Wilson Daily Times, 3 February 1948.
Mary Jane Smith passed away while visiting her son Leroy Smith in Brooklyn, New York. The “Wilson A.M.E. Zion church” at which her funeral was held was actually Saint Luke A.M.E. Church. (No Zion.)
Women
The death of Peggie Farmer.
Peggie Farmer, who may have had a cognitive disability, was killed when she stepped in front of a train on 26 July 1910.
Wilson Daily Times, 26 July 1910.
I have not been able to identify Peggie Farmer definitely.
Augusta Caple Ford, farmer and learner.
Wilson Daily Times, 17 August 1945.
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In the 1930 census of Black Creek township, North Carolina: farmer James Caple, 36; wife Mary, 37; and children Willie, 16, and Augusta, 12.
On 29 December 1937, Clinton Ford, 23, of Crossroads township, son of Jonathan and Annie Ford, married Augusta Caple, 20, of Crossroads township, daughter of James and Mary Caple. Primitive Baptist minister David Bynum performed the ceremony in the presence of Leslie Lee Miller, Robert Bynum, and Lonnie H. Rose.
In 1940, John Clinton Ford registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 18 April 1914 in Wilson County; lived at R.F.D. #1, Lucama; his contact was wife Agusta Ford; and he was self-employed.
In the 1950 census of Oldfields township, Wilson County: farmer John C. Ford, 35; wife Augusta C., 32; and roomer Nathaniel Williams, 20.
Augusta Ford died 16 September 1951 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 6 September 1917 in Rockingham County, N.C., to James Capel and Mary Riggins; was married to Clinton Ford; worked as a farmer; lived at R.F.D. 1, Simms; and was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery.
Clipping courtesy of J. Robert Boykin III.
The obituaries of John Brooks and Alice Alston.
Wilson Daily Times,
- John Brooks
- Alice Alston
In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Alston Alice (c) dom h 208 E Jones
In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Alston Alice (c) tobwkr h 318 S Lodge
Alice Alston died 22 February 1944 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 5 October 1885 in Warren County, N.C., to Major and Agnes Williams; was a widow; lived at 213 Spruce Street; and was buried in Rest Haven. Sam Alston was informant.
They have abandoned their families and eloped.
Wilson Advance, 25 February 1881.
As he wound his way through Crossroads township, Wilson County, in 1880, the census taker encountered farmer Tarrell Parker, 45; wife Minerva, 18; and children Trecy, 5, Jesse, 3, and Mancy Ann, 1.
A year later, Parker placed a notice in the Wilson Advance, offering a reward for anyone bringing to justice his wife Minerva and Ruffin Rowe, who had run off together.
Rowe [whose surname appears in early records as Rose] was married to Tilithia Locus, and they appear in the 1880 census of Crossroads, too: farmer Ruffin Rowe, 31; wife Tillitha, 26; and children James William, 5, David, 3, and John Hardy, 1. [A fourth son, Ruffin Haywood Jr., was born 1879-80.]
Tarrell Parker lived the remainder of his life in Wilson County. I find no further record of Minerva Parker and Ruffin Rowe Sr. Rowe was omitted from his father David Rowe‘s will, and his wife was described as divorced in the 1900 census.
Etta Plummer, doctor woman.
This occupation description in the 1930 census of Wilson caught my eye:
“Doctor woman”?
The full entry: at 1104 Wainwright Avenue, owned and valued at $1000, widow Etta Plumer, 60, doctor woman, and son Samie, 40, oil mill laborer; Lee Palmer, 25, guano plant laborer, and wife Mary, 24, cook.
Other records show that Plummer was a midwife, but this label suggests a broader medical expertise.
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In the 1900 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer William Plummer, 53; wife Etta, 34; and children William Ann, 18, and Samuel, 14.
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: city laborer William Plummer, 69, and wife Etta, 50.
In the 1922 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Plummer Etta (c) midwife h 1104 Wainwright Av
William Henry Plummer died 23 February 1925 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 70 years old; was born in Warren County, N.C., to Mary Plummer; was married to Etta Plummer; worked as a common laborer; and lived at 1104 Wainwright. He was buried in “Rountrees Cemetery,” which could have been Rountree or Vick Cemetery.
In the 1925 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Plummer Etta midwife h 1104 Wainwright Av
Etta Plummer died 6 September 1939 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 74 years old; was born in Nash County, N.C., to Sam and Pennie Hilliard; was the widow of William Plummer; lived at 1104 Wainwright; and worked as a midwife. Samuel Plummer was informant. She was buried in Wilson, most likely in Vick Cemetery.
The obituary of Mildred Arrington Fisher.
Wilson Daily Times, 24 February 1950.
Mildred Arrington Fisher‘s unusually detailed obituary reveals her deep involvement in East Wilson institutions. Only 31 years old at her death, she was a longtime member of Wilson Chapel Free Will Baptist Church; an employee of Hamilton Funeral Home and John H. Baker‘s photography studio; and a member of the Harriet Tubman Happy Makers [should there be a comma between Tubman and Happy, for two clubs?] and the Bright Star clubs. The Daughters of Elks assisted Rev. L.E. Rasberry at her funeral.
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In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 319 Manchester Street, ice plant laborer Will Arrington, 32; wife Annie, 29, tobacco factory laborer; and daughters Roxana, 13, and Mildred, 2.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1102 Wainwright Avenue, Walter Hamilton, 30, oil mill laborer, and wife Bertha, 30; Anna Arrington, 37, tobacco factory laborer, and daughters Mildred Arrington, 13, and Roxie Smith, 23, servant.
On 7 December 1932, Leabert Fisher, 21, of Wilson, son of Isaac Fisher and Quince [no maiden name listed, but living in Richmond, Virginia], married Mildred Arrington, 18 [actually, 14], of Wilson, daughter of Willie and Annie Arrington, in Wilson. Free Will Baptist minister H.Y. Dillard performed the ceremony in the presence of Addie M. Morgan, George W. Lassiter, and Ira Ham Carr.
Amie Eunice Fisher died 5 August 1934 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was one year, three months, 11 days old; was born in Wilson to Leabert Fisher and Mildred Arrington; lived at 808 Robeson Street; and was buried in Wilson [most likely, Vick Cemetery.]
In 1940, Leabert Henry Fisher registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 12 June 1912 in Morehead City, N.C.; lived at 808 Roberson Street, Wilson; his contact was wife Mildred Ruth Fisher; and worked for contractor S.R. Boykin, Wilson.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Leabert Fisher, 26, billiard parlor laborer; wife Mildred, 22; and son Leabert Jr., 5.
Mildred A. Fisher died 23 February 1950 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 16 April 1918 in Wilson to Will Arrington and Annie Hopkins; was married; and was employed in a “clerkcial” capacity. She was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery.
The Herald-News (Passaic, New Jersey), 20 August 1997.
Legacy.
When you come home to give a Black History Month talk at the elementary school your father attended, and the instruction coach shows you this photograph of her and your mother (in slingbacks) when the instructor was in kindergarten. She said my mama really took care of her. And she’s now been teaching 28 years. This is legacy, folks.
Thank you so much for sharing, M.J.D.
The obituary of Fannie Simpson.
Wilson Daily Times, 3 February 1945.
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In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 602 East Nash, Fannie Simpson, 50, widow, and daughter Ida, 34.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 603 East Nash, owned and valued at $4000, Fannie Simpson, 60, widow.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 603 East Nash, Fannie Simpson, 75, widow, and daughter Ida Johnson, 58.
Fannie Simpson died 1 February 1945 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 87 years old; was born in Nash County, N.C., to Doc Thompson and Harriett Williams; was a widow; lived at 102 Pender Street, Wilson; and was buried in Rountree Cemetery [probably, Vick.] Ella Robinson of Lucama, N.C., was informant.
Mitchell’s home demonstration club meets.
In the lead-up to my February 8 talk at Wilson County Public Library, every day I’ll feature a post related to Wilson County’s Rosenwald schools. (Or schools, like Mitchell, which were not Rosenwald-funded, but were contemporaries.)
Wilson Daily Times, 21 February 1944.
- Fannie Parker — in the 1940 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: James Parker, 44; wife Fannie, 42; and adopted children Annie, 13, and Silas, 8.
- Carolina Brodie
- Louise Chisel
- Minnie Winstead — in the 1940 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: Clarence Winstead, 42, farmer; wife Minnie, 44; and adopted son Robert Featherson, 14.
- Dorthea Parker — in the 1940 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: farmer John Parker, 39; wife Doretha, 28; children Nora Lee, 18, James Earl, 14, Elmer, 12, and John S.T. Parker, 8; and stepson Joseph Evans, 8.