Artis

The roots of many Wilson County Artises, no. 7: Celia Artis.

Before Wilson County was founded in 1855, the area around Black Creek was part of Wayne County. Celia Artis, a free woman of color, is listed as a head of household in the 1840 census of Black Creek district of Wayne County. Though it’s not certain that she lived in what is now Wilson County, her listing in proximity to white planters Stephen Woodard and Bunyan Barnes, who definitely lived in Wilson County territory, suggests so.

1840 federal census of Wayne County, North Carolina.

Celia’s family and Adam T. Artis’ family were among several sets of Artises living in or adjacent to northeastern Wayne County in the antebellum era, and members both intermarried and otherwise interacted with each other regularly. At least eight sets of Celia Artis’ descendants were living in Wilson County by the early 1900s, so I include a summary of her life here.

Celia Artis was born just before 1800, probably in northeastern Wayne County or what is now southern Wilson County. Nothing is known of her parentage or early life. She gave birth to at least six children and married an enslaved man called Simon Pig, who was the father of some or all of them.

In 1823, she gave control over her oldest children to two white neighbors, brothers (or father and son) Elias and Jesse Coleman, in a dangerously worded deed that exceeded the scope of typical apprenticeship indentures:

This indenture this 16th day of August 1823 between Celia Artis of the County of Wayne and state of North Carolina of the one part, and Elias and Jesse Coleman of the other part (witnesseth) that I the said Celia Artis have for an in consideration of having four of my children raised in a becoming [illegible], by these presence indenture the said four children (to viz) Eliza, Ceatha, Zilpha, and Simon Artis to the said Elias and Jesse Coleman to be their own right and property until the said four children arives at the age of twenty one years old and I do by virtue of these presents give and grant all my right and power over said children the above term of time, unto the said Elias and Jesse Coleman their heirs and assigns, until the above-named children arives to the aforementioned etc., and I do further give unto the said Elias and Jesse Coleman all power of recovering from any person or persons all my right to said children — the [illegible] of time whatsoever in whereof I the said Celia Artis have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written,    Celia X Artis.

Despite the “own right and property” language, Celia did not exactly sell her children, but what drove her to this extreme measure? Celia was not legally married and, as a result, her children were subject to involuntary apprenticeship until age 21. This strongly worded deed records her determination to guard her children from uncertain fates by placing them under the control of men she trusted, rather than those selected by a court. Despite the deed’s verbiage, it is possible that the children continued to live with their mother during their indenture. Certainly, Celia, unlike many free women of color, had the wherewithal to care for them, as evidenced by her purchase of 10 acres in Wayne County from Spias Ward in 1833. Wayne County deeds further show purchases of 124 acres and 24 acres from William Thompson in 1850 and 1855.

By 1840, Celia Artis was head of a household of eight free people of color in Black Creek district, Wayne County, comprising one woman aged 36-54 [Celia]; three girls aged 10-23 [Eliza, Leatha, Zilpha]; one girl under 10 [unknown]; two boys aged 10-23 [Calvin and Simon]; and one boy under 10 [Thomas].

In the 1850 census, she was enumerated on the North Side of the Neuse, Wayne County, as a 50 year-old with children Eliza, 34, Zilpha, 28, Thomas, 15, and Calvin, 20, plus 6 year-old Lumiser, who was Eliza’s daughter. Celia is credited with owning $600 of real property (deeds for most of which went unrecorded), and the agricultural schedule for that year details her wealth:

  • Celia Artis.  50 improved acres, 700 unimproved acres, value $600. Implements valued at $25. 2 horses. 1 ass or mule. 1 ox. 21 other cattle. 40 sheep. 500 swine. 500 bushels of Indian corn. 100 lbs. of rice. 2 lbs. of tobacco. 100 lbs. of wool. 100 bushels of peas and beans. 200 bushels of sweet potatoes.

Celia Artis also appears in the 1850 Wayne County slave schedule, which records her ownership of her husband:

1850 slave schedule of Wayne County, North Carolina.

In 1860, surprisingly, the census taker named that husband, Simon Pig Artis, as the head of household. However, if he’d been freed formally, there’s no record of it. Simon is also listed as the 70 year-old owner of $800 of real property and $430 of personal property — all undoubtedly purchased by Celia. Their household included son Thomas, daughter Zilpha, and granddaughters Lumizah, 17, and Penninah, 11.

1860 federal census of Wayne County, North Carolina.

A 1863 Confederate field map shows “C. Artis” just off the roads that are now NC-222 and Watery Branch Church Road.

The family’s cemetery remains on that land, as seen in the Google Street View below. A Primitive Baptist church, Diggs Chapel, and an early African-American school, Diggs School, once stood nearby.

Neither Celia nor Simon appears in the 1870 census. However, it seems likely that Celia was alive for at least a few more years, as her estate was not opened until 1879. It was surprisingly small, suggesting that she had distributed most her land and valuables (or otherwise lost them) before her death. Son Thomas is listed as the sole heir to her $200 estate.

Known Wilson County descendants of Celia Artis (and the child from whom they descend) include Edgar H. Diggs and children (Eliza); Rommie Diggs Sr. and descendants (Eliza); Sallie Artis Shackleford and descendants (Eliza); brothers Kemmy A. Sherrod and O. Royal Sherrod (Eliza); Rommie Newsome (Eliza); siblings Beulah Artis Exum Best, Francis Artis Edmundson, and Adam H. Artis (Eliza); Daisy Baker Hobbs (Leatha Ann); and Haywood W. Baker and descendants (including son John H.W. Baker) (Leatha Ann).

“Map of a part of eastern North Carolina from a map in progress compiled from surveys and reconnaissances” (1863), Jeremy Francis Gilmer Papers #276, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Wildest dreams.

We are our ancestors’ wildest dreams.

Specifically, Vicey Artis and Solomon Williams‘.

I am descended from their son Adam T. Artis, and Teresa Artis Neal from their son Richard Artis. I followed Teresa from Chapel Hill to Cambridge, and here we are this past weekend at Harvard Law School’s Celebration of Black Alumni.

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, September 2025.

Columbus E. Artis, as imagined.

I am ambivalent about using artificial intelligence to restore photographs. Or, more specifically, I’m concerned about manipulated photographs supplanting original images and further blurring the line between reality and misinformation. However, the allure of AI-enhanced images is strong, as I often contend with blurry, poorly lit photographs in unnatural sepia or black-and-white tones. Photographs whose condition sometimes exacerbates the distance between us and our ancestors.

I have been experimenting with ChatGPT lately, feeding it queries and images to be restored and colorized. The results are somewhat haphazard, with many images weird and off-putting. Other times, the images are breathtakingly sharp and … alive. Black Wide-Awake exists to resurrect forgotten lives, and I believe these images are valuable to help us connect with the men and women we read about in these posts. From time to time, I’ll share the better ones here, clearly marked as AI-generated. Let me know what you think about them.

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Columbus E. Artis (1886-1973), grocer, restaurateur, undertaker.

[Sidenote: this interpretation seems a little off, but reasonable, given the poor condition of the original image. Young C.E. Artis’ face was narrower, I believe, and his nose a little thinner.]

The obituary of Cora P. Artice of Portsmouth, Virginia.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 27 January 1934.

Portsmouth Star, 25 July 1936.

Portsmouth Star, 29 July 1936.

Portsmouth Star, 1 August 1936.

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In the 1880 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County, N.C.: farmer Jesse Artis, 35; wife Lucinda, 30; and children Cora, 7, Hattie, 5, Allice, 4, and Appie, 1.

On 15 November 1893, Elroy Artis and Cora P. Artis were married in Wayne County.

In the 1900 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County, N.C.: farmer Elroy Artice, 27; wife Cora, 27; and Lee W., 3.

In the 1910 census of Western Branch township, Norfolk County, Virginia: odd jobs laborer  Elroy E. Artice, 36; wife Cora, 37; and children Atwood, 13, and Albrey, 9.

In the 1920 census of Portsmouth, Norfolk County, Virginia: on Mount Vernon Avenue, Navy Yard boilermaker helper Elroy Artice, 46; wife Cora, 45; sons Atwood, 22, railroad shop machinist’s helper, and Albre, 17; and brother-in-law Freddie Artice, 28, railroad freight handler.

In the 1930 census of Portsmouth, Norfolk County, Virginia: at 1400 Mount Vernon Avenue, shipfitter shop helper Leroy Artice, 56, and wife Cora P., 55.

Cora Pearl Artice died 23 July 1936 at her home at 1400 Mount Vernon Avenue, Portsmouth, Virginia. Per her death certificate, she was born 11 September 1877 in Wilson, N.C., to Jesse Artice and Lucinda Hobbs; was married to Elroy Artice; and was buried in Lincoln Cemetery.

Elroy Artice died 1 November 1940 in Elizabeth City, Pasquotank County, N.C. Per his death certificate, he was born in 1874 in Wayne County to Jessie Artice and Polly Smith; was the widower of Cora Artice; worked as a W.P.A. laborer; and was buried in Lincoln Cemetery, Portsmouth, Virginia. A.R. Artice was informant.

Portsmouth Star, 4 November 1940.

Community leaders.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 27 May 1933.

  • Rev. C.H. Richmond
  • C.E. Artis — “Years of experience in both the U.S. postal service and the state department”? This bears additional research. [Sidenote: C.E. Artis was nearly 50 years old when this article was published, and the photograph used was taken much earlier in his life. As photos of this remarkable businessman are rare, and as he is my kinsman, it’s nice to see what he looked like in early adulthood.]
  • Dr. G.K. Butterfield — Though the founding date of Wilson’s N.A.A.C.P. is often cited as the late 1940s, this article makes clear that it was in operation as early as 1933, then famed national secretary Walter F. White spoke in Wilson.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 27 May 1933.

 

Stantonsburg news, June 1934.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.,), 23 June 1934.

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This piece offers a rare look at the social life of Stantonsburg’s African American community.

  • Marion Artis — It opens with an account of the funeral of Marion Artis. Though detailed, the decedent was misgendered. (This suggests that the correspondent did not know Artis personally and was making assumptions from second-hand information.) Marion Artis died 8 June 1934 in Stantonsburg, Wilson County. He was born in 1909 in Wilson County to Will Artis and Frances Ford; was married to Bessie Lee Artis; and worked as a farmer.
  • Bethel A.M.E. Zion Church
  • Rev. C.W. Jones
  • J.E. Edwards
  • C.E. Artis — Columbus E. Artis, a Wilson undertaker with roots across the county line near Eureka. Artis operated a small grocery in Stantonsburg circa 1910.
  • C.F Fuller — probably, Clyde Fuller. In the 1930 census of Stantonsburg, Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: on “Delaware Line (on street),” renting for $8/month, Clyde Fuller, 40, chauffeur; wife Mattie, 34, servant; and lodger Pete Whitley, 35, sawmill fireman.
  • Artelia Whitley and Irene Whitley were sisters. In the 1930 census of Stantonsburg, Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: on “Delaware Line (on street),” owned and valued at $600, John Whitley, 49, blacksmith; wife Mollie, 25; children Artillia, 18, Irene, 15, D.H., 13, John W., 10, Mary F., 8, Marjorie, 3, and Claron, 1 month; and father-in-law Wiley Locus, 70, widower, school janitor. Artelia and Irene worked as washerwomen.
  • Katie B. Coward — Katie Coward was the daughter of Rev. Bryant P. and Sarah Coward. In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Coward Katie B (c) student r 1013 Atlantic av
  • Marion B. Jordan

Lt. H.P. Exum, Tuskegee Airman.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 24 February 1945.

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In the 1930 census of Eureka, Nahunta township, Wayne County: farmer John E. Artis, 41; wife Cora, 39; and children Virginia D., 17, Ed R., 13, Oscar O., 11, Mary L., 10, Hurvin P., 9, Devaughn, 7, Olga M., 4, and Erman D., 2.

In the 1940 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County: farmer John Ed Exum, 51, and children Hervin, 18, Devon, 17, Ossie Mae, 14, Erman D., 12, and John Collins Exum, 8.

In 1942, Herven Percy Exum registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 6 November 1921 in Eureka, N.C.; lived at 611 East Green Street, Wilson; his contact was C.E. Artis, 571 East Nash Street; and he worked for undertaker C.E. Artis, 571 East Nash Street, Wilson.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 28 October 1944.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 11 November 1944.

Lt. Exum’s obituary appeared in the Washington Post with a clear copy of his photo in flying goggles.

[Sidenotes: Exum’s ancestors had lived in or adjacent to northeastern Wayne County for generations. His mother Cora Artis Exum was the daughter of Noah Artis and Lucinda Artis (later Sherrod), who were first cousins, as was not uncommon at the time. His father John Ed Exum was the son of George B. Exum, who had been enslaved in Wayne County, and Pernicey Hobbs Artis, who was born free in Johnston County. The uncle for whom Exum worked was his father’s half-brother, Columbus E. Artis. I have not been able to determine who the Bahamian or the Cherokee were.]

Artis is the first to volunteer.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 5 February 1918.

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We knew Columbus E. Artis migrated from Wilson to Washington, D.C., between 1915 and 1918 and remained just a few years. Now we know what drew him North.

Early in 1918, Artis jumped to respond to a call for volunteer shipbuilders and was lauded as the first to get his application in. Though it is not clear what skills Artis brought to the job — he had been a farm laborer, a grocer, a restaurateur, and an undertaker — he was recognized as “honor man” for his enthusiastic response.