accidental death

Dunn struck and killed while riding bicycle.

Wilson Daily Times, 20 March 1950.

——

In the 1920 census of Cokey township, Edgecombe County, N.C.: farmer Rosette Dunn, 42; son Joe, 19; daughter-in-law Bettie; sons Clarence, 17, and Paul, 13; daughter Caroline, 11; and grandson Jesse Lee, 8 months.

In the 1930 census of Upper Town Creek township, Edgecombe County: farmer Joe Dunn, 28; wife Bettie, 26; children Jesse L., 10, Lenora, 9, T[illegible] E., 5, and Elisha, 1; brother Paul, 24; and boarder Niza Williams, 20.

In 1940, Jesse Lee Dunn registered for the World War II draft in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. Per his registration card, he was born in 1919 in Wilson County; lived at Route 2, Rocky Mount, Edgecombe County; his contact was friend Anna Hines, Rocky Mount; and he worked for Eugene Bone.

On 6 February 1946, Jesse Lee Dunn, 25, son of Joe and Bettie Dunn, married Annie McDowell, 19, daughter of Charlie and Ethel McDowell, in Tarboro, North Carolina.

Jessie Lee Dunn died 18 March 1950 in Black Creek, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 11 March 1919 in Edgecombe County, N.C., to Joe Dunn and Bettie Dunn; was married; and worked in farming. Henry Fobbs was informant.

Warren burned badly in bed.

Wilson Daily Times, 1 January 1948.

Alexander Warren in fact succumbed three days later.

——

In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: laborer Pompee Warren, 54, wife Della, 26, and sons John, 12, and Alexander, 2.

In 24 December 1896, Alex Warren, 23, married Ida Davis, 22, in Wilson. Baptist minister W.T.H. Woodard performed the ceremony in the presence of Emma Burton, Mary Davis and Isaac Thompson.

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Elic Warren, 24; wife Ida, 25; and son John, 3.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 367 Spring Street, ice factory blocker Alex Warren, 34, wife Ada, 36, and son John, 19, the latter two, factory workers.

In 1918, Alexander Warren registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 13 August 1876; lived at 704 Spring; worked for R.P. Watson as a laborer; and his nearest relative was his wife. He signed his card ‘Alex Warren.’

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 704 Spring, Alec Warren, 43, tobacco factory worker; wife Ida, 47, tobacco factory worker; and son John, 11.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on South Spring, Alec Warren, 51, R.P. Watson truck driver, and wife Ida, 53.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Walnut Street, widower John Parks, 49, laborer at tobacco redrying factory; children Beatrice, 27,  John Henry, 26, Ida Doretha, 22, Mark Alexander, 21, Helen Gray, 17, and Douglas Wright Parks, 15; children [sic] Fred Woods Jr., 9, Vivian Lavonne, 8, and George Randolph, 4; and father-in-law Alexander Warren, 63.

Alexander Warren died 4 January 1948 in Wilson. Per his death certificate: he was born about 1879 in Wilson County to Pompie and Della Warren; had worked as a laborer; resided at 403 E. Walnut Street; and was buried at Rountree cemetery. His neighbor John Parks of 405 E. Walnut was informant.

The death of Douglas Gee, age 6.

Wilson Daily Times, 24 January 1948.

Wilson Daily Times, 27 January 1948.

——

Douglas Gee died 23 January 1948 in Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 8 August 1941 in Edgecombe County, N.C., to Willie Gee of Florence County, S.C., and Manda Barnes of Wilson County, and was buried in Cherry Chapel cemetery, Wilson County.

The obituary of Dora Battle.

Wilson Daily Times, 9 January 1943.

——

In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm laborer Osborn Dunstan, 37, wife Mariah, 45, and children Dora, 4, Cora, 2, Sarah, 2 months, John, 12, and Fanny, 6.

In the 1880 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm worker Osbourn Dunston, 44, wife Mariah, 40, and children Dorah, 12, Corah, 11, Sarah, 9, Frances, 7, Hubbard, 5, Mary, 4, and Harriet, 3. Next door, in the household of farmer Henry Miller, was John Dunston, 20.

On 17 January 1897, Dora Duntson, 25, married Joe Battle, 24, in Wilson County. Rev. Fred M. Davis performed the ceremony at the bride’s home in the presence of J.R. Bullock, L.D. Johnson and Fanny Rountree. [It was likely around the time of her marriage that Dora Dunstan Battle was a servant in Josephus Daniels‘ household.]

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: wagon driver Joseph Battle, 28, and wife Dora, 22.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Joe Battle, 32, tobacco factory laborer, and wife Dora, 32, private cook.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Spring Street, Joe Battle, 58, tobacco company laborer; wife Dora, 52, and daughter Esther, 19, private servant.

Joseph Battle died 23 October 1924 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 44 years old; was born in Nash County, N.C., to Wallice Battle and Jane Freeman; was married to Dorah Battle; lived at 606 Spring; worked as a day laborer for Imperial Tobacco Company; and was buried in Wilson.

In 1940, Joseph Battle registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 7 January 1917 in Wilson; lived at 606 Spring Street; his contact was grandmother Dora Battle, same address; and he worked for Export Tobacco Company.

Dora Battle died 8 January 1943 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 72 years old; was born in Wilson County to Arsborn Dunston of Lewisburg [Louisburg], N.C., and Mary Mandin of Richmond, Virginia; was the widow of Joe Battle; and died of “1st and 2nd degree burns clothing caught from open fire place.” She was buried in Rountree Cemetery. Dezelle Whitted was informant.

The obituary of Gus Maple, asphalt laborer.

Wilson Daily Times, 13 January 1945.

——

Gus Maple died 9 January 1945 in Micro township, Johnston County, North Carolina. Per his death certificate, he was born 12 April 1911 in Sumter, South Carolina; worked as a laborer; was married to Laura Maple; and lived at 400 South Lodge Street, Wilson. His cause of death: “Accidental death body caught on pulley & beat to death.” He was buried in Allen Chapel cemetery, Sumter.

The obituary of Amos L. Batts, soldier.

Wilson Daily Times, 2 December 1950.

——

In the 1930 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Amos Batts, 29; wife Elizabeth, 29; and children Arlettie, 10, James, 8, Roosevelt, 7, and Amos Lee, 5.

In the 1940 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Elizabeth Batts, 43, and sons James H., 19, Rosevelt, 16, and Leander, 12.

Amos Leander Batts registered for the World War II draft in 1944. Per his registration card, he was born 22 May 1926 in Black Creek, N.C.; lived at 1207 Queen Street, Wilson; his contact was mother Elizabeth B. Batts; he was a student at Darden High; and he worked after school for Paul Bissette, Bissette’s Drug Store, Wilson.

Batts was among the crew of the USNS General W.F. Hase, which sailed from Yokohama, Japan, for Seattle, Washington. He worked as a laundryman. The incident that led to his death on 19 (not 24) September 1950 apparently occurred during this voyage.

Elizabeth Batts applied for a military headstone for her son. 

On the reverse: “Prior service: induction and active duty date 6 September 1944 honorably discharged 30 January 1946. Re-enlisted 31 January 1946 active duty same date Honorably discharged 2 December 1946. Enlisted Reserve Corps from 3 December 1946 to 19 December 1946; re-enlisted on 20 December 1946 discharged under honorable conditions 11 February 1949.”

Amos L. Batts was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery.

Washington, Arriving and Departing Passenger and Crew Lists, 1882-1965, http://www.ancestry.com; U.S. Headstone Applications for Military Veterans 1861-1985, http://www.ancestry.com.

Ruffin Woodard dies of burns.

Ruffin Woodard fell asleep while smoking, dropped his pipe, and set his clothes afire. Suffering burns on his side, back, and arm, Woodard died within hours.

——

In the 1900 census of Great Swamp township, Wayne County, N.C.: Ruffin Woodard, 45, fireman on stationary engine; wife Sarah, 30; and son Luther, 7.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Stantonsburg Street, Ruffin Woodard, 45, sawmill laborer; wife Sarah, 43; and son Luther, 18.

Ruffin Woodard died 24 February 1919 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 45 years old; was born in Wilson County to Rosa Woodard; was married to Sarah Woodard; lived at 118 Wiggins Street; worked as a wagon driver at a lumber mill; and was buried in Wilson [probably Vick Cemetery.]

Little Bobby Parker fatally struck by car.

Wilson Daily Times, 14 November 1949.

Bobby Lee Parker died 12 November 1949 at Mercy Hospital in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 18 May 1945 to Walter Parker and Daisy Harris; resided in Sharpsburg, Wilson County; and was buried in Cherry’s Chapel Cemetery.

Renfrow struck by ax, bleeds to death.

Wilson Daily Times, 30 March 1917.

I can think of a few people who surely regretted “the occurrence” more than Dempsey Haynes.

——

In the 19o0 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer John Rentfrow, 40; wife Marguaratt, 37; and children Franklin, 19, John T., 15, Mattie H., 12, Fannie, 10, Clinton, 7, and Orie, 1.

In the 1910 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: John Rentfrow, 50; wife Margarett, 48; children Clinton, 17, Ora, 11, and Ella, 8; and granddaughter Nancy Earp, 2.

Clinton Renfrow died 29 March 1917 in Old Fields township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was b0rn 14 October 1895 to John and Margrette Rentfrow; was single; worked as a farmer; and was buried in Wilson County. Cause of death: “Accidently cut with ax while cutting with father [partner?] and bled to death.” (This is curious phrasing. Dempsey Haynes was neither Renfrow’s father nor his partner.) The death certificate further indicates that no physician saw Renfrow (before or after he bled out); there was no inquest into the circumstances. In other words, there was only Haynes’ version of events.