Newspapers

Doings about town.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 25 July 1931.

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A candidate for Congress in perilous times.

Cleveland (Oh.) Gazette, 25 October 1902.

After George H. White left Congress in 1901, Democrat Claude Kitchin of Scotland Neck — organizer of the terror-dealing Red Shirts and leader of the 1898 Wilmington Massacre — was elected to represent the black-majority Second District. (Days before the massacre, he proclaimed in an rally: “We cannot outnumber the negroes … And so we must either outcheat, outcount, or outshoot them.”)

Kitchin stood for reelection eleven times, defeating all challengers, including Samuel H. Vick in 1902. With the overwhelming majority of black voters newly disenfranchised, and many of the remaining terrified to exercise the franchise, Vick garnered a paltry four votes, and Kitchin obliterated the field.

The Morning Post (Wilmington, N.C.), 29 November 1902.

Immediately after his re-election, Kitchin joined the call to remove Vick from his position as postmaster.

Newton (N.C.) Enterprise, 12 December 1902.

A card of thanks from Dennis Taybron’s family.

Wilson Daily Times, 1 June 1932.

Dennis Taybron — not Taylor — was the father of Barney Reid‘s wife Anna Taybron Reid.

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In the 1850 census of  Nash County, N.C.: Allen Tayborne Jr., 30; wife Bitha, 22; and children Rixy, 3, and Dennis, 1.

In the 1870 census of Springfield township, Nash County, N.C.: Allen Taborn, 60, and children/grandchildren Elizabeth, 25, Dennis, 20, Amanda, 17, Mathew, 16, Robt., 13, Belinda, 12, Morris, 9, Levi, 7, Savage, 4, and Lizena, 1.

In the 1880 census of Jackson township, Nash County, N.C.: farmer Dennis Taborn, 31, and wife Harriet, 26.

In the 1900 census of Jackson township, Nash County, N.C.: farmer Dennis Taborn, 51;wife Harrett, 40; and children Cephus, 18, Theodoric, 16, Anna D., 13, and Arena H., 7.

In the 1910 census of Ferrells township, Nash County, N.C.: farmer Dennis Tabron, 66; wife Harret, 50; and daughters Anna D., 18, and Irene H., 15.

Dennis Taybron died 27 May 1932 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 75 years old; was born in Nash County, N.C., to Allen and Tabitha Taybron; was the widower of Harriet Taybron; lived at 300 Vick Street; and was buried in Nash County. Sandora Reid, 300 Vick, was informant.

Anna Dora Reid Hall died 20 April 1969 in Kinston, Lenoir County, N.C. Per her death certificate, she was born 15 September 1894 to Dennis Taybron and Harriett Wilkins; resided in Wilson; was a retired teacher; and was a widow. Informant was Goldie Forbes, 1005 Washington Street, Wilson.

Pvt. I.D. Bostick, serving in France.

Wilson Daily Times, 19 May 1945.

In 1942, Ide Bostick registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 2 August 1922 in Wilson; he resided at 530 Stemmery Street; his mailing address was 609 North 7th Street, Wilmington, N.C.; his contact was Isabell Bostick, 530 Stemmery; and he worked for N.C. Shipbuilding Company, Wilmington.

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

The estate of Wiley Rountree (1847).

When Wiley (or Willie, as his name was sometimes spelled) Rountree made out his will on 12 May 1847, he left land for his sons Willie and Jonathan Rountree on Contentnea Creek and Hominy Swamp, directed that his personal property be sold, and specified that “it is my will and desire that my Negroes be divided as follows among my children and my granddaughter Mary Ann Rountree, that is for my girl children each to have a full share of all my Negro property, and my boys and my granddaughter … one half share of the same.”

Rountree died weeks later, and his executors (who had married two of Rountree’s daughters) published this notice in a Tarboro newspaper:

Tarboro Press, 12 June 1847.

On January 1, 1850, Larry Dew, L.D. Farmer, and Joshua Barnes divided the 23 remaining enslaved people in Rountree’s estate among his surviving heirs:

  • Lot 1, Ruffin, Packolatt, Jane, and Amos, valued collectively at $1625, and lot 3, Marion, Ruford, Jack, and Margaret, $1600, went to William Woodard, on behalf of his wife Delphia Rountree Woodard
  • Lot 2, Joseph, Henry, Clarky, and Everett, $1625, went to Willie Rountree
  • Lot 4, Bob, Temperance, Edwin, and Elizabeth, $1575, went to John G. Williams, as the administrator of recently deceased Jonathan Rountree’s estate (Williams later sold Bob and Elizabeth to James J. Taylor for $750 and $492, and Temperance, her son Edwin, and an unnamed child to John Batts for $615. Bob and Temperance were a married couple. Thus, they and their older children Marion and David were separated from each other.)
  • Lot 5, Davy, Israel, and Adaline, $1550, and Lot 6, Haywood, Edwin, Zilphy, and Mary, $1550, went to Nancy Rountree

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  • Ruffin
  • Packolatt
  • Jane
  • Amos
  • Bob, Temperance, Marion, Dave, Edwin, Elizabeth

In 1866, Bob Rountree and Tempy Horn registered their 30-year cohabitation in Wilson County. [Note that Temperance declined to adopt Rountree or Batts as her maiden name. Horn was the name of the enslaver who sold her to Wiley Rountree.]

In 1866, Merion Rountree and Jane Barnes registered their seven-year cohabitation in Wilson County.

On 27 August 1866, David Rountree and Nancy Farmer registered their twelve-year cohabitation in Wilson County.

In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Robert Rountree, 62, farm laborer; wife Temperance, 49; Ann, 21, farm laborer; and Dora, 1.

In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm laborer David Rountree, 35; wife Nancy, 33; and children Winnie, 12, Jonas, 11, Allen, 9, Tillie, 4, Laurence, 5, and Angeline, 1.

On 25 April 1872, Robert Rountree, son of Robert and Tempy Rountree, married Pricey Williamson, in Wilson County.

In the 1880 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Robert Rountree, 82; wife Tempy, 68; daughter-in-law Priscilla, 30, and her son Willie, 7.

In the 1880 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: David Rountree, 46; wife Nancy, 45; and children Winnie, 21, Lawrence, 14, Jennie, 12, Dinah, 10, Sarah, 8, David, 6, Charlie, 4, and Jonas, 20, and Bettie, 1.

  • Ruford
  • Jack
  • Margaret
  • Joseph
  • Henry
  • Clarky
  • Everett
  • Israel
  • Adaline
  • Haywood
  • Edwin
  • Zilphy
  • Mary

1306 East Nash Street.

The two hundred-eleventh in a series of posts highlighting buildings in East Wilson Historic District, a national historic district located at Wilson, North Carolina. As originally approved, the district encompasses 858 contributing buildings and two contributing structures in a historically African-American section of Wilson. (A significant number have since been lost.) The district was developed between about 1890 to 1940 and includes notable examples of Queen Anne, Bungalow/American Craftsman, and Shotgun-style architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

As described in the nomination form for the East Wilson Historic District: “ca. 1913; 1 story; Clarence Best house; L-plan cottage with intact turned-post porch and balustrade; Best was a marble worker and operated monument works.”

The house apparently was unnumbered until the 1930s, when it was assigned 1302, then, around 1942, 1306.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on East Nash Street, marble works polisher Clearance Best, 37, wife Geneva, 37, and son Clearance, 11.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: marble dresser Clarence Best, 46, wife Geneva, 46, and son Clarence H. Best, 21, tobacco stemmer, plus nephew Frank Brake, 14.

In the 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Best Clarence B (c; Geneva) hlpr Wilson Marble & Granite Co h 1302 E Nash

In 1943, Clarence Herman Best registered for the World War II draft. He reported his home address as 1306 East Nash Street, Wilson; his date of birth as 3 October 1918; and his closest relative as Clarence Benjamin Best, his father. His employer was Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, North Carolina.

Wilson Daily Times, 30 November 1946.

Wilson Daily Times, 22 August 1947.

In the 1947 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Best Clarence B (c; Eva; East Nash Street Monument Co) h 1302 E Nash

Wilson Daily Times, 5 April 1948.

Wilson Daily Times, 10 September 1949.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1306 East Nash, monument plant proprietor Clarence Best, 56; wife Geneva, 56; and lodger George Williams, 38, hotel bellhop.

Wilson Daily Times, 20 November 1980.

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson.

A card of thanks from William Barney Reid’s family.

Wilson Daily Times, 1 August 1940.

Just two years after daughter Piccola Mae Reid died, a branch of the Reid family lost its patriarch, William Barney Reid. [Whose idea was the inclusion of “(col.)” in the notice?]

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In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 300 Vick Street, carpenter Barnie Rudd, 37; wife Anna, 27; children Earl F., 6, and Pecolla, 3; and sister-in-law Irine Taybron, 23, teacher.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 300 Vick Street, building carpenter Barney Reid, 43; wife Anna, 39; children Earl, 4, Piccola, 13, and Fitzhugh, 9; and in-laws Harriot, 69, and John Tayborn, 80.

Pecola Mae Reid died 10 December 1938 in Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born in June 1916 in Wilson to Barney Reid and Anna Tabron; she lived at 300 North Vick Street; and she worked as county school teacher. She was buried in Wilson [likely, Vick Cemetery.]

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 300 Vick Street, Barna Reid, 55, carpenter/contractor; wife Anna D., 42, teacher; son Jessie S., 19, construction helper; nephew Chester Taborn, 14; and roomers Irene Whitley, 24, Floricie Dunston, 28, both Wayne County teachers, and Clarence Artist, 24, tobacco factory laborer.

William Barney Reid died 20 July 1941 at his home at 300 North Vick Street, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 55 years old; was born in Wayne County, N.C., to Jesse Reid and Sallie Ann [no maiden name given]; was married to Anna Reid; worked as a carpenter; and was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery.