Mother of the Year.

For some Deep South migrants, Wilson County was but a waystop. This effulgent Pittsburgh Courier piece touches on Lucinda Jones Harper‘s time in Wilson. The timeline is not entirely clear, but it appears she and her husband Charles H. Harper arrived in 1915 from Montrose, Laurens County, Georgia, and left for Pittsburgh about ten years later.

Pittsburgh Courier, 16 May 1964.

The 1920 census of Wilson shows the Harpers at 811 East Nash Street, living next door to Sallie Barbour‘s family. Their first four children were born in Wilson. Son Walter Harper, who became a famed Pittsburgh jazz musician, was the first born up North.

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In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: house carpenter Charlie Harper, 29; wife Lucenda, 27; children Charlie Jr., 2, and Elizabeth, 1; and cousin Freddie Asbel, 19.

Studio shots, no. 244: Joseph C. Barnes.

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In the 1870 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Anthony Barnes, 59; wife Hester, 58; children Caroline, 18, Mike, 12, Joseph, 8, and Harriet, 6; James Renfrow, 85; and Barney Barnes, 21.

In the 1880 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer Antha Barnes, 70; wife Hester, 60; and children Joseph, 20, and Harriet, 15.

On 30 July 1885, Joseph Barnes, 25, married Mary Shaw, 18, in Wilson County.

In the 1900 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer Joseph C. Barnes, 39; wife Mary, 31; and children Devro, 13, James B., 10, Lillie, 9, William, 7, Ullis, 4, and Mattie, 1.

On 15 January 1904, Joe Barnes, 43, of Springhill township, son of Andy and Hester Barnes, married Spicy Atkinson, 21, of Springhill township, daughter of Arch and Martha Atkinson, at Arch Atkinson’s.

In the 1910 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer Joseph Barnes, 49; wife Spicy J., 27; and children James B., 16, Henry W., 14, Mattie F., 12, Grover G., 10, Addora, 5, Martha J., 2, and Naoma, 5 months.

In the 1920 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer Joe Barnes, 59; wife Spicy, 36; and children Adora, 15, Martha, 12, Carolina, 8, Irey J., 6, Levi, 4, Suveller, 3, and Mary E., 1.

On 2 June 1928, Jos. C. Barnes, 65, of Springhill township, married Kizzie Hinnant, 53, of Springhill township, in Wilson.

In the 1930 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer Josep C. Barnes, 70; wife Kizzie E., 58; and children Martha J., 22, Levie, 14, Suvella, 12, Mary E., 10, and Ester, 8.

In the 1940 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer Joe Barnes, 82; wife Kizzie, 65; daughter Ester, 18; niece Gladys Smith, 14; grandchildren Frances and Bubbie Ashby, 5; son Levie Barnes, 24; and son’s wife Bulah Barnes, 24.

Per his headstone, Joseph C. Barnes died 25 April 1945.

Photo adapted, courtesy of Ancestry.com user eventlady28.

Bloodshed at Neverson Quarry.

Greensboro Daily News, 30 January 1917.

We do not have context for the violence here, but quarries were dirty, dangerous workplaces in which African-American laborers did the dirtiest, most dangerous work in a quarry like Neverson. Violence against workers was rife, and retaliation in response was not unheard of.

Studio shots, no. 243: Lula Mae Barnes Speight.

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In the 1920 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: tenant farmer Redman Barnes, 47; wife Genette, 43; children Dora, 20, Fred, 19, Mary E., 17, Minie B., 15, Eddie Bell, 13, Petcandy, 11, Nora Lee, 9, Alice, 7, Lula Mae, 4, and Redman Jr., 1.

In the 1930 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Raymond [Redmond] Barnes, 59; wife Jeanette, 50; children Dora, 29, Fred, Fred, 25, Mary, 23, Minnie B., 20, Edith, 18, Bettie L., 17, Nora L., 16, Alice J., 14, Lula Mae, 12, Raymond Jr., 10, and John H., 8; and nephew Author Ellis, 20.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1116 East Nash Street, Mary Barnes, 33, who taught at Healthy Plains Grade School; her widowed mother Jenettie Barnes, 62; brothers Redman, 22, a shoe repairer at Rex Shoe Shop, and John, 19, a tobacco factory laborer; brother-in-law Doll Speight, 26, apartment elevator operator; sister Lula, 23, and their daughters Letrice, 2, and Bettie, 8 months.

In 1940, Doll Speight registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 13 May 1916 in Greene County, N.C.; lived at 1116 East Green Street, Wilson; his contact was wife Lula Mae Speight; and he worked for Mrs. W.D. Hackney Sr., 301 East Nash Street, Wilson.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Doll Speight Jr., 34, janitor at professional building; wife Lula M., 34; and children Leatrice, 12, Betty Lou, 10, and Donald E., 1.

Photo courtesy of Ancestry user gb1405. My aunt married Lula Barnes Speight’s nephew, and my family spent many a happy holiday around a table at one or another of the Barnes’ sisters’ homes.

Studio shots, no. 242: Elmer Langston.

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In the 1930 census of Great Swamp township, Wayne County, North Carolina: farmer Barney Langston, 34; wife Jennie, 43; and children Canaan, 13, Mattie, 10, Corena, 8, Junius, 6, Elma and Thelma, 4, Ethel, 3, and Troy L., 1 month.

In the 1940 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Barney Lancaster, 47; wife Jenny, 49; and children Kiney, 23, Pauline, 21, June, 19, Thelma, 17, Elmer and Ethel, 15, and Troy, 11.

In 1943, Elmon Langston registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. per his registration card, he was born 20 February 1925 in Wayne County; lived at Route 1, Fremont, Wilson County; was a student at Mincey [Minshew] School; and worked at Jessie Edmundson farm, Fremont. he signed his card ‘Elmar Langston.’

In the 1950 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Bonnie Langston, 54; wife Maggie, 54; children Thelma, 24, Ethel Lee, 22, Troy D., 19, and Elmer, 24; daughter-in-law Harriet, 23; grandchildren Louise, 2, and Elmer Lee, 1; and grandchildren Carolyn, newborn, and Virginia, 3.

On 2 April 1960, Elmer Langston, 31, of Fremont, married Daisy Hooks, 32, of Fremont, in Wilson County.

Photo courtesy of Ancestry user Chakela Barrington.

Snaps, no. 113: Mattie Gibson Shelley.

I did not know her, but these snapshots of Mattie Gibson Shelley are windows onto the landscape of my childhood.

Mattie Shelley, three girls, and boy, out in the country. A tiny cemetery; a fresh grave. Corn fields; a young sweetgum tree.

Mattie Shelley with cat eye glasses and a slight smile, in town. A classic metal porch chair. (Ubiquitous, yet so uncomfortable. There’s a glider on the porch across the street.) Puffy white cloud, a young tree.

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In the 1910 census of Cartersville township, Florence County, South Carolina: Walie Gibson, 36; wife Mary, 39; and children Cora, 15, Ada, 13, Julius, 9, Walter, 7, Joseph, 5, Mattie, 3, and Annie, 10 months.

In the 1920 census of Cartersville township, Florence County, South Carolina: Wallie Gibson, 46; wife Ella, 26; and children Walter, 18, Joseph, 15, Mattie, 12, Annie, 10, Eva, 7, and Willie, 5.

In the 1940 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer Roy Shelley, 44; wife Mattie, 31; and children Marthy Lee, 11, Walter, 9, Lee Roy, 7, William, 4, and Willie, 1.

In the 1950 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Roy Shelley, 53; wife Mattie, 42; children Martha, 21, Walter, 19, Leroy, 17, William, 14, Willie, 11, Dorthy, 7, Bearnice, 5, and James, 3; and granddaughter Bobbie Hardin, 2.

Mattie Gibson Shelley died 1 October 1973 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 13 December 1907 in South Carolina to Wallie Gibson and Mary Anthony; was a widow; lived at 925 Poplar Street; and was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery. Martha Chestnut, 501 Lane Street, was informant.

Photo courtesy of Ancestry user T’Keyah Fleming. Thank you!