Women

Murder, then suicide in county jail.

Wilson Daily Times, 7 March 1950.

Wilson Daily Times, 9 March 1950.

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In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: street laborer George Bryant, 42; wife Jane, 32; and children George, 14, Walter, 11, Floyd, 7, Luther, 4, Rosa Vell, 2, and Nathaniel, 3 months.

In the 1920 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer George Briant, 52; wife Jane, 42; and children Floyd, 17, Luther, 15, Sister, 11, Nathaniel, 9, and Willie, 6.

In the 1930 census of Jackson township, Nash County, N.C.: farmer George Bryant, 61; wife Jane, 51; and children Luther, 24, Nathaniel, 18, and Eugene, 8.

In the 1940 census of Glisson township, Duplin County, N.C.: farm laborer Nathan Bryant, 30, and wife Eula Mae, 25.

Nathaniel Bryant registered for the World War II draft in Duplin County, N.C., in 1940. Per his registration card, he was born 4 February 1910 in Wilson County; his contact was wife Eula Mae Bryant, Mount Olive, Duplin County, N.C.; and he worked for farmer Lizzie Herring.

Eula Mae Bryant died 3 March 1950 at her home at 1002 Wainwright Avenue, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 3 December 1913 in Duplin County, N.C., to Rose(?) Everett and Virginia Branch; was married; and worked in farming. The cause of her death: “hemorrhage (massive) due to 5 1/2 inch knife wound to lower left abdomen.”

Nathaniel Bryant died 7 March 1950 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 7 February 1910 in Wilson to George Bryant and Janie Lucas; was a widower; lived at 1002 Wainwright Avenue; worked as a laborer for the City of Wilson; and was buried in Granite Point Cemetery.

Mary E. Anderson completes college studies.

Wilson Daily Times, 20 January 1949.

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In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 213 Manchester Street, owned and valued at $1000, express company laborer Edward Anderson, 31; wife Alberta, 29; and children Austin, 9, Hellen, 6, John E., 5, Elizabeth, 4, Guynell, 2, and Robert L., 4 months.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Wilson Coal Company laborer Edward Anderson, 40; wife Alberta, 39; and children Octavia, 19, Helen, 16, John, 15, Mary, 14, Gynell, 13, Robert, 10, Deloris, 6, and Ruth, [3].

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 213 Manchester Street, Edward Anderson, 45, “pulls ice — ice plant”; wife Alberta, 43, cleans house; children Mary E., 23, Robert L., 20, Deloris, 17, Ruth J., 13, and Samuel G., 7; and grandson James E., 3.

On 4 June 1950, Jessie Bynum, 25, of Wilson, son of Julius and Gertrude Bynum, married Mary Elizabeth Anderson, 24, of Wilson, daughter of Ed and Alberta Anderson, at Holy Hope Episcopal Church in Rocky Mount, Edgecombe County, N.C. Rev. Robert J. Johnson performed the ceremony in the presence of Mary A. Hughes of Wilmington, N.C., and Wilton M. and Flora C. Bethel, Wilson.

The obituary of Florence Loftin, who was highly esteemed.

Wilson Daily Times, 12 March 1935.

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In the 1910 census of Brogden township, Wayne County: farmer Robert Lofton, 66; wife Eveline, 66; daughters Emma J. Lofton, 37, Alice A. Wilson, 35, and Mary, 24, Bettie, 19, Florence, 19, and Jessie Lofton, 14, plus granddaughters Donnie, 4, Mable, 3, and Marie, 2 months.

In the 1925 and 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directories: Lofton Florence (c) cook h 600 W Nash [the home of Fannie Shepherd Harriss.]

Florence Loftin executed a will on 2 April 1927. She divided her property in even thirds between her sister Mary Hinnant and nieces Donnie Hinnant and Marie Jones.

Florence Lofton died 5 March 1935 at Saint Agnes Hospital, Raleigh, N.C. Per her death certificate, she was 44 years old; was born in Wayne County, N.C., to Barber Lofton and Evelyn Hards of Duplin County N.C.; lived at 600 West Nash Street; and did domestic work. She was buried in Wilson, N.C.

Women’s History Month: celebrating the teachers of the Wilson Normal & Industrial School!

The Colored Graded School teachers who walked off their jobs in 1918 to protest abuse were Mary C. Euell, Georgia Burke, Sallie Roberta Battle, L.B. Wayland, M.L. Garrett, S.D. Wiseman, M.A. Davis, Mary M. Jennings, J.B. Pride, Glace [Grace] M. Battle, Sarah D. Hines, and Elba Vick.

Several of the teachers went to work at the community-funded Wilson Normal and Industrial Institute (also known as the Training School, the Independent School, the Normal School, and the Industrial School) when it opened later that year. The school lasted about ten years. Mary M. Jennings was listed as principal of the new school in the 1920 city directory, and I have found these additional teachers:

  • Wilhelmina Gaston, teacher, Wilson Training School, 1925

The “Armena Crawford” listed in the 1920 Wilson city directory is likely the same person. Willie Mena Gaston died 5 June 1929 in Wilson of pulmonary tuberculosis contracted “in the North.” She was 26 years old; was born in Wilson to Daniel Crawford of Alamance County, N.C., and Annie Whitted of Orange County, N.C.; was married to Augusta Gaston; was a housewife; lived at 605 South Spring Street; and was buried in Wilson [most likely Vick Cemetery.]

  • Willie Hargrove, teacher, Wilson Training School, 1925

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 606 East Green, Luvenia Hargrove, 40, widow, and daughter Willie, 20, public school teacher.

  • Hattie Langley, teacher, Wilson Training School, 1925

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Jarot Langley, 40, blacksmith at wagon factory; wife Lydia, 38; and children Hattie, 15, Thedore, 14, Marie, 12, Carnell, 7, Ruline, 6, Alcestus, 4, and Oris, 2.

Young woman fatally stabbed by ex-boyfriend.

Wilson Daily Times, 25 February 1949.

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  • Charlie Bennette — In 1942, Charlie Bennette registered for the World War II draft in 1942. Per his registration card, he was born 30 May 1903 in New Zion, South Carolina; lived at 113 S. (A.C.L) Railroad Street, Wilson; his contact was Adeline Fleming, New Zion, N.C.; and he worked at Marine Barracks, Jacksonville, N.C. In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 654 Wiggins Street, tobacco factory machine operator Charlie Bennett, 48, widower, and lodger Annie M. Williams, 19, maid.
  • Irene Sethem — Irene Sessoms died 23 February 1949 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 10 November 1925 in Johnston County, N.C., to Z.S. Sessoms and Louella Williams; lived at 113 Pettigrew Street, Wilson; was not married; and worked as a laborer. She died of hemorrhage and shock after a knife wound to her right carotid artery.

Historic Black Business Series, no. 10: Agnes Taylor’s eating house.

The 500 block of East Nash Street is justly remembered as the 20th century epicenter of Wilson’s African-American-owned businesses. However, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Black entrepreneurs and tradespeople also operated across the tracks. As Wilson’s downtown experiences a resurgence, let’s rediscover and celebrate these pioneering men and women.

Check in each Sunday for the latest in the Historic Black Business Series!

Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory (1912).

The entire 400 block of South Douglas (formerly Spring) Street is empty, and it’s difficult to determine the exact location of Agnes Taylor‘s eating house. (Or her house-house, which was just down the block.) It was a short-lived business, and both the 1908 and 1913 Sanborn maps show a grocery at 410 South Spring. It’s difficult to say, but per location I’d guess Taylor’s eatery catered to Black customers.

I have not otherwise found Agnes Taylor in Wilson records.

People I want to know more about.

City directories offer endless possibilities. Who were these intriguing folk?

1916

Allen C. Wooten sold (made?) patent medicines.

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What kinds of baskets did Samuel W. White make?

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We’ve met Hood Vick before. I assume he played baseball professionally, but for whom?

1920

Toilet preparations? What exactly was Oscar C. Gordon cooking up on East Nash Street?

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The Eat More? How charming! But where was Preston McCadden‘s business? Two of the four corners at this intersection were houses, the third was Calvary Presbyterian. The fourth was the site of a white-owned grocery store for nearly all of the 20th century. (Sidenote: McCadden also worked as a chauffeur and lived at 201 West Nash.) [Update: a quick look at the 1922 Sanborn map informed me. The northwest corner contained not the house facing Green with which I am familiar, but a small grocery facing Pender. This was likely McCadden’s Eat More. My grandmother was 12 years old and lived a block away and surely was a patron!]

1922

What did W. Clyde Crawford‘s Wilson Building & Construction Company build? Who transacted with its loan division? The company’s offices were at 563 East Nash,

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Evander Eddy was a confectioner. What kind of candy did he make?

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I thought at first John Robertson and John W. Best were bottlers of soft drinks, but now believe they operated soft drink shops. What, exactly, did they sell? Who were their customers?

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But here is a bottler. Did Edward Hunter work for the local Coca-Cola bottler? Or did he have his own business?

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What did William H. Brown print?

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William Picot was both a cabinet maker and repairer of furniture. Was the studio on East Vance a house or commercial business? The 1922 Sanborn shows a small wooden building at the location.

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For which dairy did Luther Hall work?

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Though she lived over in Elm City, Sarah Lucas was Amos Batts‘ private secretary. There were several Amos Battses, but this was likely the undertaker.

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Beyond her interesting first name, Sister McMillan is one of very few, and the only woman, mill worker, I’ve spotted. What kind of mill did she work in?

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Lena Woody lived at the rear of 301 East Nash? A commercial building?

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Ice puller?

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George Martin is the earliest African-American electrician I’ve found in Wilson.