Ward Artis
In the 1870 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farm laborer Nathan Ward, 46; wife Mariah, 26; and children Sarah, 15, Scott, 13, Waltin, 10, Larrence, 5, and Ida, 2; plus Lydia Moye, 58.
In the 1880 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Nathan Ward, 56; wife Maria, 47; children Sarah, 24, Austin, 18, Laurena, 14, Ida, 12, Maria, 9, Ora, 7, Douglas, 5, Columbus, 4, and Elijah, 1; and mother-in-law Liddia Moye, 66.
On 17 July 1890, John D. Artis, 28, of Stantonsburg, son of Joseph and Mary Ann Artis, married Sarah Ward, 34, of Stantonsburg, daughter of Nathan and Mariah Ward, at Sarah Ward’s. Methodist minister Rev. A.T. Dove performed the ceremony in the presence of George N. Applewhite, Mary J. Ward, and W.E. Ward.
In the 1900 census of Speights Bridge township, Greene County, N.C.: farmer John Artis, 35; wife Sarah, 35; and daughters Ida, 17, Mariah, 11, and Ora, 8.
John Artis died 16 September 1927 in Wilson, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was 65 years old; was born in Wayne County, N.C., to Joe Artis; was married to John Artis; was a farmer; and was buried in Wilson County. James Ward was informant.
In the 1920 census of Speights Bridge township, Greene County, N.C.: farmer John Artis, 56; wife Sarah, 60; and grandson John, 14.
Ora Speights died 15 April 1939 in Speights Bridge township, Greene County, N.C. Per her death certificate, she was born 10 January 1893 in Greene County, N.C., in John Artis and Sarah Ward; was married to Charlie Speights; and was buried in Greene County.
- Annie Mariah Artis Darden
In the 1900 census of Speights Bridge township, Greene County, N.C.: farmer John Artis, 35; wife Sarah, 35; and daughters Ida, 17, Mariah, 11, and Ora, 8.
On 2 May 1909, Jim Hagans, 22, of Saratoga, son of Dred and Mamie Hagans, married Maria Artis, 19, of Saratoga, daughter of John and Sarah Artis, at John Artis’ residence in Saratoga township, Wilson County. A.M.E. Zion minister G.A. Wood performed the ceremony.
On 16 December 1911, Jesse Darden and Maria Hagans were married in Greene County.
In the 1920 census of Speights Bridge township, Greene County: farm Jeffie Darden, 25; wife Mariah, 28; children Ada Belle, 6, Effie, 4, and Lawrence, 6 months; and cousin Tom Ward, 20.
In the 1930 census of Speights Bridge township, Greene County: Jessie Darden, 35; wife Maria, 38; and children Ada B., 16, Effie, 14, Lawrence, 10, Charlie, 8, Nathan, 6, Sarah, 5, and Annie, 3.
The obituary of Mary Ella Stokes Doyle.
The obituary of Ellen Wilson Freeman of Tuskegee, Alabama.
Alabama Journal, 2 November 1968.
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In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: William Wilson, 51, livery stable groom; wife Sarah, 48; and daughters Ellen, 23, and Lillian, 21, both tobacco factory laborers.
On 28 May 1921, Dedquard [Daniel Edward] Freeman, 25, born in Wilson, N.C., to Julius Freeman and Eliza Daniel, sign painter, married Ellen D. Wilson, 22, born in Wilson, N.C., to William Wilson and Sarah Bullard, in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.
William Wilson died 21 May 1922 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 55 years old; was born in Cumberland County, N.C., to William and Sophia Wilson; was married to Sarah Wilson; lived on Woodard Avenue; and worked as a common laborer for T.J. Herring. He was buried in Wilson [likely, Vick Cemetery.]
In the 1930 census of Tuskegee, Macon County, Alabama: Daniel A. Freeman, 32, private school drama teacher; wife Ellaine, 28; and daughter Elaine, 6, born in Ohio.
In the 1940 census of Greenwood, Macon County, Alabama: at Tuskegee Institute, Dequard Freeman, 43; wife Ellen, 35, laundry checker; and daughter Elaine, 16.
In the 1950 census of Greenwood, Macon County, Alabama: Daniel E. Freeman, 53; wife Ellen D., 47; and cousin Donald McLauren, 10, born in New York.
The obituary of William H. Vick, first black pharmacist in New Jersey.
Montclair Times, 17 September 1959.
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In the 1880 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: gristmill worker Daniel Vick, 38, wife Fannie, 35, and children Samuel, 16, Nettie, 14, Earnest Linwood, 12, Henry, 10, and James O.F., 8, plus Frank O. Blount, 20, and Marcus W. Blount, 26.
William Henry Vick graduated from the Wilson Colored Graded School in 1889 and from Lincoln University in 1894 with a bachelor’s degree. He later received a master’s degree from Lincoln. In 1897, he passed the pharmacist licensing exams of North Carolina and New Jersey.
In the 1903 and 1905 Charlotte, N.C., city directories:
In the 1907 Atlantic City, N.J., city directory: Vick William H (Caroline J) druggist 1811 Arctic av
Per delayed birth record, Fannie Marene Vick was born 7 September 1908 in Mecklenburg County, N.C., to William Henry Vick and [unnamed] Dixon.
In the 1910 census of Atlantic City, Atlantic County, New Jersey: druggist William H. Vick, wife Carrie J., 32, daughter Fannie M., 6, and William, 2.
In 1912, the Vicks migrated to Toronto, Canada, where they remained for ten years. In the 1921 census of Toronto, Ontario, Canada: at 5 Crocker Street, William H. Vick, 48; wife Carrie, 43; and children Fanny, 17, and Henry, 13. William immigrated in 1912; the rest of the family in 1913. He reported that the family was of Scotch descent and were Presbyterian, and he worked as a porter in a railroad club. [Why did Vick leave his pharmacy career to move to Canada to work as a servant for a decade? And “Scotch”? (By the way, 5 Crocker Street is a small, semi-detached house in the Trinity-Bellwoods neighborhood now valued at more than $850,000.]
In the 1930 census of Orange, Essex County, New Jersey, at 450 Orange Road: drugstore owner William Vick, 58, wife Carrie, 53, and daughter Fannie, 24, with two boarders. Vick’s home was valued at $10,000.
W.H. Vick was active in Republican Party politics in Essex County, as he had been in Wilson.
Montclair Times, 31 July 1936.
In the spring of 1938, Vick and Leo M. Avstreih, a Russian Jewish immigrant, opened Montclair Pharmacy on a downtown corner.
Montclair Times, 25 March 1938.
In the 1947 Montclair, N.J., city directory: Vick William H (Carrie J) pharmacist r 53 Greenwood av
In the 1950 census of Montclair, Essex County, New Jersey: lodgers at 53 Greenwood Avenue, pharmacist William Vick, 78, and wife Carrie, 78.
Caroline Dixon Vick survived her husband by a decade.
Montclair Times, 25 September 1969.
The obituary of John B. Jackson of Baltimore, Maryland.
Baltimore Sun, 20 August 1973.
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In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Joseph Jackson, 37, minister; wife Annie, 45; and children Eloise, 8, Joseph, 5, Paul L., 2, and John, 2 months.
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 616 Green Street, Joseph S. Jackson, 48, minister; wife Annie H., 45; and children Mary E., 18, Joseph S., Jr., 15, Paul L., 11, and John B., 9.
In the 1930 census of Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland: on 1003 Monument Street, roomers John Jackson, 21, railroad laborer; wife Blanche, 25; and son John E., 19 months, in the household of Hugh Lucus. [Is this the same John Jackson?]
On 9 September 1935, J.B. Jackson, 26, of Wilson, son of J.S. and A.H. Jackson, married Annabelle Scott, 23, of New Bern, daughter of Charles Scott and Golda Johnson, in New Bern, N.C.
In 1940, John Burns Jackson registered for the World War II draft in Baltimore. Per his registration card, he was born 4 March 1910 in Wilson, N.C.; lived at 827 Hamilton Terrace [later, 518 Sanford Place and 1728 North Carey Street], Baltimore; his contact was mother Annie Horton Jackson, 618 East Green Street, Wilson; and he worked at Wm. Martien & Co., Baltimore Trust Building, Baltimore.
In the 1940 census of Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland: J. Burns Jackson, 30, apartment house janitor, and wife Annabella, 26. [The couple described themselved as Indian and reported living in Goldsboro, N.C., in 1935.]
In the 1950 census of Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland: John Jackson, 40, research chemist; wife Annabelle, 38, research laboratory assistant; and lodger Melvin Dulaney, 30, bricklayer.
Locks Funeral Home Records, 1936-2007, http://www.ancestry.com.
The Perrys celebrate 50 years of marriage.
Passaic (N.J.) Daily Herald, 28 December 1931.
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In the 1880 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farm laborer Jack Hodge, 64; wife Gilly, 49; and children Susan, 19, Sidney, 13, and Joseph, 33. [Next door: farm laborer Handy Hodge, 20, and wife Roxy, 21.]
On 28 December 1881, John Perry, 22, married Susan Hodge, 21, in Stantonsburg township, Wilson County. Jack Hodge and Zillie Hodge were among the witnesses.
In the 1900 census of Militia District 1209, Bulloch County, Georgia: farmer John H. Perry, 39; wife Susan, 39; and children William H., 14, Martha J., 13, John H., 11, and Mary E., 10. The younger two children were born in Georgia; the rest of the family, in North Carolina.
In the 1910 census of Laston, Bulloch County, Georgia: farmer John H. Perry, 49; wife Susan, 49; son George, 14; and adopted son Luther Spells, 7. Susan reported that only 2 of her 11 children were living.
In the 1920 census of Norfolk, Virginia: at 1347 East 46th Street, railroad office boy John Perry, 60; wife Susan, 50; niece Hazel Gill, 14; and grandchildren Viola, 9, Elzie, 7, and Ida Perry, 6.
Helen Tate Huggins marries in Atlanta.
Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 16 December 1939.
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In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: barber Noah Tate, 28; wife Hattie, 24; and children John P., 3, and Helen, 2.
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 208 Pender, barber Noah Tate, 42; wife Hattie, 34; boarder Mary Jennings, 28, a public school teacher; and children Helen, 13, Mary Jane, 8, Andrew, 11, and Noah Jr., 3.
In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Tate Helen (c) sch tchr 307 Pender
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 307 North Pender, seamstress Hattie Tate, 44, widow, and children Hellen, 23, insurance agent, and Andrew, 21, hotel bellboy, as well as lodger Lucy Davis, a public school teacher.
In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Tate Helen (c) clk r 307 Pender
In the 1941 and 1947 Atlanta, Georgia, city directory: Huggins Edw (c; Helen) tile str h 713 Greensferry Av SW
In the 1951 Atlanta, Georgia, city directory: Huggins Edw (c; Helen T) tile str Albert W Cook h 657 Greensferry Av SW
Andrew Tate died 16 May 1977 in Wilson. He was born 8 September 1908 to Noah Tate and Hattie Pierce; was married to Helen Whitfield; lived at 506 East Vance; and was buried in Rest Haven cemetery. Informant was Helen Tate Huggins, Atlanta, Georgia.
Atlanta Constitution, 18 September 1981.
Eden and Mount Lawn cemeteries, Philadelphia.
I don’t know that it’s possible to know exactly how many made the journey, but Philadelphia was a landing spot for hundreds of African-Americans who migrated from Wilson County, including my grandmother. On a quick recent trip to the area, I sought out Historic Eden Cemetery, listed as final resting place on several Pennsylvania death certificates for Wilson County natives. To my surprise, my route took me right past Mount Lawn Cemetery, which also holds burials of Wilson County migrants.
We honor our kinfolk, their lives, their struggles and triumphs. Rest in peace.
Photos by Lisa Y. Henderson, November 2025.