Women

The Oblate Sisters at home.

In 1945, the Reid family sold 600 East Green Street to the Redemptorist Fathers of North Carolina, who converted it into a school and a convent for the Oblate Sisters of Providence. (Saint Alphonsus Catholic School moved to Carroll Street circa 1948.)

The 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County, lists sisters Mary Juliana, Mary Antoinette, Mary Miriam, Mary Antonio, and Mary Cornelia in the house. Sister Mary Juliana was head of the convent. Three sisters were described as Catholic school elementary teachers, and one as a kindergarten teacher. The fifth, Sister Mary Antoinette, a native of Martinique and the eldest by twenty-plus years, did not work. (At least in the way defined by census takers.)

Wilson Daily Times, 9 September 1948.

604 East Green Street.

The two hundred-second in a series of posts highlighting buildings in East Wilson Historic District, a national historic district located in 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; 2 stories; Dr. William Michner [sic] house; L-plan Queen Anne structure with cutaway front-facing bay; Michner was a physician.”

Prior to Dr. William A. Mitchner’s purchase of this house, it was numbered 605. Primitive Baptist elder Jonah Williams likely built the house around 1910. His daughter, teacher Clarissa Williams, inherited it and lived there with her niece’s family.

Earnestine Ford died 10 November 1916 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was five months old; was born in Wilson to Curtis Ford of Dillon County, S.C., and Mamie Battle of Wayne County, N.C. Curtis Ford, 605 East Green Street, was informant.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Clarcy Williams, 50; roomer Curtis Ford, 37, house carpenter; [niece] Mamie Ford, 24, and her children Lear L., 4, and Quincey B., 2.

Williams died in October 1921. Her estate consisted of a house and lot (at 605 East Green Street) worth about $3000 and an estimated $100 in personal property. Her heirs at law were her nieces and nephews Mamie Ford, Fanny Battle, Clinton Battle, and Glynn Battle.

In the 1925 Wilson, N.C., city directory:

In the 1928 Wilson, N.C., city directory:

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 604 East Green, physician William Mincher [sic], 55, divorced; mother Lucy, 65, widow; and nephew Hubert, 30, tobacco factory laborer.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 604 East Green Street, Dr. W.A. Mitchner, 53, born Johnston County; wife Marie, 40, born Wake County; and mother Lucy Mitchner, 80, born in Johnston County.

Dr. Mitchner died in 1941, and his mother in 1946.

Wilson Daily Times, 5 November 1941.

Wilson Daily Times, 25 April 1946.

Marie Mitchner began to take lodgers into the large home, including members of her family.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 604 East Green, widow Marie R. Mitchner, 49, and lodgers Doris Raynor, 36, city social worker, and Mary A. Huggins, 24, elementary teacher in city schools.

Wilson Daily Times, 7 January 1956.

Wilson Daily Times, 21 April 1962.

Marie Mitchner died 30 April 1971 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 24 December 1899 in Henry Person and Dora Radley; was a widow; lived at 604 East Green Street; and was a retired teacher.

604 East Green Street was converted into apartments after Mitchner’s death, and tenants cycled in and out well into the 1990s. In January 2003, Wilson City Council accepted donation of the property by its owner, Jean Tedder. It was later demolished.

N.87-12-274-278 [N.80.11.904], Dr. William Michner House, 604 E. Green Street, East Wilson Historic District, Wilson, Wilson County, Survey and National Register Branch, State Historic Preservation Office.

Taylor’s Spring Club news.

Wilson Daily Times, 7 July 1944.

Where was Taylor’s Spring? Presumably, based on the reference to Mitchell School, somewhere west of Elm City.

——

  • Bertha Lee Evans
  • Rosie Lee Evans — probably, in the 1940 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: farmer John Evans, 34; wife Rosa, 30; and children Rosa Lee, 12, Effie Pearl, 11, John Evert, 10, Penny Roberta, 8, Annie Doris, 7, Karl Randolph, 4, and Rayfield, 2.
  • Sadie Isom
  • Pearlie Savage — in the 1940 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: farmer Henry Locus, 67; wife Ida, 64; daughter Lula, 38; granddaughters Elsie, 18, and Pearley Mae Savage, 13; and grandsons Clinton, 6, and Irelander Armstrong, 4.
  • Viola Scafe — Earnest and Viola Hill Scafe likely were migrants from South Carolina. They settled in Toisnot township in the late 1930s, had at least three children there between 1937 and 1942, and migrated to New Jersey before 1950.
  • Florence McKinnon — in the 1940 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Will McKinnon, 55; wife Elizabeth W., 53; children Ada Belle, 19, Mary E., 16, Florence G., 15, Charlie S., 12, and Benjamin F., 23; daughter-in-law Mary V., 19; grandson Benjamin F. Jr., 1; son James W., 21, and daughter-in-law Cora C., 18.
  • J.A. Boyd

A belated birthday visit with Mrs. Bell.

I sent Inez Dickerson Bell a card for her 101st birthday last month, but decided to pop in to see her, too. She was enjoying a little quiet time in her room, but was happy to see me, and we spent a pleasant half-hour or so chatting about the old neighborhood. She marveled at her great age (“That’s a lot of birthdays! I must have done something right”); spoke fondly of my parents (“Beverly is so pretty. And so sweet. She looks good, and she acts like she feels good.” “Rederick! We miss him! He wouldn’t ask for nothing, and next thing you know that garbage can is in the back. Who did it? Rederick! He was doing something good all the time. I’m a witness to that!”); praised me and my sister for our good comportment; reminisced about the Belette Women’s Club; shared tips (“The Bible says ‘do unto others!'”); and philosophied (“I’ve had a good life if I go ‘way from here tomorrow.”) Finally, as I stood to leave, she motioned to her side table: “Take one of these. Enjoy it! ‘Cause I’m gon enjoy mine!” 

As always, thank you so much, Mrs. Bell! See you next time!

Rebecca Thorpe hosts a church social.

Wilson Daily Times, 7 June 1943.

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In the 1900 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Elbert Kent, 55, widower, and children Joseph, 18, Albert, 15, Bettie, 8, Rebecca, 7, and Isaiah, 4; plus daughter Martha Barnes, 23, widow, and her children Rebecca, 4, and Joseph, 2.

In the 1910 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer Elbert Kent, 64; wife Lizzie, 43; and children Bettie, 18, Rebecca, 17, and Isiah, 15.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 217 Pender Street, farmer Sam Collins, 61; wife Bell, 52; daughter Early May, 8; and lodger Rebecca Kintz, 25, seamstress. 

On 16 November 1921, Walter Thorp, 44, of Wilson, son of Anderson and Lucinda Thorp, married Rebecca Kent, 28, of Wilson County, daughter of Elbert and Lissie Kent, at the A.M.E. Zion church in Wilson. 

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1111 Washington Street, carpenter Walter Thorp, 63; wife Rebecca, 46, sewing; and roomer Jane Boyd, 36, county home demonstration agent.

Walter T. Thorpe died 21 January 1941 in Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 47 years old; was born in Granville County, N.C., to Anderson and Lucy Thorpe; was married to Rebecca Thorpe; and lived at 1111 Washington Street.

Moye & Adams ply their trade.

On 4 February 1850, Michael Holt served as security for Narcissa Dawson, who had purchased a mother and child, Lucy and Anelizer, from Moye & Adams, “traders in negroes,” with a note for $475.00 payable in 12 months. Deed Book 14, page 256, Chancery Clerk’s Office, Monroe County, Mississippi.

Wyatt Moye and Robert S. Adams formed their slave-dealing partnership in Edgecombe (now Wilson) County, specializing in hauling enslaved people from North Carolina to the slave markets of Aberdeen County in western Mississippi. I don’t know where Lucy and Anna Eliza fell into their hands or what became of them.

This is who … (the birthday gratitude edition.)

This is who is scouring the internet, poking through the archives, and interviewing the elders.

This chunky toddler in knee-high socks, asleep in her high chair, gripping a chicken leg, is grateful to greet the risen sun on this 62nd turn in its orbit — sound in mind and body, nimble of toe and wit, surrounded by love, and always, always, always ready to put in work.

Black Wide-Awake is the gift that ricochets from me to you and back, and I am especially thankful on my birthday.

Photo in collection of Lisa Y. Henderson.