Work Life

Howell and Crawford serve as recreational hostesses.

Washington (D.C.) Afro-American, 29 September 1945.

Recreational hostesses were civilian women who served with the American Red Cross or the United States Army’s Special Services to provide entertainment and wholesome companionship for soldiers. Nicknamed “Donut Dollies,” they often traveled military bases in mobile units delivering coffee, doughnuts, music, and conversation.

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  • Ethel G. Howell
  • Vertist Crawford

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 617 Green, carpenter Short W. Barnes, 60; wife Francis, 62; son-in-law Clarence A. Crawford, 28, brickmason; daughter Maggie L., 26; and grandchildren Verest A., 2, and Clarence A., Jr., 9 months.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: carpenter Short W. Barnes, 70, wife Francis, 71, daughter Maggie Crawford, 36, son-in-law Clarance Crawford, 39, and their children Verda, 13, Clarance, 10, and Annie, 8.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 617 Green, carpenter Short W. Barnes, 80; daughter Maggie Crawford, 46, and grandchildren Vertist, 22, truck driver Clarance, 20, and Annie F., 18.

On 29 May 1952, the list of outbound passengers aboard the USNS General Alexander M. Patch included:

U.S. Departing Passenger and Crew Lists 1914-1966, http://www.ancestry.com.

The Ruffins bring their produce to market.

Chicago Defender, 19 July 1947.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 19 July 1947.

The Ruffins feature prominently in newspaper articles about successful Black Wilson County farm families. This piece highlights not only the “what” of their success, but the “why” — the education of their children.

As the family lived in the Saratoga area close to the county line and their parents were active in Yelverton Farm and Home Demonstration Clubs, the Ruffin children likely attended Yelverton School. That school, however, went only to seventh or eighth grade. In 1947, the only high schools for Black children in Wilson County were Williamson, near Lucama, and Frederick Douglass in Elm City. The Ruffin children may have boarded with friends or relatives in Wilson to attend Darden High School or may have crossed county lines to attend a closer high school in a neighboring county.

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In the 1910 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: on Howards Path, farmer Jesse Ward, 26; wife Arey, 32; and children William, 14, Walton, 10, Henrietta, 10, Susan, 6, Kizie, 5, and Juanita, 1 month.

In 1918, Charlie James Ruffin registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 22 May 1900; lived at Route #3, Walstonsburg, Greene County, N.C.; farmed for J.R. Eagles; and his nearest relative was Ida Ruffin.

On 25 January 1920, Charlie Ruffin, 21, of Saratoga township, son of Ida Ruffin, married Henretta Moore, 18, of Saratoga township, daughter of Ara Moore. Disciple minister Washington Little performed the ceremony at John Bynum’s residence.

In the 1920 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Charles Ruffin, 19; wife Henrietta, 19; mother Ida, 50; sister Daisy, 13; and niece Mary, 12.

In the 1930 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Charles Ruffin, 30; wife Henrietta, 28; and children Bertha, 9, Charlie Jr., 8, James R., 6, Juntia, 2, and Gladis L., 10 months.

In the 1940 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Charles Ruffin, 39; wife Henrietta, 38; and children Bertha, 19, Charles, 17, James R., 16, Juanita, 12, Gladys Lee, 10, Christine, 8, Bruce, 7, Bertie Mae, 4, and Curtis, 10 months.

In 1942, Charles James Ruffin registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 12 May 1900 in Wilson; lived at Route 1, Fountain, Saratoga township, Wilson County; and farmed for J.B. Eagles.

In the 1950 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Charles Ruffin, 49; wife Heneretta, 47; and children James, 25, Juanita, 23, Gladys, 20, Christine, 18, Bruce, 17, Bertha M., 14, and Curtis, 10.

Pay to the order of Nina Hardy.

I’ve written several times of Nina F. Hardy, the Wayne County cousin who came to Wilson around the same time as Jesse and Sarah Henderson Jacobs. In a way, she was returning home, as her grandmother Catherine Boseman Aldridge likely was born just below Elm City in what was then Edgecombe County.

Many years ago, I connected with J.M.B., the great-grandson of Jefferson Farrior, the man for whom Aunt Nina worked for decades as a cook and nursemaid. He shared dozens of photos of Aunt Nina at work at the Farriors’ enormous house on Woodard Circle and even a crazy quilt Aunt Nina made shortly after his mother was born in 1945.

Last week, J.M.B. sent another gift — four cancelled checks made out to Nina Hardy by his grandmother Annie Blades Spitzer, who was in turn the granddaughter of Jefferson Davis Farrior and Annie Applewhite Farrior. Annie Farrior died in Wilson in 1956, and it’s likely that Nina Hardy’s employment with the family ended around that time. For several years, however, Annie Spitzer, who lived in Elizabeth City, N.C., carried on a Christmas tradition of sending Hardy a sizeable Christmas gift. The ten-dollar checks sent in 1955 and 1956 were each equivalent to about $115 in today’s dollars. The twenty-five-dollar checks sent in 1959 and 1960 were each equivalent to a little over $270. 

Per the 1930 census, Nina Hardy could neither read nor write. The 1940 census reported that she had had no schooling. The endorsements on the backs of her checks are in four different handwritings, suggesting that a trusted person signed on her behalf.

The endorsement on the back of the 21 December 1959 check is in a handwriting I readily recognize as that of my grandmother, Hattie Henderson Ricks, who was Nina’s second cousin, once removed. That check was cashed at Branch Banking & Trust, but two others went to pay down grocery and dairy bills.

Wilson-born pharmacist joins successful Newport News business.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 18 May 1946.

Pharmacist Albre Russell Artice was born in 1901 in Wilson to Elroy and Cora Artice Artice. Trained at Temple University, Artice practiced in Raleigh, North Carolina; Elizabeth City, North Carolina; and Newport News, Virginia.

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In the 1910 census of Western Branch township, Norfolk County, Virginia: odd jobs laborer  Elroy E. Artice, 36; wife Cora, 37; and children Atwood, 13, and Albrey, 9.

In the 1920 census of Portsmouth, Norfolk County, Virginia: on Mount Vernon Avenue, Navy Yard boilermaker helper Elroy Artice, 46; wife Cora, 45; sons Atwood, 22, railroad shop machinist’s helper, and Albre, 17; and brother-in-law Freddie Artice, 28, railroad freight handler.

Daily Press (Newport News, Va.), 21 April 1928.

In the 1930 census of Elizabeth City, Pasquotank County, N.C.: renting at 18 Speede Street, druggist Arbrey R. Artice, 29, and wife Sallie, 26.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 1 April 1939.

In the 1940 census of Elizabeth City, Pasquotank County, N.C.: at 509 East White Street, Albre Artice, 41, pharmacist; wife Sallie, 37, teacher; and two lodgers.

Richmond Times-Dispatch, 23 April 1946.

In the 1950 census of Newport News, Virginia: drugstore pharmacist Albre R. Artice, 50; wife Sallie W., 45, city school teacher; and foster son Claude Richardson, 11.

Albre Russell Artice died 1 August 1964 in Newport News, Virginia. Per his death certificate, he was born 9 May 1901 in North Carolina to Elroy Artice and Cora Artice; was married to Sallie W. Artice; worked as a pharmacist; and was buried in Lincoln Cemetery, Portsmouth, Va.

Daily Press (Newport News, Va.,) 4 August 1964.

W.L. Morgan, newspaper salesman.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 29 August 1942.

The Norfolk Journal and Guide enjoyed wide readership in Wilson County, and young Winford Lee Morgan was one of their local salesmen.

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In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 611 Spring Street, James Morgan, 34, redrying plant laborer; wife Addie May Morgan, 29, redrying plant laborer; son Winford Lee Morgan, 9; mother Eunice Lou Fisher, 55, widow; and cousin Ruth Richard, 14.

 

NYA student Kittrell gets job training.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 2 December 1939.

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In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 704 Viola Street, laborer Saul Kittrell, 41; wife Lettie, 35; and children Rebecca, 16, Saul, 15, Bernice, 10, Lillie, 8, Margaret, 7, Charles, 2, and William, 1.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 804 East Vance, painter Saul Kittrell, 52; wife Lettie, 48, practical nurse; and children Bernice, 19, Lilly, 18, Margaret, 17, Charles, 10, and Henry, 9. Sol valued their house at $10,000.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 804 East Vance, building painter Solomon Kittrell, 65; wife Lettie, 63; children Berenice, 32, a tobacco factory hanger, and Charles, 22, assistant county agent’s office; and lodgers Charles Beatty, 40, a blacksmith in a repair shop, and his wife Emma, 28, who reported living in Clinton, North Carolina, in 1935.

In 1940, Charles Elva Kittrell registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 12 March 1918 in Wilson; lived at 804 East Vance Street; his contact was mother Lettie Kittrell; and he worked for the National Youth Administration.

Changes at Darden High School.

New Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 13 August 1938.

In 1938, Darden High School added two new faculty members, an optional twelfth grade, and an extra month to the school year.

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The apprenticeship of the Beaman siblings, Patrick, 8, Lydia, 9, Jennie, 10, and Chloe, 15.

On 16 March 1871, a Wilson County Probate Court judge ordered eight year-old Patrick Beaman, 8, Lydia Beaman, 9, Jennie Beaman, 10, and Chloe Beaman, 15, bound as apprentices to Lawrence Ward until the girls reached 18 and the boys reached 21  years of age. He was to be trained for farmwork.

The Beamon children, then using the surname Pope, were living in Lawrence Ward’s household before they were formally apprenticed.

In the 1870 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Larrence Ward, 25; wife Mary, 20; and daughter Mary A., 3; plus Chloie, 14, Jenny, 11, Lydia, 10, and Patrick Pope, 7; and Sophia Ward, 48.

Wilson County Apprentice Bonds 1869-1914, database at https://familysearch.org.

Artis is the first to volunteer.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 5 February 1918.

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We knew Columbus E. Artis migrated from Wilson to Washington, D.C., between 1915 and 1918 and remained just a few years. Now we know what drew him North.

Early in 1918, Artis jumped to respond to a call for volunteer shipbuilders and was lauded as the first to get his application in. Though it is not clear what skills Artis brought to the job — he had been a farm laborer, a grocer, a restaurateur, and an undertaker — he was recognized as “honor man” for his enthusiastic response.