Coppedge

William McK. Coppedge, Philadelphia police.

William McKinley Coppedge, born in 1891, left Wilson County for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when he was in his early twenties. After a few years working as a rigger at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Coppedge joined the Philadelphia Police Department. He remained with the force until his death in 1960.

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In the 1910 census of Taylors township, Wilson County: farmer Samuel Alston, 38; wife Carrie, 31; son Moses, 9; and nephew-in-law William Coppage, 18, farm laborer.

William McK. Coppedge, elevator [operator], born 7 June 1891 in North Carolina to Herbert and Martha Arrington Coppedge, married Lena Robinson, 19, born 15 June 1897 to Charles and Susie Harrison Robinson, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1915.

Doria Elnora Coppedge was born 30 August 1915 in Philadelphia. Per her birth certificate, her parents were William McKinley Coppedge, 23, and Sarah Lena Robinson, 23, both of 1726 South Bancroft Street.

In 1917, William M. Coppedge registered for the World War I draft in Philadelphia. Per his registration card, he was born 7 June 1891 in Wilson, N.C.; lived at 1726 South Bancroft; worked as a rigger helper at the Navy Yard; and had a wife and two children. [Coppedge’s firm, flowing signature reveals a solid education.]

In the 1920 census of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania: William Coppedge, 28, rigger at United States Navy Yard; wife Lenia, 24; children Doris E., 4, Loyd R., 3, and Arthur S., 1; and uncle Forge Coppedge, 46.

In the 1930 census of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania: William Coppedge, 38, city policeman; wife Lena, 32; and children Doris, 14, Lloyd, 13, Arthur, 12, Elaine, 9, Margaret, 5, and Vera, 2.

Philadelphia Inquirer, 11 February 1933.

In the 1940 census of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania: William Coppadge, 48; wife Lena, 42; and children Loyd, 23, Elaine, 19, Margaret, 15, and Vera, 12.

In 1942, William McKingley Coppedge registered for the World War II draft in Philadelphia. Per his registration card, he was born 7 June 1891 in Wilson, N.C.; lived at 1819 North 17th Street, Philadelphia; his contact was wife Lena A. Coppedge; and he worked for the City of Philadelphia Bureau of Police.

In the 1950 census of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania: William Mc. Coppedge, 58, city police officer; wife Lena, 51, operator at automat restaurant; son Loyd, 33; daughter Vera, 22, music teacher with own business; and daughter Doris McNeal, 35.

William M. Coppedge died 4 June 1960 in Philadelphia. Per his death certificate, he was born 7 June 1891 in North Carolina; was married to Lena A. Coppedge; and worked as a police officer.

Charles L. Coppedge of Jersey City, New Jersey.

Charles L. Coppedge appears on Wilson’s 1926 delinquent property tax list, owing $4.35. Coppedge, a Pullman porter, had left Wilson more than ten years earlier to make Jersey City, New Jersey, his home.

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In the 1900 census of Cedar Rock township, Franklin County, North Carolina: farmer James Coppedge, 41; wife Sarah D., 41; and children General W., 15, Charles, 13, Matilda, 11, and James H., 9.

In the 1908 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Coppedge Chas L (c) clk h 113 Manchester

In the 1912 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Coppedge Chas L (c) porter h Manchester nr Suggs

On 20 May 1915, Charles L. Coppedge married Ida L. Williams in Manhattan, New York, New York.

On 26 September 1915, Geo. W. Coppedge, 30, of Wilson, son of J.G. Coppedge and Sarah D. [last name not given], married Mittie Bynum, 27, of Wilson, daughter of Berry Bynum, in Wilson. A.M.E. Zion minister J.S. Jackson performed the ceremony in the presence of Dudley Bynum, C.L. Coppedge, and Allen Brown.

In the 1916 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Coppedge Chas (c) driver Quinn-McGowan Furniture Co h Manchester nr Suggs

In 1917, Chas. Lawrence Coppedge registered for the World War I draft in Hudson County, New Jersey. Per his registration card, he was born 7 March 1887 in Louisburg, N.C.; lived at 362 Whiton Street, Jersey City; was married; and worked as a railroad man for Pullman Company.

On 26 June 1919, the sale of a 17′ by 100′ lot on Jewett Avenue from Manuel Alonso and wife to Charles L. Coppedge was recorded in Jersey City. Alonso financed a $550 loan to Coppedge at six percent.

The Jersey Journal, 1 July 1919.

In the 1920 census of Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey: at 55 Jewett Avenue, Charles Coppedge, 33, railroad car porter; wife Ida M., 32; and lodgers Charles Jackson, 26, shipyard machine helper; Florence Jackson, 25, laundress; and Coppedge’s James Coppedge, 28, dining car waiter.

In the 1930 census of Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey: at 364 Forrest Street, owned and valued at $5000, Charles L. Coppedge, 40, railroad porter; wife Ida, 38, hairdresser at beauty shop; and lodger Thomas Burk, 30, hotel waiter.

In August 1931, a series of notices in The Jersey Journal advertised the public sale of Charles L. Coppedge and wife Ida M. Coppedge’s property on Bergen (or Forrest?) Avenue, which they had purchased in September 1925.

Coppedge filed for bankruptcy in December 1934.

The Jersey Journal, 19 January 1935.

Who was G.G.W. Coppedge?

Wilson Daily Times, 1 April 1955.

Though his success was singular, G.K. Butterfield Sr. was not the only African-American seeking elected office in Wilson in the mid-1950s. Brickmason General George Washington Coppedge also threw his hat in the ring for a First Ward seat.

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In the 1908 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Coppedge General (c) bricklyr h 133 E Nash; also Coppedge James G Rev (c) pastor Second Baptist Church h 113 Manchester

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Nash Street, brickmason George Copage, 25, and wife Mary A., 23, restaurant cook.

James G. Coppedge died 16 July 1913 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born in 1861 in North Carolina to Washington Coppedge and an unknown mother; lived on Manchester Street; was married; and worked as a butler. G.W. Coppedge was informant.

On 26 September 1915, Geo. W. Coppedge, 30, of Wilson, son of J.G. Coppedge and Sarah D. [last name not given], married Mittie Bynum, 27, of Wilson, daughter of Berry Bynum, in Wilson. A.M.E. Zion minister J.S. Jackson performed the ceremony in the presence of Dudley Bynum, C.L. Coppedge and Allen Brown.

General Washington Coppedge registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County in 1918. Per his registration card, he was born 1 February 1885; lived at 200 Vick Street; worked as a bricklayer for John Barnes, Green Street; and his nearest relative was Mittie Coppedge.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 200 Vick Street, brickmason George Coppedge, 34; wife Mittie, 34; and children George Jr., 4, and Elenora, 2.

Mittie Coppedge died 13 December 1933 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 2 December 1887 in Wilson to Berry Bynum and Lottie Willoughby; was married to G.W. Coppedge; lived at 200 North Vick; and was a housewife.

On 18 November 1936, George Coppedge Jr., 21, of Nash County, son of George and Mittie Coppedge, married Eloise Allen, 19, of Nash County, daughter of James and Rachel Allen, in Nashville, Nash County, North Carolina.

On 5 June 1937, Ruth E. Hooker, 29, of Wilson, daughter of Frank and Ella Hooker, married General W. Coppedge, 45, of Wilson, son of James and Sallie Coppedge. Presbyterian minister O.E. Sanders performed the ceremony at 708 East Green Street in the presence of Annie L. Sanders, Lenora Carroll and Eleanor J. Hooker.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 200 South Vick, George Coppedge, 55, bricklayer; wife Ruth, 40, schoolteacher at county school; [his] son George Jr., 23; daughter-in-law Elouise, 20; and grandchildren Julia, 4, Deloris, 2, and Carrol, 1.

In 1940, George W. Coppedge Jr. registered for the World War II draft. Per his registration card, he was born 14 November 1915 in Lynchburg, Virginia; lived at 1823 H Street, N.E., Washington, D.C.; his nearest relative was father George W. Coppedge Sr., 200 South Vick, Wilson; and he worked for “Fed. Wk. Ag.”

Ruth Hooker Coppedge died 26 May 1945 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 41 years old; resided at 200 South Vick Street, Wilson; was married to George Coppedge; was born in Wilson to Frank Richard Hooker of Greene County and Eleanor Farmer of Wilson County; and was a school teacher.

On 10 July 1963, the Wilson Daily Times reported that George W. Coppedge was awarded a plaque in recognition of fifty years of service to Wilson as a firefighter. Wilson Fire Chief Tyrus Bissette and George K. Butterfield Sr. “praised Coppedge’s work and participation in religious organizations, politics and fraternal groups.”

George W. Coppedge died 15 May 1973 in Washington, D.C. His obituary noted that he ran for public office twice.

Wilson Daily Times, 17 May 1973.

Mother and daughter.

The family of Ruth Hooker Coppedge and her mother Elna Farmer Hooker paid tribute to them in Calvary Presbyterian Church‘s centennial anniversary booklet.

On 26 December 1900, Frank Hooker, 26, of Wilson County, married Elner T. Farmer, 24, of Wilson County, daughter of Gray and Argent Farmer, in Wilson. W.H. Kittrell applied for the license, and Rev. C[larence]. Dillard, Presbyterian, performed the ceremony in the presence of S.H. Vick and J.T. Harper of Wilson and Daisy Dillard of Goldsboro.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Manchester Street, Frank Hooker, 57 [sic], wood sawyer; wife Ella, 33; and children Emma R., 8, Grey, 6, Clarence D., 4, and Argent, [age illegible.]

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 656 Viola Street, Frank Hooker, 47, woodyard sawyer; wife Elinor, 37, sewing woman; and children Ruth, 17, Gray, 14, Henry, 12, Inez, 9, Irmadeen, 7, Sylvester, 4, and Theodore, 2.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 717 Green Street, Ellen Hooker, 47, widowed teacher; children Ruth, 25, Cilvesta, 14, and Theodo, 11; and grandchildren Montez, 8, and Clementine, 6.

On 5 June 1937, Ruth E. Hooker, 29, of Wilson, daughter of Frank and Ella Hooker, married General W. Coppedge, 45, of Wilson, son of James and Sallie Coppedge. Presbyterian minister O.E. Sanders performed the ceremony at 708 East Green Street in the presence of Annie L. Sanders, Lenora Carroll and Eleanor J. Hooker.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 708 Green Street, Eleanor Hooker, 59, widowed teacher; daughter Inez, 27, cook; and roomer Willie Boykin, 35, bricklayer, of Lawrenceville, Virginia.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 200 South Vick, George Coppedge, 55, bricklayer; wife Ruth, 40, schoolteacher at county school; [his] son George Jr., 23; daughter-in-law Elouise, 20; and grandchildren Julia, 4, Deloris, 2, and Carrol, 1.

Ruth Hooker Coppedge died 26 May 1945 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 41 years old; resided at 200 South Vick Street, Wilson; was married to George Coppedge; was born in Wilson to Frank Richard Hooker of Greene County and Eleanor Farmer of Wilson County; and was a school teacher.

The end of the Red Hots?

In 1938, the city of Wilson professionalized its firefighting operations, converting the white volunteer department to semi-paid status. The Daily Times originally reported that the black volunteer organization, the Red Hots, would be abolished, but here clarified that, while they were being retired from active service, they would continue to send representatives to competitions and state conventions and would be called upon in emergencies.

Wilson Daily Times, 14 July 1938.

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  • Ben Mincey
  • George Coppedge — in the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: brickmason George Coppedge, 34; wife Mittie, 34; and children George Jr., 4, and Elenora, 2.
  • Aaron Best — William Aaron Best died 21 August 1949 at his home at 1009 East Nash Street, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 21 September 1900 in Wilson County to Aaron Best and Nannie Best; was a widower; and had been a laborer at Export Tobacco Company. Audrey Best was informant.
  • Ambrose Floyd — in 1942, Ambrose Floyd registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 4 February 1901 in Lumberton, North Carolina; resided at 1214 East Nash Street; his contact was Clara Smith; and he was employed by Gary Fulghum, 901 Branch Street, United States Post Office.
  • W.J. Howell
  • Henry Sauls — in 1942, Henry Sauls registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 10 February 1898 in Black Creek; resided at 21 Carolina Street (mailing address 1114 Carolina Street); his contact was Hattie Davis, 19 Carolina Street; and he worked for W.T. Clark Jr., 1415 West Nash Street, Barnes Street tobacco factory.
  • Louis Thomas — in the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 715 East Green Street, carpenter Louis Thomas, 53; wife Lillie, 33; and children Louis Jr., 16, Charlie H., 14, and Van Jewel, 12.