Wilson Daily Times, 26 May 1922.
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News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), 6 August 1907.
Both the Daily Times and the News & Observer got a lot of mileage out of covering root doctor Benjamin Woodard. (Josephus Daniels, the N&O’s founder and editor, had known Woodard personally during his Wilson years.) Here, despite detailed description of the liquor found in Woodard’s house, Woodard was acquitted. However, state’s witness Bloss Batts (who was jailed pending hearing, as was done in those days) was charged with “retailing,” i.e. selling alcohol illegally. I have not found evidence of the outcome of that matter.
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For more about Ben Woodard, see here and here and here and here.
In the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Tom Batts, 69; wife Mariah, 60; and children Eddie, 22, Willie, 20, Blossom, 18, William, 15, Bettie, 29, and Frank, 11.
In 1918, Blos Batts registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born in March 1883; lived on Stantonsburg Street, Wilson; worked as a laborer for Farmers Cotton Oil Company; and his nearest relative was Buddy Marlowe, Stantonsburg Street.
On 23 November 1919, Bloss Batts, 40, of Wilson, son of Tom and Mariah Batts, married Lizzie Taylor, 25, of Wilson, at Bettie Marable‘s in Wilson. Oliver Marable applied for the license, and Free Will Baptist minister C.L. Johnson, of Craven County, performed the ceremony.
In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Batts Bloss (c; Lizzie) h 203 Ashe
In the 1940 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: Wiley Batts, 68; wife Lucy, 59; daughters Anna Knight, 34, and Mary Batts, 25; grandchildren James Thomas, 3, and Jimmy Lee Batts, 2 months, and Junior, 11, and Mamie Knight, 9; and brother Bloss Batts, 56, widower.
Bloss Batts died 9 April 1942 at the Wilson County Home. Per his death certificate, he was 56 years old; was born in Wilson County to Tom Batts and Mariah Jones; was married to Lizzie Batts; worked in farming; and was buried in Rountree Cemetery.
I’ve gone on and on about the artistry of Clarence B. Best, the marble cutter who carved thousands of gravestones in and around Wilson County between the 1920s and mid-1970s. Now, after a few years of exploring local African-American cemeteries, I recognize the signature work of other monument makers. Whether the work of an individual, like Best, or a company, they were likely produced in Wilson or an adjoining county, and perhaps by African-American craftsmen.
On a recent visit to the former Elm City Colored Cemetery, now known as Heritage Cemetery, I noticed these two concrete markers, clearly produced by the same maker. Other than one other (Charlie Armstrong) I saw on an earlier visit to Heritage, these are the only markers I have seen in this style, but I will be on the lookout for more. All are simple cement slabs with half-round tops, and their inscriptions feature large letters deeply drawn in a natural handwritten style. Two are decorated by a large naturalistic leaf — one a sweetgum and the other an oak — drawn above the inscription. Two of the names on the headstones are spelled with double N’s, the first of which is reversed.
The three Reverse-N Style headstones found so far mark the graves of two siblings (Charlie Armstrong and Annie Armstrong Braswell Dawson) and a collateral relative (Dennis Batts, who was the father of Annie Dawson’s husband’s second wife).
Dennis Batts Died June th 8 1932
In the 1870 census of Joyners township, Wilson County: Orren Batts, 41, wife Mary, 34, and children Dennis, 16, Amos, 14, Henriet, 10, Haywood, 9, Precilla, 5, and Louisa, 3. In the 1880 census of Toisnot: Orren Batts, 53, wife Mary, 47, and children Haywood, 19, Priscilla, 14, Louiza, 12, John, 9, Reddick, 7, and James B. Batts, 1.
On 8 February 1877, Dennis Batts, 22, married Rose Farmer, 21, at Jarman Farmer’s in Wilson County.
In the 1880 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: Dennis Batts, 26, farmer; wife Rhoda A., 26; sons John H., 2, and William A., 5 months; and sister-in-law Maggie Farmer, 12, domestic servant.
In the 1900 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: widower Dennis Batts, 46, farmer, and children John H., 22, William A., 20, Mary J., 17, Patience, 15, Haywood, 13, Hattie, 11, Samuel, 9, Gorman, 6, and Rosa, 3.
On 25 October 1900, Dennis Batts, 47, son of Orren and Mary Batts, married William Ann Whitley, 23, daughter of Mingo and Catharine Whitley, at Isaac Page’s in Toisnot township, Wilson County. Baptist minister Joseph Barnes performed the ceremony in the presence of Red Mack, Bloss Barnes, and Anna Brown.
On 17 February 1909, Sidney Harriss, 24, of Toisnot, son of Matthew and Tempy Ann Harris, married Hattie Lena Batts, 19, of Toisnot, daughter of Dennis and Rose Ann Batts at Dennis Batts’ house. Witnesses were G.A. Gaston, J.G. Mitchell, and J.F. Carter, all of Elm City.
In the 1910 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: on Gooch and Parkers School House Road, farmer Dennis Batts, 46, and children Mary J., 27, Patsy, 25, Samy, 18, Jarman, 15, Jannie, 7, and Turner, 4.
On 8 November 1916, Dennis Batts, 62, of Toisnot township, son of Orrin and Mary Batts, married Eliza Allen, 23, of Toisnot township, daughter of Owen and Minnie Allen, at Rose Bud. Free Will Baptist minister J.H. Lynn performed the ceremony in the presence of Lu Hagans, William Pitt, and Walter Barnes, all of Wilson.
Jessie Batts died 26 May 1921 in Toisnot township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 26 November 1919 in Wilson County to Dennis Batts and Eliza Allen. Dennis Batts was informant.
In the 1930 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: paying $5/month rent, Dennis Batts, 75; wife Eliza, 50, hotel servant; and children Lou, 13, and George R., 8.
Dennis Batts died 9 June 1932 in Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 30 May 1854 in Wilson County to Arnold Batts and Mary Farmer; was married to Eliza Batts; worked as a tenant farmer; and was buried in Elm City. Sidney Harris was informant.
On 2 September 1932, Van Dawson, 56, of Toisnot township, son of Sarah Dawson, married Jennie Batts, 30, of Toisnot township, daughter of Dennis and William Ann Batts, in Wilson.
Annie Dawson (with large incised sweetgum leaf)
In the 1870 census of Upper Town Creek township, Edgecombe County: farm laborer Wright Barnes, 54, Lucinda Armstrong, 31, and Charles, 7, Ann, 5, Shade, 16, and Goddin Armstrong, 7.
In the 1880 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: Lizette Armstrong, 51, Lucinda, 41, Charley L., 16, Gray Anna, 13, and Shadrick, 10.
On 6 February 1886, Gray Braswell, 28, married Aner Armstrong, 19, at Lucinder Armstrong’s residence in Wilson County. Missionary Baptist minister S.G. Alston performed the ceremony in the presence of Fred McGuire, James J. Taylor, and Frank Barnes.
On 18 February 1897, Van Dawson, 21, married Annie Braswell, 27, at the bride’s residence in Wilson County.
In the 1900 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: day laborer Van Dawson, 23; wife Anne, 37; and niece Sally Armstrong, 17.
In the 1910 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: on Elm City Lane, lumber wagon teamster Van Dawson, 36; wife Annie, 42, laundress; and daughter Estell, 9.
In 1918, Van Dawson registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 2 March 1873; lived in Elm City, Wilson County; was a self-employed farmer; and his nearest relative was wife Annie Dawson. He signed his card with an X.
Annie Dawson died 22 August 1929 in Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was 55 years old; was born in Elm City to P[illegible] and Lucinda Armstrong; was married; and farmed for Dr. E.G. Moon. Van Dawson was informant. [Van Dawson later married a daughter of Dennis Batts; see above.]
Wilson Daily Times, 20 November 1948.
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Magnolia Batts died 19 November 1948 on Oldfields township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was born 1 August 1898 in Wilson County to Jesse Winstead and Susie Moore; was widowed; and was engaged in farming.
Wilson Daily Times, 26 September 1950.
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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: widowed farmer Elizabeth Batts, 43; and children James H., 19, Roosevelt, 16, and Leander, 12.
In 1944, Amos Leander Batts registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 22 May 1926 in Black Creek, N.C.; lived at 1207 Queen Street; his contact was mother Elizabeth B. Batts, 1207 Queen Street; he was a student at Darden High School; and he worked after school for Paul Bissette, Bissette’s Drug Store.Â
Corporal Batts’ body was eventually recovered and returned to Wilson for burial in Rest Haven Cemetery. On 19 February 1951, his mother applied for a military headstone for his grave.
The reverse of the application card reveals interesting details of Corporal Batts’ military service:
“Prior service: induction and active duty date 6 September 1944 honorably discharged 30January 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.”
Presumably, this was service in the U.S. Army. At the time of his death, Batts was enlisted in the U.S. Navy and working aboard USNS Gen. W.F. Hase, a Military Sealift Command vessel.
The competition between rival undertakers was ferocious. Martha Lucas died two days after her twelfth birthday. Unbeknownst to the family, a nurse at the “local colored hospital” (later known as Mercy Hospital) called Batts Brothers and Artis undertaking firm to prepare the girl’s body for burial. Later, the Lucas family asked C.H. Darden & Sons to perform the service. When Darden discovered the body missing, they showed up at Batts and Artis demanding possession. Batts and Artis refused to hand her over unless Darden paid transportation expenses. Darden went to court.
Wilson Daily Times, 11 August 1921.
Three days later, Martha’s father Wiley Lucas and Camillus L. Darden also appealed to the court of public opinion. Lucas stated that he, not Darden, had caused the sheriff’s department to file a claim and delivery action on the advice of police when Amos Batts dramatically claimed he would rather die than surrender Martha’s body. (Replevin, or claim and delivery, is a legal remedy that enables a person to recover personal property taken unlawfully and to obtain compensation for resulting losses.) Lucas “emphatically [denied] that any undertakers but C.H. Darden & Sons were instructed to attend to the funeral arrangements, as I knew of no other colored funeral directors in Wilson at the time ….”
C.L. Darden chimed in to direct readers to the magistrate’s record for the facts, noting that Batts had been told he could sue the hospital if he felt aggrieved. “But Batts knows as the public knows — as I can prove if it comes to a showdown — that Artis’ wife, who is head nurse in the institution, solicits in the hospital for the firm of Batts Bros. & Artis, of which her husband is a member of the firm.” “Artis” was Columbus E. Artis, and his wife was registered nurse Ada Artis.
Wilson Daily Times, 14 August 1921.
Batts Brothers and Artis responded three days after that, “that the public may not be misled.” Â They denied having refused to give up the girl’s body, contending that they only sought to be paid for services rendered. The firm claimed the trial justice agreed they were entitled to a “small fee,” but, perhaps taking the temperature of public sentiment, they agreed to drop their claim and pay court costs.
Wilson Daily Times, 17 August 1921.
Martha Lucas’ death certificate.
Wilson Daily Times, 4 October 1950.
Wilson Daily Times, 5 October 1950.
Wilson Daily Times, 5 October 1950.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 915 Carolina, Elton Reid, 24; wife Elizabeth, 23; twins Elizabeth and Elijah, 4.
In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 915 Carolina, Elton Reid, 35; wife Elizabeth, 34; twins Elizabeth and Eligh, 4.
Clippings courtesy of J. Robert Boykin III.
The one hundred-fifty-sixth in a series of posts highlighting buildings in East Wilson Historic District, a national historic district located in Wilson, North Carolina. As originally approved, the district encompasses 858 contributing buildings and two contributing structures in a historically African-American section of Wilson. (A significant number have since been lost.) The district was developed between about 1890 to 1940 and includes notable examples of Queen Anne, Bungalow/American Craftsman, and Shotgun-style architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
As described in the nomination form for the East Wilson Historic District, this building is: “ca. 1922; heavily modified, brick-veneered, hip-roofer dwelling.” [Note: the house does not appear on the 1922 Sanborn fire insurance map.]Â The 1950 Wilson city directory reveals the original house number was 518.
In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Hagans Oscar (c;Â Bertie) lab h 518 N Carroll
In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory, 518 North Carroll Street was vacant.
Willie Batts died 19 July 1939 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 58 years old; was born in Wilson County to [Thomas?] Batts and Mariah Batts; was married to Olivia Batts; lived at 518 North Carroll; and worked as a laborer.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 518 Carroll Street, rented for $12/month, widowed tobacco stemmer Olivia Batts, 61, and children Ernest, 36, farm laborer; Mary M., 21, and Rosa Lee, 20, household servants; and Henry, 16, “new worker.”
In the 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Batts Wm (c) h 518 N Carroll
In the 1947 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Little Geo Rev (c; Lessie) pastor Mt Zion  Free Will Baptist Ch h 518 N Carroll
Rev. George Washington Little died 1 April 1957 in Wilson when his car was struck by a train on the A.C.L. railroad. Per his death certificate, he was born 12 July 1910 in Wilson County to Wash Little and Louise Barnes; was married to Lessie Little; lived at 606 North Carroll; and worked in ministry and labor.
Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, April 2022.
The one hundred-forty-eighth in a series of posts highlighting buildings in East Wilson Historic District, a national historic district located in Wilson, North Carolina. As originally approved, the district encompasses 858 contributing buildings and two contributing structures in a historically African-American section of Wilson. (A significant number have since been lost.) The district was developed between about 1890 to 1940 and includes notable examples of Queen Anne, Bungalow/American Craftsman, and Shotgun-style architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
As described in the nomination form for the East Wilson Historic District, this building is: “ca. 1930; 1 story; shotgun with bungalow type porch posts.”
In the 1925 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Farmer Chas W (c) lab h 1203 Atlanta [Atlantic]
In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Farmer Chas W (c; Maggie) h 1203 Atlanta
In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Farmer Chas W (c; Maggie) h 1203 AtlantaÂ
Charlie W. Farmer, son of Jeff and Blanch Gay Farmer, died 10 October 1938 in an Asheville, N.C., veterans hospital. His widow Maggie Farmer, who remained in the home they shared on Atlantic Street, ordered a flat military headstone for his grave in Rest Haven Cemetery.Â
In the 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Batts Edw (c; Eliza) chauf h 1203 Atlantic av
In the 1947 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Batts Edw (c; Eliz) butler h 1203 Atlantic av
Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, January 2022.
Joseph Batts‘ grave marker is unique in Rest Haven Cemetery. A small metal plaque etched with his name in Gothic script is affixed to a slab of concrete and flanked by his hand-engraved initials. Beneath, a worn inscription notes his birth and death dates, but they are illegible. Without this information, I am unable to identify him specifically.
Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, December 2021.