Artis

To remember C.E. Artis.

A couple of weeks ago, I discovered that Columbus E. Artis‘ grave in Rest Haven Cemetery was unmarked. 

For a time, C.E. Artis and Camillus L. Darden ran competing funeral homes in Wilson, with Artis arguably the more prestigious. Here’s what Samuel C. Lathan said about him: 

“I remember C.E. Artis – I think it was a ‘48 hearse. They went to Detroit and bought that thing. And it had a record player in it. And then it had a hydraulic cable in it where, when you open up the side, that hydraulic would raise up and come out, and the casket would come out by itself. And the pallbearers would stand right there and take it right out. Oh, man, it was all kind of – them people would wear hickory-stripe pants, black wool and silk jacket with the vest. Aw, man.”

Darden Memorial was the “old standby.” Artis Funeral Home was fly and flashy. Beautiful cars. Snazzy attendants. His, as his ads touted, was “the home of personal service.” 

Wilson Daily Times, 10 January 1950.

Artis’ first wife, Ada D. Artis, died in early 1951. He quickly remarried. His life began to slide downhill. In 1953, he was charged with violating a city ordinance by failing to buy a license for his business, which seems to have ceased operations the previous year. As early as 1956, he began taking lodgers into his fine East Green Street home, men and women who regularly appeared in the newspaper for petty crime. In 1961, Artis himself spent a few days in jail on a larceny charge. By 1973, it appears there was nothing left but the house, which passed to his widow Ruby Barber Artis at his death. 

Columbus E. Artis is now forgotten by all but the oldest Wilsonians. In his day though, he was an influential businessman and engaged civic leader. He was also my grandmother’s paternal uncle. His was a life worth remembering, and he now has a headstone.

My thanks to Heather Goff of Wilson Cemetery Commission for confirming the location of Artis’ grave and to my cousins Louis Hall Jr. and Louis Hall III of Eastern Carolina Vault Company for quickly turning around my order. Rest in Peace, Columbus Estell Artis.

611 East Green Street, revisited.

On 29 October 1892, Hardy Tate purchased for $700 from George D. and Ella M. Green a 1/3-acre lot on Green Street between Green and H.C. Phillips.

The first house Tate erected on this lot burned to the ground under suspicious circumstances shortly after completion in 1896. Tate replaced it with this house, whose number bounced from 610 to 612 before settling at 611.

Tate died in 1938. Undertaker Columbus E. Artis and his first wife, nurse Ada D. Artis, bought the house from the Tate family. In 1951, Artis remarried.

Wilson Daily Times, 28 July 1951.

It appears that C.E. and Ruby Barbour Artis began to take in roomers in the 1960s. Artis, photographed here in the driveway, owned the house until his death in 1973, and Ruby Artis remained for several years after.

Per the 12 April 1975 Daily Times, Ruby Artis was issued a permit to “alter boarding house 611 E. Green.”

This ad for apartments in the house ran in the Daily Times in the early 1980s.

Wilson Daily Times, 3 September 1981.

Wilson Daily Times, 14 April 1983.

Wilson Daily Times, 5 July 1983.

Wilson Daily Times, 5 November 1983.

The house was demolished in the early 2000s.

N.87-12-279-280, Hardy Tate House, 611 E. Green Street, East Wilson Historic District, Wilson, Wilson County, Survey and National Register Branch, State Historic Preservation Office.

Lucy Hall’s children.

We’ve met Nicey Caroline Hall Lynch, the free woman of color whose refusal to kowtow to his wife so irked Confederate soldier Ruffin Barnes. What of her siblings though?

In the 1850 census of North Side of Neuse, Wayne County, Lucy Hall, 45, appears with her children Sarah, 16, George, 15, Nathan, 13, Nicy, 10, Samuel, 3, and Esther Hall, 6, plus Alford, 15, John, 14,  Rhoda, 13, Julia, 12, and Rheuben Artis, 10, and Rufus Lane, 22. (Read here of Lucy Hall’s legal battle to have her children apprenticed as she saw fit.)

Lucy Hall apparently died before 1860. I have not been able to trace Sarah, George, or Nathan Hall. However,

  • Samuel Hall

In the 1860 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farm laborer Noah Walker, 25; wife Polly, 21; and Samuel Hall, 13. [Samuel had likely been apprenticed to the Walkers by a Wilson County judge.]

In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: brick maker Samuel Hall, 22; wife Caroline, 20; and children Donas, 3, and John, 2 months [next door to Wyatt and Niecy Lynch.]

In the 1880 census of Speights Bridge township, Greene County, N.C.: laborer Sam Hall, 32; wife Caroline, 32; and children John W., 10, Jane E., 8, Sam, 6, and Baby, 1.

In the 1900 census of Bulloch County, Georgia: woodcutter Sam Hall, 50; wife Caroline, 50, washerwoman; children Sam Jr., 24, George, 21, Emma, 19, and Minnie, 10; and daughter-in-law Fannie, 23, washerwoman. All but Fannie were born in North Carolina.

In the 1910 census of Bulloch County, Georgia: farmer Sam Hall, 65; wife Caroline, 63; son-in-law John Kennedey, 31; daughter Maria, 19; and their children Pearl, 2, and John, 3 months.

  • Esther Hall

In the 1860 census of Davis district, Wayne County, James Yelverton [Jr.], 40, shared a household with Hester Hall, 20, and her children Fanny, 7, and Puss, 5. [Yelverton was the father of Esther’s sister Nicey Caroline’s first child, Susianna Frances Hall, alias Yelverton.]

——

As to the children Lucy Hall sheltered other than her own, Alford, John, Rhoda, Julia, and Reuben were the children of Julia Artis and Reuben Pettiford. The couple apparently did not marry until after they had had about ten children together, exposing the children to involuntary apprenticeship as “baseborn,” i.e. born out of wedlock. In 1850, they, like Lucy Hall’s children the following year, were apprenticed to William J. Exum, the white man on whose farm they lived. Curiously, in the 1850 census, the children are also listed with their parents and siblings 70 miles away in Warren County, North Carolina: stonemason Reuben Pettiford, 30; wife Judy A., 37; children Eliza, 21, Alfred, 15, Jack, 13, Rhody, 12, Reuben Jr., 10, Julian, 9, and Mary Artis, 7, and Elizabeth J., 5, and Virginia Pettiford, 3; [Julia’s mother] Middy Artis, 60; and Isah Artis, 4 months.

In 1860, the family — by then all using the surname Pettiford — was intact in Halifax County. Per Freedmen’s Bureau records, Alfred and Jack Pettiford were in Plymouth, Washington County, during the Civil War, and other family members followed.

Note that the Alford Artis who appears in Wilson County records by 1880 is not the same man as Alford Artis alias Pettiford:

  • Alford [Alfred] Artis

In the 1880 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farm worker Alford Artis, 45; wife Eliza, 40; and children Luvinia, 18, John, 16, Edwin, 14, Lee, 10, George, 9, Lila, 8, Frank, 5, Delia, 2, Marcellus, 10 months, and Annie, 2.

In the 1900 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Alfred Artis, 69; wife Liza, 68; son Patrick, 16; and grandchildren Jennie E. Artis, 14, and Luther Best, 13.

In the 1910 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: laborer Alfred Artis, 80, widower.

William Frank Artis died 27 November 1949 in Black Creek township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 10 May 1876 in Wilson County to Alfred Artis and Eliza Artis; was married; and was a farmer. [Note that his Social Security application listed his parents as Alford Artis and Eliza Felton.]

Lila Reid died 22 April 1953 in Fremont, Wayne County, N.C. Per her death certificate, she was born 25 March 1870 in Greene County, N.C., to Alfred Artis and Liza Artis; was the widow of Frank Reid; and was buried in Hooks Grove Cemetery.

Of Rufus Lane, we know only that he was bound out multiple times in Wayne County — to James Forehand in 1837, to Joel Lane in 1836, and to William Exum in 1837.

The obituary of Annie Mariah Artis Darden of Mount Vernon, New York.

Mount Vernon (N.Y.) Argus, 7 June 1971.

——

  • John D. Artis and Sarah Ward Artis

In the 1870 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farm laborer Nathan Ward, 46; wife Mariah, 26; and children Sarah, 15, Scott, 13, Waltin, 10, Larrence, 5, and Ida, 2; plus Lydia Moye, 58.

In the 1880 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Nathan Ward, 56; wife Maria, 47; children Sarah, 24, Austin, 18, Laurena, 14, Ida, 12, Maria, 9, Ora, 7, Douglas, 5, Columbus, 4, and Elijah, 1; and mother-in-law Liddia Moye, 66.

On 17 July 1890, John D. Artis, 28, of Stantonsburg, son of Joseph and Mary Ann Artis, married Sarah Ward, 34, of Stantonsburg, daughter of Nathan and Mariah Ward, at Sarah Ward’s. Methodist minister Rev. A.T. Dove performed the ceremony in the presence of George N. Applewhite, Mary J. Ward, and W.E. Ward.

In the 1900 census of Speights Bridge township, Greene County, N.C.: farmer John Artis, 35; wife Sarah, 35; and daughters Ida, 17, Mariah, 11, and Ora, 8.

John Artis died 16 September 1927 in Wilson, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was 65 years old; was born in Wayne County, N.C., to Joe Artis; was married to John Artis; was a farmer; and was buried in Wilson County. James Ward was informant.

In the 1920 census of Speights Bridge township, Greene County, N.C.: farmer John Artis, 56; wife Sarah, 60; and grandson John, 14.

Ora Speights died 15 April 1939 in Speights Bridge township, Greene County, N.C. Per her death certificate, she was born 10 January 1893 in Greene County, N.C., in John Artis and Sarah Ward; was married to Charlie Speights; and was buried in Greene County.

  • Annie Mariah Artis Darden

In the 1900 census of Speights Bridge township, Greene County, N.C.: farmer John Artis, 35; wife Sarah, 35; and daughters Ida, 17, Mariah, 11, and Ora, 8.

On 2 May 1909, Jim Hagans, 22, of Saratoga, son of Dred and Mamie Hagans, married Maria Artis, 19, of Saratoga, daughter of John and Sarah Artis, at John Artis’ residence in Saratoga township, Wilson County. A.M.E. Zion minister G.A. Wood performed the ceremony.

On 16 December 1911, Jesse Darden and Maria Hagans were married in Greene County.

In the 1920 census of Speights Bridge township, Greene County: farm Jeffie Darden, 25; wife Mariah, 28; children Ada Belle, 6, Effie, 4, and Lawrence, 6 months; and cousin Tom Ward, 20.

In the 1930 census of Speights Bridge township, Greene County: Jessie Darden, 35; wife Maria, 38; and children Ada B., 16, Effie, 14, Lawrence, 10, Charlie, 8, Nathan, 6, Sarah, 5, and Annie, 3.

 

Studio shots, no. 268: the Diggs family.

Though a Wayne County native (and descendant of Celia Artis), Edgar H. Diggs spent most of his adult life in Wilson. He was well-known barber for decades at Walter Hines Barbershop and lived at 205 North Vick Street.

Diggs’ granddaughter Sheila Diggs has graciously shared photos of three generations of her family.

Sula Diggs Artis (ca. 1866-1919), probably taken in a Goldsboro, N.C., studio.

Sula Diggs Artis’ daughter Lizzie Olivia Diggs (1894-1988), circa mid-1910s. Edgar H. Diggs (1890-1970) was her brother. This photo was taken in the studio of Wilson’s Picture-Taking George W. Barnes. That’s his signature one-armed chair, and we’ve seen the window prop before, too.

Olivia Diggs Artis a few years later, with a bob and tiered, drop-waist day dress characteristic of the early 1920s. 

Edgar H. Diggs and youngest son Preston Diggs at their Vick Street home, circa late 1940s. The camera is a twin-lens reflex camera, perhaps a Rolleiflex.

Walter Preston Diggs (1928-2024).

Flat Rock Church of Christ holds revival.

Wilson Daily Times, 21 May 1946.

In May 1946, Evangelist Lloyd Price, a preacher out of Sampson County, North Carolina, conducted a revival at Flat Rock Church of Christ. Flat Rock at that time was at 402 Vick’s Alley. By late 1948, Elder D.C. Artis had established a second church with the same name in Sims, which remains active today.

Artis was a Greene County native who arrived in Wilson in the mid-1940s by way of Wayne County. In 1950, he, his wife Rosa Lee, and adopted daughter Mary lived in Parker’s Alley, Wilson. (Parker’s was a later name for Vick’s Alley.)

David C. Artis died 15 October 1972 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 27 April 1903 to Ruffin Artis and Florence Cannon; was married to Rosa Lee Artis; lived at 402 Parker Avenue; worked as a carpenter and minister; and was buried in Masonic cemetery.

Where did they go?: Missouri death certificates.
  • Wright C. Blount

In the 1870 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Calvin Blount, 35; John Bantler, 23, born in South Carolina, and sons Dick, 12, Tillman, 10, Frank, 6, Wright, 7, and William, 4.

In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Calvin Blount, 44, wife Emily, 48, and sons Wright, 17, William, 14, and Franklin, 16.

In the 1887 Saint Louis, Missouri, city directory: Blount Wright, servant, r. al. rear 2212 Franklin

Saint Louis Post-Dispatch, 22 August 1889.

In the 1889 Saint Louis, Missouri, city directory: Blount Wright, lab. r. 5 N. Ewing av.

On 19 December 1889, W.C. Blount married Lula C. Wright in Saint Clair County, Illinois.

Saint Louis, Missouri, city directory (1895.)

Eldredge Lucina Blount was born 24 June 1895 in Saint Louis to Wright C. Blount and Lulu Wright.

In the 1900 census of Saint Louis, Missouri: at 116 1/2 Leonard Avenue, Wright Blount, 33, day laborer; wife Lula, about 30; and children Norma, 10, Alta, 8, Eldridge, 4, and Josephine, 2.

In the 1901 Saint Louis, Missouri, city directory: Blount Wright, lab. r. 116A S Leonard av

In the 1908 Saint Louis, Missouri, city directory: Blount Wright, porter. r. 318 S Compton av

In the 1910 census of Saint Louis, Missouri: at 2915 Lawton, Wright C. Blount, 46, jobber; wife Loden, 28, working out; and children Attie, 20, laundress, Eldrage, 13, Josephine, 11, and Nick, 6.

In the 1917 Saint Louis, Missouri, city directory: Blount Wright, janitor. r. 3439 Lawton av

Saint Louis Argus, 7 December 1917.

In the 1920 census of Saint Louis, Missouri: Lula Blunt, 45; children Josephine Mosby, 20, and Eldridge, 24, Melvin, 16, and Alto Blount, 26; and grandchildren Helen, 4, and Ester Mosby, 2. [Lula was described as a widow.]

In the 1930 census of Mermen township, Saint Louis County, Missouri: Lulu Wright, 60, servant, with Katherine Logan. [Again, Lula was described as a widow.]

Wright Blount died 15 July 1936 in Saint Louis, Missouri. Per his death certificate, he was about 74 years old; was born in North Carolina to Calvin Blount; was the widower of Lula Blount; and had worked as a common laborer. Josephine Mosley was informant.

Eldredge Blount died 11 June 1969 in Saint Louis. Per her death certificate, she was born 24 September 1898 in Saint Louis to Wright Blount and Lula Wright; never married; and worked as a domestic. Josephine Mosby of Cleveland, Ohio, was informant.

  • Henry Artis

Though his death certificate lists Wilson County, North Carolina, other records point to Wayne County, North Carolina, as Henry Artis’ birthplace. His family migrated to Mississippi around 1890 and then on to Missouri.

In the 1850 census of the North Side of the Neuse, Wayne County: in the household of white farmer Burkett Barnes, four free children of color, Henry, 15, Duncan, 13, Leonard, 10, and Ashberry Artice, 7.

On 9 September 1862, Leonard Artis and Pernicy Hagans were married in Wayne County.

In the 1870 census of Pikeville township, Wayne County: Leonard Artice, 34; wife Pearcy, 23; and children Diza, 8, John, 7, Lousar, 6, Larrance, 2, and Wiley J., 4 months.

In the 1880 census of Pikeville township, Wayne County: Leonard Artice, 43; wife Demecia, 35; children John W., 16, Loudy, 13, Wiley J., 10, Hubard A., 6, Frances, 4, Martha A., 3, and Hattie, 1; and niece Dizer, 16.

In the 1900 census of Glen Allen township, Washington County, Mississippi: Lenord Artis, 67; wife Pernicy, 54; children Henry G., 16, Calvin, 19, and Adam and Addie, 12; grandchildren Elnora, 6, and Lupattie, 4; and niece Pearl G. Miller, 8. (All but the youngest three were born in North Carolina.)

In the 1930 census of Saint Louis, Missouri: Henry Artisy, 35, steel plant laborer, and wife Lula, 34, roomers in household of Albert L. England.

In the 1940 census of Saint Louis, Missouri: Henry Artis, 50, W.P.A. power plant laborer; wife Lula, 48; and brother Addie, 46.

In 1940, Henry Artis registered for the World War II draft in Saint Louis. Per his registration card, he was born 12 March 1890 in Goldsboro, N.C.; lived at 2613 Delmar Street; and his contact was Lulu Artis.

Henry Artis died 10 February 1943 in Saint Louis, Missouri. Per his death certificate, he was born 12 March 1899 in Wilson County, N.C., to Lenard Artis and Neice Higgins; and worked as a wholesale drug company porter.

In the 1950 census of Caruthersville, Pemiscot County, Missouri: Addie Artis, 64, widower.

Addie Artice died 22 February 1958 in Hayti, Pemiscot County, Missouri. Per his death certificate, he was born 4 April 1885 in North Carolina to Leonard Artice and Pernecia [no maiden name]; was a widower; worked as a laborer.