death by fire

Howard children perish in house fire.

Goldsboro News-Argus, 20 October 1931. 

Death certificates reveal that John Howard and Ardelia Whitley Howard‘s children Rosevelt Howard, born 8 March 1928, and Mary Ida Howard, born 8 February 1931, died in the fire. Ardelia Howard was pregnant when she rushed into the house to try to save her children. She gave birth the following February 8 to Martha Lee Howard. Tragically, that child died in September 1933 of colitis.

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In the 1930 census of Crossroads township, Wilson County: farm laborer John Howard, 25; wife Ardelia, 20; and sons Herman, 3, and Rosavelt, 1.

Sam Barnes dies of burns.

Wilson Daily Times, 14 March 1949.

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Sam Barnes died 12 March 1949 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 18 December 1918 in Wilson County to Jimmie and Mary J. Barnes; was married to Carrie L. Barnes; lived at Route 3, Wilson; worked in farming; and was buried in Reese Cemetery, Wilson County.

The obituary of Dora Battle.

Wilson Daily Times, 9 January 1943.

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In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm laborer Osborn Dunstan, 37, wife Mariah, 45, and children Dora, 4, Cora, 2, Sarah, 2 months, John, 12, and Fanny, 6.

In the 1880 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm worker Osbourn Dunston, 44, wife Mariah, 40, and children Dorah, 12, Corah, 11, Sarah, 9, Frances, 7, Hubbard, 5, Mary, 4, and Harriet, 3. Next door, in the household of farmer Henry Miller, was John Dunston, 20.

On 17 January 1897, Dora Duntson, 25, married Joe Battle, 24, in Wilson County. Rev. Fred M. Davis performed the ceremony at the bride’s home in the presence of J.R. Bullock, L.D. Johnson and Fanny Rountree. [It was likely around the time of her marriage that Dora Dunstan Battle was a servant in Josephus Daniels‘ household.]

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: wagon driver Joseph Battle, 28, and wife Dora, 22.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Joe Battle, 32, tobacco factory laborer, and wife Dora, 32, private cook.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Spring Street, Joe Battle, 58, tobacco company laborer; wife Dora, 52, and daughter Esther, 19, private servant.

Joseph Battle died 23 October 1924 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 44 years old; was born in Nash County, N.C., to Wallice Battle and Jane Freeman; was married to Dorah Battle; lived at 606 Spring; worked as a day laborer for Imperial Tobacco Company; and was buried in Wilson.

In 1940, Joseph Battle registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 7 January 1917 in Wilson; lived at 606 Spring Street; his contact was grandmother Dora Battle, same address; and he worked for Export Tobacco Company.

Dora Battle died 8 January 1943 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 72 years old; was born in Wilson County to Arsborn Dunston of Lewisburg [Louisburg], N.C., and Mary Mandin of Richmond, Virginia; was the widow of Joe Battle; and died of “1st and 2nd degree burns clothing caught from open fire place.” She was buried in Rountree Cemetery. Dezelle Whitted was informant.

Ruffin Woodard dies of burns.

Ruffin Woodard fell asleep while smoking, dropped his pipe, and set his clothes afire. Suffering burns on his side, back, and arm, Woodard died within hours.

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In the 1900 census of Great Swamp township, Wayne County, N.C.: Ruffin Woodard, 45, fireman on stationary engine; wife Sarah, 30; and son Luther, 7.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Stantonsburg Street, Ruffin Woodard, 45, sawmill laborer; wife Sarah, 43; and son Luther, 18.

Ruffin Woodard died 24 February 1919 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 45 years old; was born in Wilson County to Rosa Woodard; was married to Sarah Woodard; lived at 118 Wiggins Street; worked as a wagon driver at a lumber mill; and was buried in Wilson [probably Vick Cemetery.]

Johnson burned to death.

Wilson Daily Times, 21 February 1921.

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  • Nathan Joyner
  • Roderick Johnson — There is no death certificate for Roderick Johnson. However, on 20 February 1921, Rudolph Johnson died in Wilson township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born in Jacksonville, N.C., to unknown parents; his age was unknown; he was single; and he worked as a sawmill helper for sawyer W.W. Sims Company. Under “cause of death”: “No further information obtainable.”

Grant burned to death in home at veneer company.

Wilson Daily Times, 26 May 1948.

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Emanuel Grant had lived in Wilson only a few months when he was killed in a house fire. Though the newspaper account of his death emphasizes his alleged intoxication, Grant’s death certificate paints a different picture of his demise, describing it as “by fire in burning building” due to being “unable to escape due to unconsciousness due to smoke filled room.”

Emanuel Grant died 25 May 1948 in Wilson. He was born 21 February 1914 in Georgetown, South Carolina, to Essau Grant and Lue White; worked as a laborer at Wilson Veneer Company; lived at Wilson Veneer; was single; and was returned to Georgetown, South Carolina, for burial.

The death of Peter King.

Wilson Daily Times, 1 December 1932.

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In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: day laborer Peter King, 27, and wife Bertie, 27.

On 29 February 1908, Peter King, 30, of Stantonsburg, married Lena Barnes, 30, of Stantonsburg, in Wilson.

On 22 February 1914, Peter King, 35, of Wilson, married Treacy King, 38, in Wilson. Free Will Baptist minister A.H. Moore performed the ceremony in the presence of Rosa Crank, Sarah J. Pitt, and Geneva Jones.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 620 Viola, Peter King, 50, laborer at public works; wife Trecy, 35; sons David, 7, and Thomas, 3; and stepdaughter Emma Davis, 13.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 611 Viola, rented for $6/month, Trecy King, 45, laundress; children Emma Davis, 20, laundress, David King, 17, and Thomas King, 12; adopted son Robert L. Smith, 5; and Petter King, 80.

Peter King died 30 November 1932 at Mercy Hospital in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 58 years old; was born in Fayetteville, N.C., to Haywood King; was married to Treacy King; lived at 402 Viola; and worked as a day laborer for the City of Wilson. 

“Third degree burn of right arm and chest. Two days later he developed symptoms of acute nephritis.”

[Sidenote: Newspaper clippings are also a source of fascinating evidence of changes in language — “who happened to an accident in falling into fire.” What a curious way to say “who accidentally fell into a fire.”]

Clipping courtesy of J. Robert Boykin III.

James Woodard, 5, killed by fire.

Wilson Daily Times, 9 May 1932.

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Perhaps, in the 1930 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: on a rented farm, farmer Mintus Woodard, 28; wife Mary L., 26; children Nancy, 6, Johnie L., 5, Willie, 4, James, 3, and Mary E., 1; and brothers Lonnie, 17, and Jim, 12.

I have not found James Woodard’s death certificate.

Clipping courtesy of J. Robert Boykin III.