Allen

Corporal Daniel Vick, serving somewhere in the Pacific area.

——

In the 1930 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Ashley Thompson, 65; wife Bethenia, 34; [step]son Daniel, 13; and daughter Omeda, 12.

Daniel Vick registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County in 1940:

On 16 October 1946, Daniel Vick, 28, farmer, of Wilson County, son of John Vick and Bethenia Williamson of Lucama, married Hester L. White, 21, of Wilson County, daughter of James White and Minnie Perry of Lucama, in Greensville County, Virginia.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 723 1/2 Elvie Street, Daniel Vick, 32, mechanics helper at state garage; wife Hester, 24; and son Dwight E., born in November. 

Dwight Edward Vick died 22 November 1959 in Lucama, Oldfield township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 11 November 1949 in Wilson County to Daniel Vick and Hester White and was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery.

Omeida Dew applied for a military headstone for her brother Daniel Vick.

Image courtesy of Veterans of World War II Wilson County, spiral-bound volume, Wilson County Public Library.

Historic Black Business Series, no. 27: William Allen’s grocery.

The 500 block of East Nash Street is justly remembered as the 20th century epicenter of Wilson’s African-American-owned businesses. However, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Black entrepreneurs and tradespeople also operated across the tracks. As Wilson’s downtown experiences a resurgence, let’s rediscover and celebrate these pioneering men and women.

Check in each Sunday for the latest in the Historic Black Business Series!

William Allen‘s grocery was in a block of South Goldsboro Street packed with black businesses in the very early 20th century. The site will soon lie under a baseball stadium.

Allen is listed in the 1908 and 1912 Wilson city directories as a grocer at 412 South Goldsboro Street.

1908 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County, Ann Allen, 32, was described as a grocery clerk. Though her 33 year-old husband Will Allen’s occupation was farm laborer, he seems likely to have been the grocer above.

Lane Street Project: in memory of Fannie Preston Allen (1885-1943).

I’ve spoken of the database I am developing of likely burials in Vick, Odd Fellows, and Rountree Cemeteries. My spreadsheet draws upon death certificates, obituaries, and other sources — most distressingly imprecise. The term “Rountree Cemetery” on these documents may refer to Vick, Odd Fellows, or Rountree. Some documents broadly refer only to burial in Wilson. However, in the absence of official burial records for any of the cemeteries, we make do.

This series honors the men, women, and children who never had grave markers, or whose stones have been lost or stolen or destroyed. Graves believed to be in Vick Cemetery, which the City of Wilson stripped of remaining markers in 1996, will be identified with a Vick Cemetery logo.

——

Fannie Preston Allen died 26 November 1943 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 8 May 1885 in Robeson County, N.C., to Sandy Ashley; was married to Samuel Allen; lived at 706 Roberson Street; and was buried in Rountree [likely Vick] Cemetery. Creavorn Allen of Berkley, Virginia, was informant.

Lane Street Project: in memory of Mary Dunston Allen (1878-1942).

I’ve spoken of the database I am developing of likely burials in Vick, Odd Fellows, and Rountree Cemeteries. My spreadsheet draws upon death certificates, obituaries, and other sources — most distressingly imprecise. The term “Rountree Cemetery” on these documents may refer to Vick, Odd Fellows, or Rountree. Some documents broadly refer only to burial in Wilson. However, in the absence of official burial records for any of the cemeteries, we make do.

This series honors the men, women, and children who never had grave markers, or whose stones have been lost or stolen or destroyed. Graves believed to be in Vick Cemetery, which the City of Wilson stripped of remaining markers in 1996, will be identified with a Vick Cemetery logo.

——

Mary Allen died 8 December 1942 at her home at 606 Spring Street, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 10 May 1878 in Wilson County to Alston [Osborne] Dunston of Louisburg, N.C., and Merria E. Mandia [Mariah Monday], of Richmond, Virginia; was married to Ernest Allen; and was buried in Rountree Cemetery [likely Vick Cemetery.] Delleze [Delzelle] Whitted, 516 Lodge Street, was informant.

Lane Street Project: in memory of David M. Allen (1875-1915).

I’ve spoken of the database I am developing of likely burials in Vick, Odd Fellows, and Rountree Cemeteries. My spreadsheet draws upon death certificates, obituaries, and other sources — most distressingly imprecise. The term “Rountree Cemetery” on these documents may refer to Vick, Odd Fellows, or Rountree. Some documents broadly refer only to burial in Wilson. However, in the absence of official burial records for any of the cemeteries, we make do.

This series honors the men, women, and children who never had grave markers, or whose stones have been lost or stolen or destroyed. Graves believed to be in Vick Cemetery, which the City of Wilson stripped of remaining markers in 1996, will be identified with a Vick Cemetery logo.

——

David M. Allen died 28 February 1915 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born in 1875 to Simuel Allen and McKinsey Bridges; was married; worked as a common laborer; and was buried in Wilson by C.H. Darden & Sons. Informant was McKinsey Allen, Smithfield, N.C.

Lane Street Project: in memory of Costella V.L. Allen (1940-1940).

I’ve spoken of the database I am developing of likely burials in Vick, Odd Fellows, and Rountree Cemeteries. My spreadsheet draws upon death certificates, obituaries, and other sources — most distressingly imprecise. The term “Rountree Cemetery” on these documents may refer to Vick, Odd Fellows, or Rountree. Some documents broadly refer only to burial in Wilson. However, in the absence of official burial records for any of the cemeteries, we make do.

This series honors the men, women, and children who never had grave markers, or whose stones have been lost or stolen or destroyed. Graves believed to be in Vick Cemetery, which the City of Wilson stripped of remaining markers in 1996, will be identified with a Vick Cemetery logo.

——

Costella Virginia Lee Allen died 6 May 1940 at her home in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 19 April 1940 in Wilson to Charles Young of Wilson County and Almeta Allen of Saint Paul, N.C. Parthenia Allen was informant. Costella was buried in Rountree Cemetery by C.H. Darden & Sons.

Former Darden High teacher killed in accident in Elizabeth City.

Wilson Daily Times, 4 November 1949.

Floreta Walson Allen died 3 November 1949 in rural Pasquotank County, North Carolina. Per her death certificate, she was born 17 May 1908 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Stacy J. Walson and Ruby A. Trowell; was married; was employed as a teacher. She was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Elizabeth City, N.C. Lesly J. Walson was informant.

Though she was said to have lived and taught in Wilson for ten years, I have not found record of her in the city.

He heard a bump and stopped; second highway death in three days.

Wilson Daily Times, 31 August 1942.

——

  • Fred Woodard — in the 1940 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Fred Woodard, 36; wife Maggie, 36; and children Roy, 15, John D., 13, Doris N., 11, Fred Jr., 9, and Rosie Lee, 7. Fred Woodard died 30 August 1942 in Cross Roads township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 1904 in Wilson County to William Woodard and Cora [maiden name unknown]; was engaged in farming; and was buried in Newsome cemetery.
  • George Allen — in the 1940 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer George Allen, 45; his children George Love, 18, Clinton, 16, Ula Pearl, 14, Petronia, 13, and Josephine, 10; niece Jessie, 18; sister Rosa Creech, 35, and niece R. Virginia Creech, 14.
  • Mamie Daniel — in the 1940 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Louis Daniel, 56; wife Mamie, 42; and farm hand Willie R. Bynum, 18. Mamie Daniel died 27 August 1942 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 1902 in Johnston County, N.C., to Willie Wilson and Phillis Smith; was married to Louis Daniel; and was buried in Beckie Pate cemetery.