Newspapers

County teachers meet.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 30 January 1937.

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  • E.M. Barnes, “supervisor” — Edward M. Barnes.
  • J.D. Reid, “principal of the Stantonsburg Street School” — here we find the surprising return of J.D. Reid to the principalship of the Graded School. I don’t think the stint lasted long.
  • Mr. Lee
  • Mrs. Whitehead, “fifth grade teacher of Wilson High School” — Mamie Ethel Key Whitehead.
  • M.D. Williams, “principal of the new S.H. Vick graded school” — Malcolm D. Williams.
  • Stanley Gilliam, “principal of the Williamson school”

The obituary of Mollie Braswell Talley.

Wilson Daily Times, 14 July 1944.

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In the 1880 census of Lower Town Creek township, Edgecombe County, N.C.: laborer George Braswell, 28; wife Adline, 25; children James R., 10, Geo. L., 7, and Mollie, 2; Sol Knight, 22, laborer; and Walter Whitfield, 32, laborer.

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farmer George Braswell, 52; wife Adeline, 47; children Mollie, 22, Mattie, 18, Caroline, 16, Victoria, 13, Melvina, 12, Dora, 10, and Ernest, 9; and grandchildren James, 3, and Frederick, 3 months.

On 9 September 1900, Frank Bynum, 32, of Wilson County, Frank Bynum, 32, of Wilson County, son of Peter and Elizabeth Bynum, married Mollie Braswell, 22, daughter of George and Adaline Braswell, in Wilson township, Wilson County. John Artis applied for the license, and Primitive Baptist minister J.F. Farmer performed the ceremony in the presence of Anthony Vick, Charles Hagans, and London Woodard.

Walter Talley, 45, of Old Fields, married Mollie Barnes, 45, of Old Fields, on 15 July 1925.

In the 1928 Wilson, N.C., city directory: Talley Walter (c; Mollie) mill hd 806 S Lodge

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Walter Tally, 50, lumber mill laborer, and wife Molly, 60.

Walter Talley died 17 May 1941 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 13 January 1885 in Wayne County, N.C.; lived at 503 East Banks Street, Wilson; worked as a laborer; was married to Mollie Talley; and was buried in Rountree Cemetery [probably, Vick Cemetery.]

In 1942, James Braswell registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 23 February 1898 in Wilson County; lived at 503 Banks Street, Wilson; his contact was Molly Talley, 503 Banks; and he worked for Williams Lumber Company.

Mollie Talley died 13 July 1944 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 7 April 1880 in Edgecombe County, N.C., to George and Adeline Braswell; lived at 604 South Lodge; was the widow of Walter Talley; and was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery. James Braswell was informant.

Charles Gay Jr. returns from overseas duty.

Wilson Daily Times, 14 July 1944.

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In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Charlie Gay, 28, wife Ella, 28, and Charlie, 18 months.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Charley Gay, 39, ice house laborer; wife Ella, 30; and sons Charlie Jr., 11, and Edgar, 7.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Chas. B. Gay, 52, hotel janitor, wife Ella J., 48, laundress, and children Chas. Jr., 21, bellboy, and Ednor R., 17.

In 1940, Charles Benjamin Gay Jr. registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 9 June 1908 in Wilson; lived at 623 East Green Street; his contact was Charles Benjamin Gay Sr., 807 East Viola Street; and he worked for W.T. Clark Tobacco Company.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: widow Lucy Sherood, 58, hotel maid; lodger Charlie Gay, 78; and lodger’s son Charlie Gay Jr., 42, hotel hall boy.

Charles Benjamin Gay Jr. died 29 December 1974 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 9 June 1908 to Charles B. Gay Jr. and Ella Tate; lived at 623 East Green Street; was a widower; and worked as a bellhop at Cherry Hotel.

The Frogs host a hop.

In 1931, the Frog Social Club sponsored its second annual holiday party — the Frog Hop. Held in Samuel H. Vick‘s “casino” in the Odd Fellows building, the soiree promised a good time to the select with an “admit card.”

The Frog Club drew its members from the rarefied heights of Wilson’s African-American social circles.

The Journal and Guide‘s 10 January 1933 issue described the Frog’s first New Year’s party.

Founded by black movers and shakers, Frogs social clubs sprang up throughout the country in the decades prior to World War II. The legendary precursor to all of them was formed in Harlem in 1908 by legendary theatrical pioneers Bert Williams, George Walker, and Sam Corker. Named after Aristophanes’ play, The Frogs, the Harlem club’s peak years were the 1910s and 1920s, but its renown inspired the formation and tone of the clubs like the one in Wilson.

Thank you, Vicki Cowan, for sharing!

Doctors vs. professors — a baseball game!

Savannah Tribune, 19 August 1893.

Wilson-born Daniel C. Suggs was captain and catcher for the Georgia State Industrial Institute’s professors’ baseball team in this exhibition game played at Savannah’s Bolton Street Park. Located between Bolton Street and Park Avenue east of the railroad tracks running parallel to East Broad Street, this ballpark was home to Savannah’s professional baseball clubs between 1885 and 1909.

Indoor circuses and other social events.

Baltimore Afro-American, 12 May 1928.

  • M. Lenard
  • Mrs. J.D. Reid — Eleanor P. Reid.
  • Mrs. Aline Darden
  • Mrs. Sarah Wilson — probably, in the 1930 Wilson, N.C., city directory: Wilson Sarah L (c) tchr Stantonsburg St Graded Sch r 209 N Reid
  • Mrs. M.S. Gilliam — Annie L. Gilliam.
  • Mrs. C.L. Darden — Norma D. Darden.
  • Artelia Barnes — Leo Artelia Barnes.
  • Inez White
  • Elroy Barnes
  • M. Fisher — probably, Milton Fisher.
  • William McCullers — in the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1008 Washington Street, Clarence McCullers, 42, hardware store laborer; wife Rosa E., 37, who did washing; and son William E., 17.
  • Fletcher Pearce
  • Jesse Bullock — in the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farmer Joshuy Bulluck, 47; wife [illegible], 43; children Kattie, 23, Ruel, 21, Jessie, 20, Percy, 18, Maggie, 17, Joshuy, 16, Lonnie, 13, Mark, 12, James A., 10, Hermon, 9, Zeb, 5, Annie L., 8, and Wytelluse, 4.
  • Ruel Bullock 
  • Esmond Langley
  • Ameta Ellis — Ometa Ellis died 3 May 1928 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was married to Morriss Ellis; resided at 702 Nash Street; was 42 years old; and had been born in Wilmington, North Carolina, to Weldon Perrington of Wilmington and Louisa Scarborough of Wilson. Louisa Parrington was informant.
  • Sarah Williams
  • James H. Clarke — John H. Clark?
  • Thelma Barnes
  • Scott Hines — Elizabeth Scott Hines.
  • Rosa Lee Kittrell
  • Gerald Barnes — probably, Jerrell Randolph Barnes, who died 14 December 1929 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 7 May 1909; was single; worked as a common laborer; and was born to Ned Barnes and Louisa Gay. Informant was Alice Bryant, Wilson.
  • John E. Farmer — perhaps, in the 1940 csus of Wilson, Wilson County: widow Eula Farmer, 51, household servant; son John E., 30, laborer; and daughter Clifton, 24, movie theatre cashier.
  • Rufus Speights — Rufus Speight. in the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Speight Rufus (c) porter Wm Hines h 624 Viola. In 1940, Rufus Edward Speight registered for the World War II draft. Per his registration card, he lived at 624 East Viola; was born 4 October 1907 in Whitaker, North Carolina; his contact was brother Theodore Speight; and he worked for Bill Hines at 130 South Goldsboro Street.
  • Klondike Club
  • Herbert Mitchner — Hubert Mitchner.
  • Andrew Tate — 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.
  • Douglass Ellis — in the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 411 Pine, Windsor Ellis, 42, greenhouse gardener; wife Rachel, 34; children Douglas, 20, John H., 10, and Elaine, 5; and lodger Fred Moye, 26, cafe cook.
  • Charlie Thomas

D.C. Suggs’ building permits.

Daniel C. Suggs filed for several building permits in Greensboro, North Carolina, in August 1915:

Greensboro Record, 9 August 1915.

Greensboro Record, 17 August 1915.

Greensboro Record, 1 September 1915.

Suggs’ projects included:

  • a one-story store on East Market Street for $1000
  • a one-story house on Macon Street for $1000
  • a one-story house on Gaston Street for $400

Jerry Bullock, the first black elected official in Wilson County.

Wilmington (N.C.) Journal,  17 August 1871.

Cheers for Jerry Bullock!

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In the 1870 census of Joyners township, Wilson County: farmer Jerry Bullock, 56; wife Martha, 32; and children John, 15, Ichabode, 13, Anna, 11, Ross, 8, Doc, 2, and Grant, 5 months.

Jerry Bullock died in 1877.

In the 1880 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: widow Martha A. Bullock, 34, and children Ichabud, 20, Ross, 18, David C., 12, Ella, 7, Emma S., 5, and Bettie, 3.

Edmond Bullock died 14 October 1920 in Wilson, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was 63 years old; was born in Wilson County to Jerry Bullock and Martha Bullock; was married to Anna Bullock; worked as a brickmason; and was buried in Wilson County [possibly, Vick Cemetery.]

Dr. Moore’s funeral.

Salisbury Post, 22 October 1927.

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As principal of Wilson Academy, Dr. Edward E. Moore influenced a generation of boys to attend Lincoln University, including Samuel H. Vick, his brother William H. Vick and cousin Frank O. Blount; Daniel C. Suggs; and Braswell R. Winstead. A professor of Greek and Latin, Dr. Moore had been a professor and administrator at Livingstone College. His widow, Serena Suggs Moore, was D.C. Suggs’ sister.