Dog fennel has Odd Fellows Cemetery by the throat. If you have a lawn mower, a weed whacker, some time, and a willing heart, please stop by Odd Fellows and knock back a few weeds.
Season 5 loading….
Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, July 2024.
Indianapolis News, 5 November 1922.
James “Wilson” was from Wilson, but his last name was Miller. Oddly, I have found no trace of Miller’s 40 years in Indianapolis — or of his Civil War service. He apparently left his wife Priscilla and daughters Sarah, Louisa, and Prudence in Wilson when he migrated just before 1880. He came back periodically, and he and Priscilla had a son John in 1885.
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In the 1870 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farm laborer James M. Miller, 27, and wife Priscilla, 18.
In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Prissilla Miller, 28, servant, and children Sarah E., 8, Louisa, 4, and Prudence, 1.
On 23 June 1892, Amos Hines, 23, married Sarah Eliza Miller, 20, at “Pender Street Methodist Church,” Wilson. A.M.E. Zion minister J.F. Jordan performed the ceremony in the presence of W.J. Moore, S.H. Vick, and A.F. Moore.
In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: house mover Frank Barnes, 25; wife Prudence, 21; mother Priscilla Miller, 45; and son John Miller, 14.
Priscilla Miller died in late 1908. W.A. Finch applied for letters of administration for Prissy Miller on 30 November 1908. Her heirs were John Miller and Sarah Eliza Hines, and her estate was valued at $750.
In the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Amos Hines, 32; wife Sarah, 28; and sons Ashley, 7, Branch, 4, and George D., 1.
In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Suggs Street, Allen Hines, 60; wife Sarah, 39; children Ashley, 16, Branch, 14, George D., 11, Allie M., 9, Priscilla, 6, Amos Jr. , 3, and John O., 1; and brother Amos, 40, widower [sic].
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Suggs Street, gardener Amos Hines, 53; wife Sarah, 47, laundress; and children Ashley, 23, lumber company wagoner, George, 21, grocery delivery boy, Allie, 18, Pricilla, 15, Amos Jr., 12, John, 10, Etta, 7, and Margret, 5.
James Miller died 22 October 1927 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 4 March 1842 in Wake County, N.C., to Doretha Miller; was a widower; lived at 631 Suggs Street; and was buried in Wilson [most likely, Vick Cemetery.] Sarah Hines, 631 Suggs Street, was informant.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 631 East Suggs Street, owned and valued at $1200, widow Sarah Hines, 58, and children Harvey, 25, Pricilla, 22, Amos, 20, John O., 18, Etta, 17, and Marguerite, 15.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 631 Suggs, owned and valued at $500, widow Sarah Hines, 69, and son Amos, 38, tobacco factory laborer.
John Henry Miller died 16 June 1957 at his home at 616 Maury Street, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 17 July 1885 in Wilson County to James Miller and Priscilla [maiden name unknown]; was a laborer; and was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery. Mary Miller was informant.
Sarah Hines died 13 September 1961 at 1306 Marlowe Street, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 5 September 1873 in Wilson County to James Miller and Pricilla Bass and was a widower. Informant was Margaret Hines, 1306 Marlowe Street.
In this series, which will post on occasional Wednesdays, I populate the landscape of Wilson County with imaginary “historic markers” commemorating people, places, and events significant to African-American history or culture.
We been here.
BARNES SCHOOL
Built 1921 by Wilson City School Board with Rosenwald funds using three-teacher building plan. Closed and auctioned off in 1951 after school consolidation. Building converted to housing; later demolished.
Barnes School was located on what is now Airport Boulevard near a senior living community.
[Note: this entry has been updated, and a new photo inserted, based on more accurate information about the location of Barnes School provided by former students.]
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.
Indianapolis News, 2 December 1922.
I continue to be surprised by the extent to which Dr. Joseph H. Ward maintained ties to his hometown decades after he left. I can imagine who his Wilson friends were in 1922, but who of his family remained in town?
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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.
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.
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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.
The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Wash.), 12 June 1937.
