Ellis

Nurse Ellis speaks at graded school graduation.

In 1949, nurse Mable W. Ellis delivered a graduation speech to the 7th grade class of Lucama School.

Wilson Daily Times, 26 May 1949.

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  • Sadie Vick Singletary — in the 1950 census of Beulah township, Johnston County: in the “section known as Macedonia,” widower John Singletary, 59, farmer, children Christine, 34, day laborer, Fannie, 31, farm helper, Sadie, 24, 4th grade public school teacher; and granddaughter Edna E. Lucas, 9.
  • Janice Edwards — in the 1950 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Jacob Edwards, 48; wife Alice P., 38; children Janice L., 16, Robert A., 15, Adell G., 14, Ray C., 9, and Ellen G., 6; and mother-in-law Melvina Thompson, 82, widow.
  • Margaret Richardson — in the 1940 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Frank Richardson, 51; wife James, 16, Tobey W., 14, Roosevelt, 12, Odell, 10, Udell, 8, Haselwood, 6, Marvin, 4, Dorthy, 2, and Emlydelous, 11 months.
  • Mary L. Webb — in the 1950 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Ernest Sauls, 37; wife Ester, 39, farm helper; sons Wilbert, 17, and Bobby A., 7; widower Cornelus Cheeks, 85; and niece Mary L. Webb, 15.
  • Alice Mae Daniel — in the 1940 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: school janitor Benajah Daniel, 49; wife Aldonia, 34; and children Cecil R., 18, James I., 16, Bennie L., 13, Beulah, 11, Myrtle Lee, 8, Alice Mae and Allie Gray, 6, Eula Rebecca, 5, and Joseph Lee, 2.
  • Martha L. Simms — in the 1950 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Johnny Simms, 57; wife Bessie, 42; son James, 18, and daughter Martha Lee, 15.
  • Dorothy Baines — in the 1940 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: Maggie Bains, 21, and children Dorthy M., 5, Virgina, 4, and Lillie M., 5 months.
  • Adell Edwards — see above.
  • Dewese Williamson
  • Allie Gray Daniel — see above.
  • Grady Sutton Jr. — in the 1950 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Grady Sutton, 37; wife Prevella, 37; and children Grady Jr., 13, Oliva, 12, Kellon, 10, Helen, 9, Jimmy, 12, Willie G., 7, Joseph, 5, Clophes, 3, and Margret, 1.
  • Robert Edwards — see above.
  • Udell Richardson — see above.
  • William Swinson — perhaps, in the 1940 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Willie Swinson, 47; wife Lonnie, 36; and children Ethel Mae, 17, Julia E., 15, Addie O., 13, Daniel G., 12, Lonnie R., 10, Virginia, 8, Willie L., 7, William D.H., 5, and Charles S., 2.
  • L.E. Barfield

The apprenticeship of Sovid Applewhite.

On 20 October 1869, a Wilson County Probate Court judge ordered three year-old Sovid Applewhite bound as an apprentice to Lewis Ellis until he reached 21 years of age.

[The spelling of this unusual name is difficult to decipher. Though “Lovid,” as in Lovett, seems more logical, the capital letter does not match the consistently double-looped L in “Lewis.”]

Sovid Applewhite (or no one with any approximation of his name) is not listed in the household of Lewis and Milly Ellis in the 1870 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County.

United States Indenture and Manumission Records, 1780-1939, database at https://familysearch.org.

The apprenticeship of John Ellis.

On 6 January 1871, a Wilson County Probate Court judge ordered 14 year-old John Ellis bound as an apprentice to Francis R. Ellis until he reached 21 years of age.

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In the 1870 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County, 14 year-old John Ellis is listed as a “farmer’s apprentice” in the household of William and Rebecca F. Ellis.

United States Indenture and Manumission Records, 1780-1939, database at https://familysearch.org.

The obituary of Nettie Dunican, well-loved citizen.

Wilson Daily Times, 30 November 1944.

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In the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer Littleton Ellis, 73; wife Judy, 55; and children Lucy, 21, Littleton, 18, Sarah, 16, Maggie, 14, Nettie, 12, and Minnie, 10.

In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Wiggins Mill Road, farmer Littleton Ellis, 27; his mother Judie, 62; and sisters Lucy, 30, Sarah, 24, Maggie, 23, and Lettie [Nettie], 21.

On 31 March 1912, Tim Duncan, 24, of Wilson, son of Tim Duncan and Delia Ann [no maiden name given], married Nettie Ellis, 24, of Wilson, daughter of Julia Ellis, at the Ellis home in Wilson. Missionary Baptist minister William Baker performed the ceremony.

In the 1920 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Nettie Dunican, 31, “farmerette.” [Is this the same woman? She is described as single.]

In the 1930 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer Timilton Dunican, 43; wife Nettie, 36; and sons Paul, 17, and Connie, 14.

In the 1940 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Route 2 Highway 301, owned and valued at $800, Timothy Dunican, 53, farmer; wife Nettie, 50; and son Connie, 23, farm laborer.

In 1942, Sonnie Ellis registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 9 January 1903 in Wilson; lived at Route 2, Wilson; his contact was Nettie Dunican; and was engaged in farming.

Nettie Dunican died 28 November 1944 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 10 June 1896 in Wilson County to Littleton Ellis and Julia Barnes; worked in farming; was married to Timothy Dunican; and was buried in Bryant Ellis cemetery.

Railroad section crew in Stantonsburg.

A Norfolk-Southern railway section crew resting on a handcar, circa 1914-15, Stantonsburg. Foreman Ernest N. Richards (1885-1934) is at right and Hardy Ellis is at left with a pipe. The other men are unidentified.

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In the 1900 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Riubin Ellis, 70; wife Clarky U., 57; children Kansas, 22, Allen, 16, Henrietta, 15, Gemima, 13, Cherry, 12, Hardy, 10, and Benjamin N., 9; and grandchildren Plumer, 16, and Henrietta, 5 months; and Jane Bynum, 66, widow.

In 1917, John Hardy Ellis registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 10 December 1895 in Wilson County; lived in Stantonsburg; was single; and worked  as a section hand for Norfolk & Southern Railroad Company.

J. Hardy Ellis’ signature on his draft registration card.

In the 1920 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: washerwoman Louvenia Applewhite, 49, widow, and lodger Hardy Ellis, 30, railway laborer.

In the 1940 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: on Railroad Street, railroad laborer Hardy Ellis, 54.

John Hardy Ellis died 18 March 1952 at his home at 911 Viola Street, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 10 December 1886 in Wilson County to Rubin Ellis and Clark Ann Atkinson; was single; worked as a laborer; and was a World War I veteran. Mamie Sutton, 911 Viola, was informant.

Cherry Ann Ellis applied for a military headstone for her brother John H. Ellis on 7 April 1952. His application noted that he had served in the 304th Service Battalion.

Photo courtesy of Stantonsburg Historical Society’s A History of Stantonsburg Circa 1780 to 1980 (1981).

State vs. Benjamin Ellis.

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 26 January 1867, Zily Lucas admitted to Wilson County justice of the peace Solomon Lamm that her four-month-old son Bryan had been born out of wedlock and  his father was Benjamin Ellis. Lamm ordered that Ellis be arrested and taken to a justice to answer Lucas’ charge.

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In the 1870 census of Chesterfield township, Nash County, N.C.: Delila Lucus, 32; Rachel, 25; Zillie, 16; Louisa, 13; and Bryant, 2. [Note that Zillie was about 14 when her son was born.]

In the 1880 census of Jackson township, Nash County: farmer Dilla Locus, 40; niece Louiza, 29; cousin Mary E., 16; nephew Bryant, 13; cousin Dora, 5; and mother Delila, 72.

In the 1900 census of Taylor township, Wilson County: mill laborer Bryan Locus, 31; wife Susan, 28; and children Pat, 12, Lou, 9, G[illegible], 6, Martha, 3, and Arthur, 10 months.

In the 1910 census of Taylor township, Wilson County: Bryant Lucas, 45; wife Susan, 38; daughters Pattie Winstead, 22, and Lula Joyner, 20; children Mary L., 17, Matha A., 15, James A., 12, Susan, 9, Laura C., 7, and John H.B., 4; and grandchildren Arta Lee, 5, and Eva May Winstead, 2, and May Lizzie Lucas, 10 months.

In the 1930 census of Taylor township, Wilson County: farm laborer Bryant Locus, 64; wife Susie, 69; daughter Charity, 10, and son James R., 6; son-in-law Willie Barnes, 32, farm laborer; daughter Martha, 26; and granddaughters Catherine, 16, and Pauline Barnes, 13.

Susie F. Lucas died 10 June 1933 in Wilson. Per her death certification, she was 55 years old; was born in Nash County, N.C., to Dock and Charity Wilkins; was married to Bryant Lucas; and lived at 507 Carroll Street.

Martha Barnes died 7 December 1961 in Wilson township. Per her death certificate, she was born 20 September 1897 in Nash County to Bryant Lucas and Susie Wilkins;  and was widowed. Catherine Nicholson, 103 North Vick, was informant.

Bastardy Bonds, 1866, Miscellaneous Records, Wilson County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

Nurse Mabel Weaver Ellis.

My father told me:

“She was — they called her ‘the shot lady.’ [Laughs.] They used to come to school, and you had to line up. And you talking ‘bout hollering and screaming. [Laughs.] And then you’d line up to take your shot. And she’d come in there, had on her — I remember she had on a blue cape, with a whatchacallem … cap. One of them nurse’s caps. I think it was red and blue. And had on heeled shoes. A little heel. Clunky-heeled shoes and all. And she had a black bag that she brought all her stuff in. And you’d line up to get shots. I mean it was a mess. They’d be holding folk, and they’d be hollering and screaming and ….  And she’d be coming. Mable Ellis. Nurse Ellis, the Shot Lady.” 

Wilson Daily Times, 12 September 1964.

Wilson Daily Times, 1 October 1964.

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In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: oil mill laborer Nathan Weaver, 35; wife Sallie, 30; and children Doretha, 9, Mable, 7, Louis, 2, and Sallie, 4 months.

On 28 September 1927, George W. Ellis, 52, of Wilson, married Mable Weaver, 26, of Wilson in Wilson. Missionary Baptist minister B.F. Jordan preformed the ceremony in the presence of James Whitfield, Robert Haskins and Rosa Arrington.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1101 Atlantic Street, owned and valued at $2500, Geo. W. Ellis, 56, public school janitor; wife Mabel, 28, grocery store proprietor; and children Elizabeth, 13, and Montie, 16.

Per this history of the organization, in 1934 Mabel W. Ellis joined North Carolina’s chapter of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses. I have not been able to determine where she received her nursing training, but Raleigh’s Saint Agnes Hospital or Durham’s Lincoln Hospital.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1101 Atlantic Street, owned and valued at $1400, George Ellis, 65, school carpenter; wife Mabel, 38, health department nurse; and daughter Elizabeth, 23.

George Washington Ellis died 7 September 1943 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 29 February 1875 in Wilson County to Jacob Ellis and Millie Forbs; lived at 1101 Atlantic Street; was a carpenter; and was buried in Rountree Cemetery.

Mable Weaver Ellis died in Wilson on 8 February 1995.

Interview with R.C. Henderson by Lisa Y. Henderson, January 1995, all rights reserved.