Newspapers

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.

Suggs’ Broughton Street grocery catches fire.

Mayor John M. McDonough’s Annual Report for the year ending 13 December 1894 contained this tidbit under “Fires and Alarms”:

Sanborn fire insurance map of Savannah, Georgia, 1888.

This 13 August 1894  Savannah Morning News article sheds light on the fire and reveals that Daniel C. Suggs had a sideline as a grocer.

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The obituary of Nellie B. Rice, esteemed educator.

Mamoroneck Daily Times, 23 May 1997.

Nellie Louise Barnes Baldwin Rice was born 14 April 1910 in Johnston County, North Carolina. Her parents William Orangie Barnes and Maggie Hinnant Barnes moved often between Wilson and Johnston Counties in her childhood.. After graduating from North Carolina College (now North Carolina Central University), she spent years as a Wilson County educator.

(Note that 87 year-old Nellie Rice’s mother survived her. Maggie H. Barnes died the following year at age 115.)

Bynum accidentally shoots son.

Wilson Daily Times, 5 August 1924.

Wilson Daily Times, 3 September 1924.

Though John Wesley Bynum‘s death certificate describes his father John H. Bynum as “drunken,” the elder Bynum was not charged in the boy’s accidental death.

In the 1900 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Gray Bynum, 41; wife Hagar, 41; and children Rose, 17, John, 15, Martha, 9, Gray, 7, and Isaac, 12.

In the 1910 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer John H. Bynum, 25; wife Carry, 20; daughter Queen E., 5; mother Cherry, 52; and sisters Cora, 18, and Leeoner, 15.

In the 1920 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer John Bynum, 35; wife Carrie, 29; children Rosetta, 6, and John, 4; and nephew and nieces Isaac, 7, and Jeneva Bynum, 4, and Susan Bridges, 19; laborer Bruce Daniel, 19, and niece Susie Ward, 15.

In the 1940 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: on Fountain Road, farm laborer John H. Bynum, 55; wife Carrie, 44; children Johnnie Jr., 15, Carrie, 8, and Beatrice, 5; mother Hagar Best, 87; nephew John W. Baker, 8; and cousin Ruth Farmer, 23. [John Jr. was born shortly after John Wesley’s death.]

John Wesley Bynum, known as “Snap.”

Snap Bynum’s photo courtesy of Ancestry.com user tashiaj1.

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.

Private First Class Cornelius Braswell, stationed in England.

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In the 1930 census of Upper Town Creek township, Edgecombe County, N.C.: George Braswell, 41; wife Lizzie, 35; and children Cornelius, 15, James, 13, Eloise, 10, Arthur, 8, Rena, 5, Ollin, 3, and Walter, 1.

In 1941, Cornelius Braswell registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 26 May 1914 in Wayne County, N.C.; lived on Route 3, Wilson; his contact was mother Lizzie Braswell; and he was a “prisoner until Feb. 20, 1941” at Prison Camp 406, Wilson.

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