Wilson County

Sam Hall charged with B&E, theft.

Daily Journal (Wilmington, N.C.), 12 September 1871.

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In the 1850 census of North Side Neuse, Wayne County: Lucy Hall, 45, and children Sarah, 16, George, 15, Nathan, 13, Nicy, 10, Samuel, 3, and Esther Hall, 6, plus Alford Artis, 15, and John Artis, 14, and Rhoda Artis, 13, and her children Julia, 12, and Rheuben Artis, 10, plus Rufus Lane, 22.

In the 1860 census of Saratoga district, Wilson County: farm worker Noah Walker, 25; wife Polly, 21; and Samuel Hall, 13. The Walkers were white; Hall, “mulatto.”

In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: brick maker Samuel Hall, 22; wife Caroline, 20; and children Donas, 3, and John, 2 months [next door to Wyatt and Nicey Lynch.]

In the 1880 census of Speights Bridge township, Greene County, N.C.: laborer Sam Hall, 32; wife Caroline, 32; and children John W., 10, Jane E., 8, Sam, 6, and Baby, 1.

In the 1900 census of Bulloch County, Georgia: woodcutter Sam Hall, 50; wife Caroline, 50, washerwoman; children Sam Jr., 24, George, 21, Emma, 19, and Minnie, 10; and daughter-in-law Fannie, 23, washerwoman. All but Fannie were born in North Carolina.

In the 1910 census of Bulloch County, Georgia: farmer Sam Hall, 65; wife Caroline, 63; son-in-law John Kennedey, 31; daughter Maria, 19; and their children Pearl, 2, and John, 3 months.

To have and to hold said land, no. 7.

Abstracts of deeds recording the purchase of real property by African-Americans during the first fifty years of freedom:

  • On 16 March 1855, for $557.37, Robertson H. Baker sold Jacob Jones a 171 1/2-acre parcel on the east side of Shepards Branch near Poplar Spring Branch, adjoining Robert Simpson, Stephen Boykin, Jesse Simpson, and Baker. Deed Book 1, page 30.
  • On 24 July 1867, for $100, William and Charity Taylor sold Ivory [Ivey] Evans a 28-acre parcel adjoining William Taylor, James Taylor, and others. Deed Book 2, page 270.
  • On 7 August 1867, for $125 payable in two notes, David and Elizabeth Griffin sold James Mitchel a parcel adjacent to William E. Winstead and Theophilus Parker. Deed Book 3, page 64.
  • On 16 December 1867, for $35, Pennina Williamson and John Williamson sold Everett Dew a one-and-a-half acre plot near the old mill path, adjoining Louisa Barnes and John Williamson. Deed Book 2, page 340.
  • On 26 February 1870, for $820.70 payable in two notes, Wiley Simms sold Stephen Powell the land on which Powell lived, being the same land Isaac Farmer sold Benjamin Simms in 1834 and containing 186 acres. Deed Book 2-3, page 131.

Wilson County Register of Deeds Office, Wilson.

Moyton Odd Fellows buy a lot.

Six years before buying a lot at the corner of Broad Avenue and South Yelverton Street in Stantonsburg, Moyton Lodge #5101 bought a lot from the county school board on what is now N.C. Highway 58.

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COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION

TO

TRUSTEES OF MOYTON LODGE NO. 5101 OF THE G.U.O. OF O.F. WILSON

Deed

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, WILSON COUNTY }

THIS DEED made this the 12th day of January, 1903, by John F. Bruton, Chairman, R.T. Barnes and Jesse A. Moore, composing “The County Board of Education of Wilson County” and James W. Hayes, Clerk of said Board, the parties of the first part, to Henry Burney, Lewis Williams, Daniel Harris, Sampson Edwards, Walter L. Atkinson, Ruffin Hatch, and George W. Applewhite, Trustees of Moyton Lodge No. 5101 of the G.U.O. of O.F., the parties of the second part,

WITNESSETH: That the parties of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of Four Hundred Dollars in hand paid, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, has bargained, sold, and conveyed and do by these presents bargain, sell and convey unto the parties of the second part and their successors in office, that certain lot or parcel of land lying and being situate in Stantonsburg Township, Wilson County, North Carolina, and described as follows: —

One-half acre of land, on the west side of the road leading from Moyeton to Wilson, N.C. — the same being a square and marked by a lightwood postal each corner, and being formerly a portion of the David B. Hill tract and the Stancil and David Hill, School Committeemen of White Public School District No. 42 of Stantonsburg Township said deed being recorded in Book 29 on page 564 in the Register of Deeds Office of Wilson County, to which deed reference is hereby made for a more definite description.

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the above described lot of land to them, the parties of the second part, trustees of aforesaid, and their successors in office in fee-simple forever.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the said John F. Bruton, Chairman, R.T. Barnes, and Jesse A. Moore, composing “The County Board of Education of Wilson County” and James W. Hayes, Clerk of said Board, have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written.

Jno. F. Bruton, Chairman, R.T. Barnes, Jesse A. Moore, James W. Hayes, Clerk

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  • Henry Burney — in the 1910 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Henry Burney, 60; wife Hannah, 40; daughter Lillie Applewhite, 23, farm laborer; and grandsons John, 8, farm laborer, and Marlvin Applewhite, 7.
  • Lewis Williams
  • Daniel Harris — in the 1900 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Daniel Harris, 49; wife Arkansas F., 38; and children Laurena, 18, Daniel, 14, Paul, 11, and Joseph, 1.
  • Sampson Edwards — Sampson Edwards died 9 January 1933 in Stantonsburg, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was 12 March 1852 in Greene County, N.C., to Porter and Delsie Edwards; was married to Celia Edwards; worked as a tenant farmer; and was buried in Wilson County. John Edwards of Stantonsburg was informant.
  • Walter L. Atkinson
  • Ruffin Hatch — in the 1900 census of Bullhead district, Greene County, N.C., Ruffin Hach, 50; wife Persesea, 43; and children Liddia A., 21, Matha, 18, James, 17, Richard, 11, Delia, 17, Presilia, 7, Febia, 10, George, 6, Benjman, 1, and Ruffin, 1.
  • George W. Applewhite — in the 1910 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: George Applewhite, 45; wife Jane, 45; and children Dora A., 14, George P., 13, Virginia, 10, Nettie, 9, Cherrie C., 6, Sallie and Sarah, 4, and Maeron, 1.

Deed Book 65, page 288, Wilson County Register of Deeds Office, Wilson.

A card of thanks from Piccola Reid’s family.

Wilson Daily Times, 16 December 1938.

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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 Berney 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.]

To remember C.E. Artis.

A couple of weeks ago, I discovered that Columbus E. Artis‘ grave in Rest Haven Cemetery was unmarked. 

For a time, C.E. Artis and Camillus L. Darden ran competing funeral homes in Wilson, with Artis arguably the more prestigious. Here’s what Samuel C. Lathan said about him: 

“I remember C.E. Artis – I think it was a ‘48 hearse. They went to Detroit and bought that thing. And it had a record player in it. And then it had a hydraulic cable in it where, when you open up the side, that hydraulic would raise up and come out, and the casket would come out by itself. And the pallbearers would stand right there and take it right out. Oh, man, it was all kind of – them people would wear hickory-stripe pants, black wool and silk jacket with the vest. Aw, man.”

Darden Memorial was the “old standby.” Artis Funeral Home was fly and flashy. Beautiful cars. Snazzy attendants. His, as his ads touted, was “the home of personal service.” 

Wilson Daily Times, 10 January 1950.

Artis’ first wife, Ada D. Artis, died in early 1951. He quickly remarried. His life began to slide downhill. In 1953, he was charged with violating a city ordinance by failing to buy a license for his business, which seems to have ceased operations the previous year. As early as 1956, he began taking lodgers into his fine East Green Street home, men and women who regularly appeared in the newspaper for petty crime. In 1961, Artis himself spent a few days in jail on a larceny charge. By 1973, it appears there was nothing left but the house, which passed to his widow Ruby Barber Artis at his death. 

Columbus E. Artis is now forgotten by all but the oldest Wilsonians. In his day though, he was an influential businessman and engaged civic leader. He was also my grandmother’s paternal uncle. His was a life worth remembering, and he now has a headstone.

My thanks to Heather Goff of Wilson Cemetery Commission for confirming the location of Artis’ grave and to my cousins Louis Hall Jr. and Louis Hall III of Eastern Carolina Vault Company for quickly turning around my order. Rest in Peace, Columbus Estell Artis.

Henry Barnes, as imagined.

I am ambivalent about using artificial intelligence to restore photographs. Or, more specifically, I’m concerned about manipulated photographs supplanting original images and further blurring the line between reality and misinformation. However, the allure of AI-enhanced images is strong, as I often contend with blurry, poorly lit photographs in unnatural sepia or black-and-white tones. Photographs whose condition sometimes exacerbates the distance between us and our ancestors.

I have been experimenting with ChatGPT lately, feeding it queries and images to be restored and colorized. The results are somewhat haphazard, with many images weird and off-putting. Other times, the images are breathtakingly sharp and … alive. Black Wide-Awake exists to resurrect forgotten lives, and I believe these images are valuable to help us connect with the men and women we read about in these posts. From time to time, I’ll share the better ones here, clearly marked as AI-generated.

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Henry Barnes (1884-1947), farmer.

John Bullock leases forty acres.

Deed Book 19, page 377.

John Bullock entered into a five-year agreement with Sallie Felton to rent a forty-acre farm in Wilson County. On 1 January 1882, Bullock agreed to pay Felton one thousand pounds of “the first picking of lint cotton” each year and to keep the farm in good condition.

Wilson County Register of Deeds of Office, Wilson County.

Oscar DePriest speaks to A.&T. students.

New Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 30 May 1931. 

Oscar S. De Priest was the first African-American to be elected to Congress in the twentieth century — and the first ever elected outside the southern states. He served three terms from 1929 to 1935. In 1931, after addressing students at North Carolina A. and T., he posed with faculty, including professor Daniel C. Suggs.

Cpl. James Holden, also known as Harris, recuperates in England.

Wilson Daily Times, 14 July 1944.

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In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Manchester Street, widow Mamie Holden, 31, tobacco factory worker, and children Daisy, 8, and James, 1.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: widow Mamie Holton, 51; son James Harris, 24; and nieces and nephews Daisy Mitchell, 27, and her children Gerlean, 4, Mamie, 9, Willie Jr., 12, and Thelma, 7.

In 1940, James Harris registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 2 June 1918 in Wilson; lived at 622 Suggs Heights, Wilson; his contact was mother Mamie Holden, same address; and he worked for Liggett & Meyers Tobacco Company.

The Prince meets the law.

Wilson Daily Times, 13 March 1937.

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In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 515 Warren, barber Andrew Pierce, 35; wife Loss, 35; and children Alice, 15, Mayzie [Boisy], 11, Hellen, 7, Benford, 5, and Ruby, 3.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1212 East Nash, Andrew Pearce, 44, barber; wife Lossie, 43, private family nurse; and children Boisy, 22, Hester, 17, Benford, 16, Ruby, 13, and Louise, 3.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 707 Vance, Andrew Pierce, 55, nurse at home (usually barber); wife Lossie, 55, in hospital; daughters Alice, 35, and Hester, 27; sons Boise, 29, cafe [cook?], and Binford, 14; daughter Ruby, 19, “cook school;” and grandchildren Randolph, 9, and Montheal Foster, 7, and Mickey Pierce, 1.

In 1942, Benford Pierce registered for the World War II draft at the D.C. Reformatory, Lorton, Virginia. Per his registration card, he was born 31 March 1915 in Wilson; lived at 1231 W Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.; and his contact was mother Lossie Pierce, 538 East Nash Street, Wilson.