In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: restaurant cook Alexander Dawson, 50; wife Lucy, 49; and children Sophie, 25, school teacher, Mattie, 23, stenographer, Virginia, 19, school teacher, Lucile, 17, Alexander, 15, Clarence, 13, Augusta, 11, and Arlander, 1.
In the 1916 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Dawson Orlando (c) film opr h 505 E Vance
In 1918, Arlander Richard Dawson registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 26 August 1900; lived at 121 Pender Street, Wilson; worked as a waiter at Girard Hotel, 44th Street, New York City; and his nearest relative was A.D. Dawson, 121 Pender Street.
The Charlotte Observer, 3 May 1923.
In the 1929 Winston-Salem, N.C., city directory: Dawson Arlando R (c) tchr Columbian Hghts Sch bds 636 Bruce
Clementine Azalee Dawson, daughter of Arlando and Clementine Hill Dawson, was born 23 June 1929 in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County.
In the 1930 census of Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina: at 636 Bruce Street, lodgers William B. Stinson, 22; Arlando R. Dawson, 29; and George F. Newell, 24; all public school teachers.
Also, in the 1930 census of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina: school paper editor William Hill, 58; wife Alice, 50; daughter Clementine Dawson, 23, school teacher; granddaughter Clementine A. Dawson, 7 months; and mother Caroline Hill, 85, widow.
In the 1934 Winston-Salem, N.C., city directory: Dawson Arlando R (c) tchr Atkins High Sch h 1422 Hattie av
In the 1940 census of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio: at 10121 South Boulevard, city school teacher Arlanda Dawson, 36; wife Clementine, 31; and daughter Azalea, 10.
In 1942, Arlando Roween Dawson registered for the World War II draft in Cleveland, Ohio. Per his registration card, he was born 26 August 1902 in Wilson, N.C.; lived at 10121 S. Boulevard, Cleveland; worked for the Cleveland Board of Education; and his contact was Clementine H. Dawson.
Clementine Hill Dawson died 15 July 1943 in Cleveland.
Call and Post (Cleveland, Oh.), 31 July 1943.
Arlando Dawson remarried in 1948.
Call and Post (Cleveland, Oh.), 19 June 1948.
In 1953, he and his daughter were oddly featured in a Call and Post article, “Cleveland Father-Son Teams Are Doubly Proud”: “‘Through a daughter’s marriage, fathers inherit sons,’ believes Arlando Dawson of South Boulevard. Dawson is an English teacher at Kennard Junior High school and his daughter, Mrs. Azalea Dawson Wagner, is a teacher at R.B. Hayes Elementary school. He holds a B.A. from Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, N.C., and the M.A. from Western Reserve. A graduate of West Virginia State College, Mrs. Wagner is working on her M.A. at Kent State University.”
On 1 November 1882, A.D. Dawson, 25, of Wilson, son of Robert and Rachel Dawson, married Lucy Gatlin, 24, of Wilson County, daughter of Joseph and Sally Hill, at Gatlin’s residence in Wilson County. Methodist minister P.M. Hilliard performed the ceremony in the presence of Sam Collins, Lewis Battle, and Martha Tyson.
In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: dealer in fish Edd [Alexander D.] Dawson, 40; wife Lucy, 40, dressmaking; and children Mattie, 14, Virginia, 9, Lucy, 8, Edd, 5, Clarence, 3, and Augusta, 1.
In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: restaurant cook Alexander Dawson, 50; wife Lucy, 49; and children Sophie, 25, school teacher, Mattie, 23, stenographer, Virginia, 19, school teacher, Lucile, 17, Alexander, 15, Clarence, 13, Augusta, 11, and Arlander, 1.
On 10 December 1919, Simon Frazier, 24, of Georgia, married Lucille P. Dawson, 24, of Wilson, in Wilson.
In the 1920 census of Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia: medical doctor Simon F. Frazier, 30; wife Lucile, 24; and lodger Martha Daniels, 39, public school teacher.
In the 1930 census of Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia: at 222 East Park Avenue, physician Simon F. Frazier, 40; wife Lucille P., 33; and children Muriel E., 9, Ouida, 6, and Wahwee A., 3 months.
In the 1940 census of Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia: at 222 Park Avenue East, physician Samuel Frazier, 50; wife Lucille, 47; and daughters Muriel, 19, Ouida, 16, and Wahwee, 13.
In the 1950 census of Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia: at 222 Park Avenue, physician S.F. Frazier, 56, and wife Lucille D., 54.
Macon News, 15 May 1952.
Charles J. Elmore, Black America Series: Savannah Georgia (2001).
See this Coastal Courier article about the demolition of the small house Dr. Frazier built to house his rural medical practice. Dr. Frazier had deep roots in Georgia’s Sea Islands and was born in 1890 in the Gullah-Geechee community of Freedmen’s Grove, near present-day Midway, Georgia.
Clarence C. Dawson — in the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Clarence Dawson, 23, barber; wife Elizabeth, 22; and daughter Eris, 2; widower father-in-law Charley Thomas, 59; brother-in-law Clifton Venters, 24, his wife Hattie, 20; and in-laws Elton, 29, Marie, 15, Sarah, 10, and Beatrice Thomas, 8.
Olivia Peacock — in the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: post office clerk Livia H. Peacock, 60; wife Annie, 31; children Olvia, 23, Annie L., 21, Livia H. Jr.; Sudie 14, Rubie, 12, Vivian, 9, Bennie, 5, and John, 3; boarders Mary S. Roberson, 32, and Mary Brodie, 20; plus widow Susan Byatt, 62.
Arlando Dawson — in 1918, Arlando Richard Dawson registered for the World War I in New York, New York. Per his registration card, he was born 26 August 1900; lived at 121 Pender Street, Wilson; was employed as a waiter at Girard Hotel, 44th Street, New York City; and his nearest relative was A.D. Dawson.
Delores Hines — in the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 614 East Green, barber William Hines, 35, wife Ethel, 25, and children Delores, 4, and William, 2.
Bettie Silver Taylor
Mary Jane Tate — in the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 208 Pender, barber Noah Tate, 42; wife Hattie, 34; boarder Mary Jennings, 28, a public school teacher; and children Helen, 13, Mary Jane, 8, Andrew, 11, and Noah Jr., 3.
Inez Tate — in the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 610 Green Street, Hardey Tate, 50, brickmason; wife Annie, 40; children Inez, 8, and Daisy, 6; and lodgers Rome Bagley, 44, and John Boykin, 28.
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
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
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.]
On 10 September 1902, a Wilson County Superior Court judge ordered 15 month-old Cora Joyner bound as an apprentice to Van Dawson until she reached 21 years of age. A note written at the top of the indenture stated the arrangement was “By consent and presence of Louiza Ann Joyner mother of the child Cora Joyner.”
——
Cora Joyner
Louisa Ann Joyner
Van Dawson
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.
In the 1930 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: Joe Hagans, 29, mechanic at automobile shop; wife Estelle, 28; sons Joseph, 2, and William I., 1; and father-in-law Van Dawson, 55, farmer, widower.
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.
In the 1940 census of the Town of Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County: on Cobb Avenue, Van Dawson, 67; wife Gennie, 34, cook; son Lee Roy, 8; daughter Sarrah, 7; and stepdaughter Anna Batts, 15.
Van Dawson died 24 December 1947 in Toisnot township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 2 June 1874 in Wayne County, N.C., to Tank Ivory and Sarah Dawson; was married to Jennie Dawson; lived in Elm City, Wilson County; and worked as a farmer.
United States Indenture and Manumission Records, 1780-1939, database at https://familysearch.org.
Alexander D. Dawson was a man of many pursuits, including teacher, poll holder (a person who was in charge of and supervised voting, secured ballots, and tallied and certified election results), census enumerator, grocer, and fish dealer. He was buried in Odd Fellows Cemetery.
In the 1910 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Jonah Ellis, 42; wife Precilla, 38; and children Mattie, 11, Benjamin, 9, Dora, 8, Jonah Jr., 6, James, 5, and Caroline, 3.
In the 1920 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Jonnie Ellis, 56, farmer; wife Prisilla, 46; and children Mattie, 21, Benjamin, 20, Jannie Jr., 17, Dora, 18, James, 14, Coralin, 13, and Mary, 5.
In the 1930 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer Jonnie Ellis, age unknown, farmer; wife Pricilla, 56; daughter Mary, 17; daughter Dora Williamson, 28; grandchildren Fannie, 8, and Oscar, 7; and boarder Marion Edward, 28.
On 2 October 1933, Tom Dawson, 39, of Black Creek, son of James Dawson and Chanie Brooks, married Dora Ellis, 32, of Cross Roads, daughter of Jonie and Priscilla Ellis, in Wilson County.
In the 1940 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Thomas Dawson, 46; wife Dora, 47; children Annie, 4, Dora Lee, 3, Thomas Jr., 1; mother Chanie B., 73, widow; lodger Willie Melton, 30; and stepdaughter Fannie B. Williams, 17, and her child Annie D., 5 months.
Thomas Dawson Sr. died 4 October 1967 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 6 March 1896 in Wilson County to Pat Faison and Chanie Dawson; was married to Dora Dawson; and was a farm laborer.
Cross-referencing the 1912 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory and the 1913 Sanborn fire insurance map of Wilson reveals the specific locations of Black-owned businesses just after the turn of the century. Here’s a closer look at the 200 block of South Goldsboro Street, which was dominated by wholesale groceries and small restaurants.
Detail, Sanborn fire insurance map, Wilson, N.C., 1908.
Cross-referencing the 1908 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory and the 1908 Sanborn fire insurance map of Wilson reveals the specific locations of Black-owned businesses just after the turn of the century. Above, the section of the 100 block of North Goldsboro Street opposite the county courthouse.
Levi H. Jones‘ barbershop stood at the rear of the predecessor to the Planter’s Bank building, which was erected in 1920 and now houses county government offices. Within a couple of years, Jones changed locations, opening the Mayflower at 108 East Nash Street, a narrow two-story brick building near First National Bank. First National is now the Wilson County-Nash Street Office Building, and the Mayflower site is a parking lot.
Wilson Times, 30 June 1911.
Alexander D. Dawson, a former local Republican Party stalwart, operated a fish and oyster stall in the city market building, which burned down in 1929.
Wilson city hall, market and fire department, circa 1900.
Postcard courtesy of North Carolina Digital Heritage Center’s digitalnc.org.
This large marble headstone, with its delicate crossed fern fronds, stands near the front edge of Odd Fellows Cemetery adjacent to plot of the Noah Tate family. It marks the family plot of the Alexander and Lucy Hill Dawson family.
Alexander, known as A.D., Dawson was born about 1860, likely in Green or Lenoir County, N.C., and arrived in Wilson by the 1880s. He was active in county Republican Party politics and was a teacher before going into business as a restaurant and fish market owner. Lucy Annie Hill Dawson (1860-1917) was born in Edgecombe County and worked as a dressmaker. The couple married in Wilson in 1882.
The only identifiable individual headstones in the plot are those of Lucy Dawson and daughter Virginia S. Dawson (1890-1933).
In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Charlie Thomas, 38, printing office pressman; wife Sarah, 33; children Elton, 9, Louis, 8, Elizabeth, 6, and Hattie May, 2; and lodgers Manse Wilson, 36, and Johnnie Lewis, 21, both carpenters.
In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Charlie Thomas, 49, laborer for printing office; wife Sarah, 44; and children Elton, 20, Lizzie, 18, Louis, 15, Hattie M., 11, Mary, 5, and Sarah, 1 month.
Elizabeth Thomas, 21, of Wilson, daughter of Charlie and Sallie Thomas, married Clarence Dawson, 21, of Wilson, son of A.D. and Lucy Dawson, on 20 March 1917 in Wilson. Andrew Pierce applied for the license, and A.M.E. Zion minister B.P. Coward performed the ceremony in the presence of John Barbour, A.L. Dawson, and Elton Thomas.
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County:Clarence Dawson, 23, barber; wife Elizabeth, 22; and daughter Eris, 2; widower father-in-law Charley Thomas, 59; brother-in-law Clifton Venters, 24, his wife Hattie, 20; and in-laws Elton, 29, Marie, 15, Sarah, 10, and Beatrice Thomas, 8.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 619 East Green Street, printing office laborer Charlie Thomas, 65; daughter Elizabeth Dawson, 32; son-in-law Clarence Dawson, 31; and grandchildren Eris Dawson, 11, Naomi, 9, Clarence, 7, and Thomas V. Dawson, 3; and daughters Sarah, 19, theatre ticket seller, and Beatrice Thomas, 17.
Lizzie Dawson died 16 January 1937 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 10 July 1894 in Wilson to Charly Thomas of Nash County and Sarah Best of Wilson, and was married to Clarence Dawson. Informant was Charly Thomas.
