“Mythical” here — I think — means that the award was not an official military one, but created by a South Pacific military newsletter to recognize exemplary acts.
News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), 17 March 1944.
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- Pfc. Ellis Brown
Brown
Blood Red River.
Rocky Mount (N.C.) Telegram, 8 September 1945.
At the 1945 trial of William Wesley Gardner for the murder of A.J. Sanders, South Carolina-born Oscar Brown testified that he had not witnessed the shooting because he had been sitting in a back room playing Josh White’s blue tune “Blood Red River” on his guitar.
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- William Wesley Gardner — William Wesley Gardner registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County in 1942. Per his registration card, he was born 17 April 1901 in Robeson County, North Carolina; lived at 606 South Dew Street, Wilson; his contact was George Gardner, 518 South Lodge; and his employer was M.A. Tyson, Saratoga.
- A.J. Sanders — Anthony Sanders Jr. died 25 August 1945 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 25 December 1900 in Florence, South Carolina, to Anthony Sanders Sr. and Katy Manuel; worked as a machinist; was married to Georgia E. Sanders; lived at 612 Bank; and died of a gunshot wound to the thigh.
- Oscar Brown — Oscar Brown registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County in 1940. Per his registration card, he was born 15 June 1905 in Beaufort, South Carolina; and his contact was his employer Jim Garriss’ farm.
Esther Brown appointed to caseworker position.
Chicago Defender, 7 December 1940.
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In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 419 Hines Street, tobacco contractor Lewis Townsend, 62; wife Henretta, 60; and children Alzie Townsend, 22, tobacco factory worker, and Geneva Brown, 24; son-in-law George, 26, garage mechanic; and Ester, 1, George Jr., 4, and Martha, 2.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 508 South Spring, George Porter, 34, pressing clothes at pressing club; Jeneva Brown, 30, and her children Brown, 15, Estelle, 13, Martha, 12, and Olive, 9; and daughter George M. Porter, 4.
Esther B. Goodwin died 21 July 1984 in Newport News, Virginia. Per her death certificate, she was born 10 January 1916 in North Carolina to George Brown and Geneva Townsend; was married to Felix Lee Goodwin; and he worked as a social worker in Tucson, Arizona.
Tucson Citizen, 30 July 1984.
The incorporation of the Eureka Social Club.
29184
(Non-Stock)
Certificate of Incorporation
of
The Eureka Social Club, Incorporated
This is to Certify that we, the undersigned, do hereby associate ourselves into a non-stock corporation under and by virtue of the laws of the State of North Carolina as contained in Chapter 22 of the Consolidated Statutes, entitled “Corporations,” and the several amendments thereto, and to that end do hereby set forth:
1. The name of this Corporation is the Eureka Social Club, Incorporated.
2. The location of the principal office of the corporation in this state is at No. 417 East Nash Street, in the Town of Wilson, County of Wilson.
3. The objects for which this corporation is formed are as follows:
(a) To conduct and maintain a social club for the amusement and recreation of its members, to promote social intercourse among the members of the Eureka Social Club, Incorporated, and to provide rooms in which they can meet for recreation, amusement and social intercourse.
And in order properly to prosecute the objects and purposes above set forth, the Corporation shall have full power and authority to purchase, lease and otherwise acquire, hold, mortgage, convey and otherwise dispose of all kinds of property, both real and personal, located both in the state and in all other states, territories and dependencies of the United States, and generally to perform all acts which may be deemed necessary for the proper and successful prosecution of the objects and purposes for which the Corporation is created.
4. The Corporation is to have no capital stock.
5. The names and post office addresses of the incorporators are as follows:
O.N. Freeman — Wilson, N.C.
Charlie Woodard — Wilson, N.C.
Harry Brown — Wilson, N.C.
6. The period of existence of this corporation is limited to sixty years.
7. Members may be admitted after organization under the following terms: By ballot of the Board of Governors as set forth in the by-laws, and by paying an initiation fee prescribed by the by-laws.
In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and affixed our seals, this the 25 day of February, A.D. 1927.
O.N. Freeman (Seal)
Chas. Woodard (Seal)
Harry Brown (Seal)
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Eureka Social Club shared an address, 417 East Nash Street, with Lincoln Theatre and presumably rented space upstairs.
- O.N. Freeman — Oliver Nestus Freeman.
- Charlie Woodard
On 28 November 1908, Charlie Woodard, 22, son of Phoebe Woodard, married Georgia Clayton, 19, daughter of Sarah Clayton, at Sarah Clayton’s in Wilson. Baptist minister Fred M. Davis performed the ceremony in the presence of Luther Barbour, L.A. Moore, and James Taylor.
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 528 Nash Street, May Akin, 40; Delma Branch, 24, dressmaker; Charlie Branch, 25, laborer; Mildred, 10, Helen, 7, Jessie L., 4, and Harry Branch, 2; laborer Charlie Woodard, 34; wife Georgia, 28; and sons Herbert, 4, and Charles Jr., 1; and laborers John Barnes, 22, Dave Barnes, 20, and Harry Carter, 34.
In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Woodard Chas (c; Georgia) barber 421 E Nash h 1000 Lincoln
- Harry Brown
In the 1908 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Brown Harry (c; meatctr) h 132 Suggs
In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Harry Brown, 35, and wife Mary, 22, both laborers.
On 26 July 1913, Harry Brown, 32, of Wilson, son of Jim and Viana Brown, married Loucina Spence, 20, of Wilson, daughter of John and Nancy Spence, at John Spence’s home in Wilson. Free Will Baptist minister B.F. Loftin performed the ceremony in the presence of E.F. Killette, T.S. Smith, and John Spence.
In 1917, William Harrison Brown registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 25 September 1888 in Summerton, South Carolina; lived at 413 Stantonsburg, Wilson; and worked as a painter.
Corporations Book 3, page 171, Wilson County Register of Deeds Office, Wilson.
Agent Spellman’s excellent report, part 2.
Wilson County Negro Extension Agent Cecil A. Spellman did not stint. His two-part 1939 Annual Narrative Report is a 146-page treasure chest whose nuggets create a finely textured view of rural African-American life just before World War II — home demonstration, community entertainment, school improvement, test farms, engineering activities, tobacco work, gardening, corn-growing, meat-cutting, 4-H clubs, camp, spelling matches, Negro Health Week, projects, spotlights on people, houses, and schools — including photographs — and more.
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Spellman spoke highly of State Subject Matter Specialist W.R. Laws, who visited the county to deliver talks and demonstrations to women, such as making articles from fertilizer bags; making window screens from tobacco cloth or wire with denim bindings that could be buttoned to windows; and making fly traps. Spellman attached photos of Laws at Williamson and Jones Hill Schools.
Spellman then turned his attention to the pressing need for a permanent home demonstration agent for Wilson County, reporting that county commissioners had finally agreed to fund such a position. He credited the Women’s Civic Club of Wilson for their advocacy, specifically naming Mrs. H.L. Daniel, Odell Barnes, Mrs. Freeman [Willie Hendley Freeman?], and Mrs. William Hines [Ethel Cornwell Hines]. “These women were aided from the rural end” by Mrs. R.L. Mitchell [Ellenora Manley Mitchell], Mrs. K.R. Mitchell [Martha Taylor Mitchell], Rosetta Farmer, Rena Hilliard, Mrs. Charlie Ruffin [Henrietta Ruffin], and others. With supportive husbands in tow, women packed commissioners’ meetings in support of their cause.
Unfortunately, matters did not proceed as smoothly as hoped. As Spellman cryptically explained, “The beginning of extension work in the county on the home agent front was not as pleasant as it might have been due to several unfortunate ‘misunderstandings.’ Under different circumstances the work could have gotten off to a better start. As it turned out I was maligned and embarrassed and others, some innocent, also suffered as a result. The matter for a time threatened to split the community. For a time I regretted my little part in the movement to obtain a home agent in the county. Matters have now become ‘more or less’ adjusted.'”
Annie B. Brown was appointed home agent from June 1 to September 1. Jane Amos Boyd succeeded her as permanent agent on September 1, 1939.
North Carolina County Agent Annual Narrative Report, Wilson County, N.C., North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, UA102.002, Special Collections Research Center at N.C. State University.
State v. John Brown.
To stave off responsibility for caring for poor women and their children, unwed mothers were regularly brought before justices of the peace to answer sharp questions about their circumstances.
On 9 August 1869, Ann Anderson admitted to Wilson County justice of the peace F.W. Taylor that she had given birth to a child whose father was John Brown. Taylor ordered that Brown be arrested and taken to a justice to answer Anderson’s charge.
903 Atlantic Street.
The one hundred ninety-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: “ca. 1935; 1 story; modernized clipped-gable bungalow.”
In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: David Robt G (c; Elizabeth) barber h 903 Atlanta
In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: David Robt G (c; Eliz) barber 903 Atlantic av
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 903 Atlantic, owned and valued at $500, Fred Pender, 33, furniture store laborer, and wife Ezzie M., 30.
In 1940, Fred Pender registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 22 June 1905 in Wilson; lived at 903 Atlantic Street; his contact was wife Ezzie Mae Pender; and he worked for R.E. Quinn Company, 137 South Goldsboro Street.
In the 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Pender Fred (c; Ezzie M) linoleum layer R E Quinn & Co of Wilson h 903 Atlantic av
In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Ellis Brown Jr., 47; wife Margaret, 45; and son Ellis Jr., 29, history teacher at local city school.
He is a man you can well be proud of.
What’s in a name? B.K. Bruce Brown.
Records show that Bruce Brown rarely used his first two initials, B.K. What was the source of his unusual name?
Born into slavery in Prince Edward County, Virginia, in 1841, Blanche Kelso Bruce, known as B.K. Bruce, was the first African-American to serve a full term in the United States Senate, representing Mississippi from 1875 to 1881. He died in 1898.
[Sidenote: B.K. Bruce Brown was not alone. My cousin Blancher K. Aldridge was born in nearby Fremont, Wayne County, in about 1893. Bekay Thompson was born in Wilson County in 1930.]
The obituary of Laura P. Brown.
Wilson Daily Times, 12 April 1947.
Laura P. Brown is likely one of the 4,224+ men, women, and children buried in Vick Cemetery.
(Vick, Odd Fellows, and Rountree Church cemeteries were often collectively known as “Rountree Cemetery.” Vick, a public burial ground, was by far the largest of the three and did not require church or lodge affiliation.)
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In the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm laborer Hardy Pitt, 58, daughter Laura, 13, and son Mack, 15.
On 16 June 1919, Joe Jones, 21, of Wilson, son of Joe and Delia Jones of South Carolina, married Laura Pitts, 21, of Wilson, daughter of Hardy and Nancy Pitt, at Hardy Pitt’s in Wilson. Sanctificationist minister J.H. Scott performed the ceremony.
On 24 April 1922, John Bogans, 41, of Wilson County, married Laura Pitt, 32, of Wilson County, daughter of Hardy Pitt, in Wilson. Free Will Baptist minister E.H. Cox performed the ceremony in the presence of Joe Hoskins, Hardy Laster, and Annie Pender.
John Bogans died 17 November 1928 in Carrs township, Greene County, N.C. Per his death certificate, he was born 7 January 1878 in Tennessee to Jeff Bogans and Mary Scott; was married to Laura Bogues; worked as a farmer; and was buried in Marlboro cemetery, Pitt County. Laura Bogues of Farmville was informant.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1000 Wainwright, owned and valued at $1000, Frank F. Battle, 42, minister at Good Hope Church; wife Rosetta, 43; daughter Mary C., 15; and roomers Dollena Roberts, 30, cook, Virginia D. Roberts, 7, and Jessie J. Roberts, 5; Laura Bogins, 42, widower; and Margaret Morrison, 17.
Laura Brown died 6 April 1947 at Mercy Hospital after being struck by a car. Per her death certificate, she was born 13 December 1897 in Wilson County to Hardy Pitt; lived on Robinson [Robeson] Street; was a widow; and was buried in Rountree Cemetery.