Exoduster

Where did they go?: Arkansas death certificates, part 1.
  • Haywood Wesley

Haywood Wesley’s surname was originally Worsley, and he may, in fact, have been born in Lower Town Creek township, Edgecombe County.

In the 1870 census of Lower Town Creek township, Edgecombe County: farm laborer Elisha Worsley, 25; wife Charity, 22; and sons William, 2, and Haywood, 8 months.

In the 1880 census of Lower Town Creek township, Edgecombe County: farmer Elijah Worsley, 36; wife Charity, 26; and children William, 12, Haywood, 10, John, 9, Mark, 5, Emma, 4, and Henry, 1.

On 2 November 1896, Haywood Westley and Amy Simmons were married in Lafayette County, Arkansas.

In the 1900 census of Brown township, Columbia County, Arkansas: farmer Haywood Wesley, 29; wife Amie, 22; and children W. Henry, 2, and Kaleb, 1.

On 30 March 1905, Haywood Wesley received from the land office at Camden, Arkansas, a 40-acre homestead in the “North East quarter of the South West quarter of Section twenty one of Township nineteen South of Range nineteen West of the Fifth Principal Meridian in Arkansas.”

In the 191o census of Brown township, Columbia County, Arkansas: farmer Haywood Wesley, 44; wife Amie, 34; and children Henry, 13, Caleb, 11, Leona, 6, Viola, 4, and Pharisee, 1.

In the 1920 census of Smackover township, Ouachita County, Arkansas: farmer Haywood Wesley, 50; wife Amie, 44; children Lona, 17, Viola, 14, Pharisee, 12, Mabel, 11, Charity, 7, Elijah, 3, and Annie, 1; and son Henry, 22, and his wife Clyde, 18.

Hayward Wesley died 23 July 1924 in Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas. Per his death certificate, he was born 27 October 1871 in Wilson, N.C., to Lisha Wesley; was married; lived on Dollarway Road; worked as a merchant; and was buried in Wesley Cemetery.

  • George Scarborough Jr.

In the 1900 census of Richwoods township, Lonoke County, Arkansas: George Scarborough, 47; wife Millie, 37; and children Walter, 16, George, 15, Martin, 11, Charity, 8, Council, 8, Ava Mariah, 6, Jessie, 4, Fannie, 2, and Joseph, 11 months. The oldest four children were born in North Carolina.

On 26 November 1906, George Scarborough, 24, of Cobbs, Lonoke County, married Rachel Scarborough, 17, of Cobbs, Lonoke County, in Lonoke County, Arkansas.

George Orange Scarborough registered for the World War I draft in 1918 in Lonoke County. Per his registration card, he was born 25 January 1884; lived on Route 2, Scott township, Lonoke County; farmed for Smith Daniels; and his contact was Rachel Scarborough.

In the 1920 census of Walls township, Lonoke County, Arkansas: on Community Road, George Scarborough, 36; wife Rachel, 30; and children James, 11, Berthrie, 9. Other, 5, Elsie, 3, and Ugine, 21 months.

George Scarborough Jr. died 22 May 1926 in Lonoke County, Arkansas. Per his death certificate, he was born 22 March 1885 in Wilson, N.C., to George Scarborough and Millie [illegible]; was married to Rachel Scarborough; worked as farmer; and was buried in Hickory Grove Cemetery.

  • Elizabeth Daniels and William Henry Daniels Sr.

On 24 December 1879, Henry Daniel, 33, married Elizabeth Lassiter, 24, at E. Lassiter’s in Wilson County.

In the 1880 census of Speights Bridge township, Greene County, N.C.: Henry Daniel, 35; wife Elizabeth, 26; and son Lovejoy, 2.

In the 1900 census of Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas: Henry Daniels, 55; Elizabeth, 46; and children William H., 17, Matilda A., 15, Mary J., 13, and Rice B., 7. (The eldest three children were born in N.C.)

In the 1910 census of Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas: Henry Daniels, 66, odd jobs laborer; wife Bettie, 57; and children Henry, 27, street laborer, and Matilda, 10.

On 3 March 1912, W.H. Daniel married Willie Floyd in Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas.

In the 1920 census of Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas: Henry Daniels, 78; wife Elizabeth, 65; daughter Mary Webb, 30; and grandchildren Ulus, 10, Felton, 9, Loise E., 8, and Mary Webb, 3. Next door: W. Henry Daniels, 38; wife Willie, 32; and children Justine, 6, Thurburd, 4, Rosabelle, 3, and Doretha, 7 months.

Lewis Henry Daniels died 30 May 1920 in Pine Bluff. Per his death certificate, he was 79 years old; was married; was born in North Carolina; was “bright” colored [i.e. very light-skinned]; and lived at 500 East 17th Street. W.H. Daniel was informant. The cause of death: “operation of the eye and heart troubles.” Contributing factor: “Old cival war Soldier.”

Elizabeth Daniels died 10 December 1928 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Per her death certificate, she was 74 years old; was born in Wilson, N.C.; and was a widow.

In the 1930 census of Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas: William H. Daniels, 56; wife Willie L., 40; and children Justine L., 16, Turland, 14, Rosebell, 12, Doratha, 10, Henry W., 8, Zeratha, 4, Julda V., 3, Floyd, 2, and Eloise, 1.

In the 1940 census of Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas: Wm. H. Daniels, 56; wife Willie M., 52; children Dorotha, 19, Wm. Henry Jr., 17, Zereta, 14, Floyd, 13, Eloise, 11, Robert, 9; and father[-in-law] Robert Floyd, 83.

In 1942, William Henry Daniels registered for the World War II draft in Jefferson County, Arkansas. Per his registration, he was born 23 September 1881 in Wilson, N.C.; lived at 506 East 17th, Pine Bluff, Arkansas; his contact was Mrs. Willie F. Daniels; and he worked for Cotton Belt R.R.

William Henry Daniels Sr. died 25 November 1945 in Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas. Per his death certificate, he was born 23 September 1880 in Wilson, N.C., to Lewis Henry Daniels and Elizabeth Lassiter; was married to Willie L. Daniels; and worked as a laborer.

  • D.L. Armstrong

On 2 December 1866, Isaac Armstrong and Laura Armstrong were married in Edgecombe County, N.C.

In the 1880 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farm laborer Isac Armstrong, 30; wife Laura, 24; and children Wiley, 10, Lilly, 8, and Lucy, 4.

In the 1900 census of Portland township, Ashley County, Arkansas: farmer Isaac Armstrong, 50; wife Laura, 47; and children William, 29, David L., 18, Mary B., 11, James G., 13, and Viola, 10. All but Viola were born in N.C.

In the 1910 census of Portland township, Ashley County, Arkansas: farmer Isaac Armstrong, 60; wife Laura, 57; and daughter Viola, 17. Next door: William Armstrong, 41; wife Elnora, 27, plus sister-in-law Rosie Nimmer, 17.

On 16 February 1915, David L. Armstrong, 22, married Maggie Rollend, 18, in Ashley County, Arkansas.

In 1918, David Leslie Armstrong registered for the World War I draft in Jefferson County, Arkansas. Per his registration card, he was born 18 May 1882; lived in Pine Bluff, Arkansas; worked as a boilermaker helper for Cotton Belt Railway; and his nearest relative was Maggie Armstrong.

In the 1920 census of Portland township, Ashley County, Arkansas: farmer Isaac Armstrong, 74, and wife Laura, 67. Next door: William Armstrong, 50; wife Elnora, 35; and children James D., 8, Isaac and Inez, 6, Simmie, 4, and Percy, 1.

In the 1920 census of Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas: David Armstrong, 38, car shops laborer; wife Maggie, 32; and children Casseitty, 12, Dorothy, 10, Laura, 8, Willie, 6, Leonard, 3, and Nettie, 5 months.

Isaac Armstrong died 24 March 1926 in Portland township, Ashley County, Arkansas. Per his death certificate, he was born in 1876 [sic] in North Carolina to Fremon[?] Armstrong and Violet Brizle; was married; and worked as a farmer.

D.L. Armstrong died 25 February 1930 in Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas. Per his death certificate, he was 47 years old; was born in Wilson, N.C., to Isaac Armstrong and Laura Armstrong; was married to Maggie Armstrong; lived at 2206 Reed Street; and worked as a laborer.

  • Dora Barnes

Per her death certificate, Dora Barnes was born in Alabama, perhaps as her parents migrated from Wilson County to a new home in Arkansas.

In the 1870 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farm laborer Sherod Barnes, 67, and children Rosa A., 22, Shepard, 17, Harry, 15, Warren, 13, Harriet, 10, Haywood, 6, and Hec Barnes, 19.

On 23 December 1883, Warren Barnes, 23, married Delaney Ann Ruffin, 18, in Wilson County.

In the 1900 census of Owen township, Saline County, Arkansas: farm laborer Warren Barnes, 45; wife Anna, 34; and children William, 15, Dora, 14, Mary, 12, John, 10, Adline, 8, Ida, 7, Joda, 5, Carrie, 4, Lula, 1, and Walter, 5 months.

In the 1910 census of Live Oak township, Drew County, Arkansas: Warren Barnes,

Dora Barnes died 7 March 1914 in Winchester, Live Oak township, Drew County, Arkansas. Per her death certificate, she was 28 years old; was born in Alabama to Warren Barnes of Wilson County, N.C., and Annie Ruffins of North Carolina; and was single.

In the 1920 census of Live Oak township, Drew County, Arkansas: Warren Barnes, 60; wife Annie, 55; and daughters Mary, 30, Betta, 12, Artea, 10, and Ottea, 9. (Warren, Annie, and Mary were born in N.C.) Next door: John Barnes, 30; wife Marie, 30; and children Hermon, 9, Walter, 7, Carrie, 5, Jenneta, 3, and Lillian, 1. (John and Marie were born in N.C.)

Warren Barnes died 19 September 1937 in Winchester, Live Oak township, Drew County, Arkansas. Per his death certificate, he was born 20 November 1860 in North Carolina to Isia Barnes; was married to Annie Barnes; and was a farmer.

  • William Davis

In 1869, Stephen Moore, son of Stephen and Jinsy Moore, married Rhoda Anderson, daughter of Lee and Olif Anderson, in Wilson County, North Carolina.

In the 1870 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Stephen Moore, 23; wife Rodah, 23; and Lazarus, 8 months.

In the 1880 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Rhoda Moore, 30, and children Lazarus, 10, Peter, 8, and Nelly, 4.

On 27 December 1899, John Davis and Nellie Moore married in Ashley County, Arkansas.

In the 1900 census of Portland township, Ashley County, Arkansas: farmer John Davis, 24, and wife Nellie, 23.

In the 1910 census of Portland township, Ashley County, Arkansas: farmer John Davis, 37; wife Nellie, 34; and children Lucy, 15, Lenard, 7, Johnny Jr., 4, Janie, 5, Jesse, 2, and Roda, 5 months. The parents were born in N.C., the first four children in Louisiana, and the last two in Arkansas.

Ida Jenkins died 29 December 1921 in Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas. Per her death certificate, she was 36 years old; was born in North Carolina to Stephen Moore and Rhoda [no maiden name]; was married; and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Helena, Arkansas.

William Davis died 19 November 1926 in Portland township, Ashley County, Arkansas. Per his death certificate, he was born 6 January 1903 in Monroe, Louisiana, to John Davis and Nellie Moore, both of Wilson, North Carolina.

Lucille Caldwell died 4 April 1980 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Per her death certificate, she was born 21 November 1891 in Louisiana to John Davis and Nellie Moore; was widowed; had worked as a nurse’s aide; and was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery.

Funeral Program Friday: Victoria Scarborough Notree.

A reader, Antoinette Dickens, recently emailed me a copy of her great-great-grandmother’s funeral program. Victoria Scarborough Notree was born in Wilson County and, like dozens, maybe hundreds, of others, migrated to Arkansas with her family circa 1890.

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In the 1880 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Charles Bynum, 59; wife Bunney, 50; and children Mary, 23, Daniel, 20, Henry, 18, Herbert, 16, Adiline, 14, and Charles, 10.

In the 1880 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: Jason Scarboro, 20, servant. [Likely, in the household of white farmer Devro Whitley, next door.]

On 14 October 1886, Jason Scarborough, 26, married Adline Bynum, 21, at Charles Bynum’s in the presence of Haywood Bynum, David Bynum, and Charles Bynum. (Justice of the Peace Seth H. Tyson performed the ceremony, which indicates it likely took place in the Saratoga area.)

In the 1900 census of Owen township, Saline County, Arkansas: Jason Scarber, 46; wife Adline, 36; and children Ella, 16, Jessie, 16, Victoria, 11, Hugh, 8, Arch, 7, Joe, 6, Cora, 4, and Florence, 1. The five youngest children were born in Arkansas; the rest of the family, including Victoria, in North Carolina.

In the 1910 census of Lafayette township, Lonoke County, Arkansas: farmer Albert Maxwell, 46; wife Ellah, 25, born in N.C.; children Ray, 7, Virginia, 5, and Albert, 8 months; and sister-in-law Victoria Scarber, 21, born in N.C.

On 18 October 1910, Ed Notree, 34, married Victoria Scarborough in Lonoke County, Arkansas.

In the 1920 census of Walls township, Lonoke County, Arkansas: farmer Edd Notree, 46; wife Victoria, 25, born in N.C.; and children Alice, 9, Little Edd, 5, Pankie, 3, and Johnie, 7 months.

In the 1930 census of Lafayette township, Lonoke County, Arkansas: farmer Ed Notree, 45; wife Victoria, 38, born in N.C.; and children Ed Jr., 15, Pinkie, 13, and Johnie, 9.

In the 1940 census of Keo, Lonoke County, Arkansas: on Fordyce Street, Ed Notree, 64, farm laborer; wife Victoria, 50; “s-son” T.B. Mahone, 7; and sister Littie Phillips, 45.

Annie Bell Notree died 3 April 1941 in Little Rock, Big Rock township, Pulaski County, Arkansas. Per her death certificate, she was born 24 December 1922 to Eddie Notree and Victoria Scoggins; lived at 1718 Cedar Street, Little Rock; and was a schoolgirl.

In 1942, John Notree registered for the World War II draft in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Per his registration card, he was born 21 April 1922 in Little Rock, Arkansas; lived at 5529 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago; his contact was Mrs. V. Notree, 1468 Randolph Street, Chicago; and he worked for Penfield Oil Company.

In the 1950 census of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois: Victoria Q. Notree, 55, maid, widow, born in N.C., and daughter Allie M., 16.

Thank you, Antoinette!

Peg-Leg Williams and the Exodusters.

Goldsboro Headlight, 6 November 1889.

This brief, disparaging piece appeared in the Goldsboro Headlight in 1889, but very well could have described attitudes in Wilson County. Silas Herring was an African-American Wayne County native, but Alabama-born, former Confederate Robert A. “Peg-Leg” Williams criss-crossed the Upper South as a labor agent, partnering with local Black men to entice African-Americans to migrate to the Deep South.

On 27 November 1889, the Wilson Mirror reprinted a Goldsboro Argus piece that described Williams and Herring as “railroad hirelings and speculators.” “However much the desire should be divided among our people — and by this we mean the white people — for the negro to exodus this country or remain, the solid, stubborn truth shall not be kept from the poor, deluded, half-informed negro, that this is his home, the climate of his nature; that our people are the most tolerant and generous in the world; and his best friends, and that, therefore, he should stay right here where his associations date back through the centuries; where his faults, and there are many (but who of us is without faults?) are borne with from custom; where his privileges as a free citizen are unquestioned and untrammeled, and where his destinies are linked by law with the whites, who, under a Democratic administration, have for twenty years paid 90 per cent. of his government and education, while he has furnished 90 per cent. of the crime and ignorance of the State.” Best friends, indeed.

The 20 December 1889 issue of the Wilmington Messenger chimed in with mockery, noting that “Peg leg Williams and Silas Herring have not dissolved copartnership. Peg leg is now in [Goldsboro], and he and Silas are as active as bees in inducing the ‘coons’ of this section to leave their homes of peace and plenty here, to go the far off miasmatic lands of the West, there to die like cattle with the black tongue.”

“Peg-Leg” Williams is memorialized in 100 Americans Making Constitutional History: A Biographical History, edited by Melvin I. Urofsky. Described as the most famous and successful of Southern “emigrant agents, Mississippi-born Williams, a Civil War veteran, assisted 16,000 African-Americans in leaving North Carolina in the wake of discriminatory labor laws passed in 1889.”

Working as an agent for plantation owners and railroad companies from the lower Mississippi Valley states and Texas, Williams recruited laborers to work their immense cotton plantations or, in the case of the railroads, buy up their vast acreages of former federal land. Williams generally paid transportation costs for migrating families, who would have been required to enter into onerous agreements to repay the money the planters had fronted to Williams.

Daily Journal (New Bern, N.C.), 28 May 1890.

Mecklenburg Times (Charlotte, N.C.), 25 December 1891.

After two years of perceived depredations, in 1891 the North Carolina legislature joined other states in enacting a law aimed directly at men like Williams, imposing one thousand dollar fees on labor recruiters, who overwhelmingly targeted African-Americans. The law stayed on the books for seven years.

The Wilmington Messenger, 5 November 1901.

By 1913, Peg-Leg Williams was the stuff of nostalgia….

The News-Herald (Morganton, N.C.), 3 July 1913.

… and as late as 1947, his name and work could still inspire journalists. If you skim the condescension off the top, this lengthy piece is noteworthy for details about Exoduster life provided by men and women who made the journey (or knew someone who had.)

News and Record (Greensboro, N.C.), 26 October 1947.

The Baileys of Drew County, Arkansas.

On 26 September 1876, Sampson Bailey of Monticello, Arkansas, filed acknowledgement of receipt of the payout made to his wife, Charity “Cherry” Bailey, from the estate of Arnold Peele of Wilson County. The Baileys were among the earliest Wilson County Exodusters to Arkansas.

In the 1870 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farm laborer George Thomson, 51; wife Rilda, 43; and son Rufus, 8; Cherry Bailey, 42, Bitha Bailey, 25, and Mittie Baily, 16.

On 19 June 1870, Jacob Thomson, son of George Thomson and Silvey Ritchardson, married Betha Bailey, daughter of Sampson and Cherry Bailey, at George Thomson’s in Wilson County.

In the 1880 census of Prairie township, Drew County, Arkansas: Sampson Bailey, 50; wife Cherry, 53; and son Eli, 14.

Chaney Mayes died 10 May 1930 in Demun township, Randolph County, Arkansas. Per her death certificate, she was of unknown age; was born in an unknown location to Sampson Bailey and Cherry [maiden name unknown]; and was the widow of Anderson Mayes. Delia Peterson was informant.

No need for exodusting.

In March 1880, Wayne County farmer Napoleon Hagans testified before a Senate committee on the migration of African-American farmers out of North Carolina. It was not his last word on the subject. Nine months later, he — or someone writing for him, as he was unlettered — penned a letter to the editor of the local newspaper, recounting his agricultural success and exhorting his “race” to cast down their buckets where they were. His sentiments were echoed by Jonah Williams, his friend, neighbor, sometime pastor, and brother of Hagans’ brother-in-law Adam T. Artis.

Before Williams was setting up Primitive Baptist churches, he farmed 58 acres near Turner Swamp, just north of Eureka (formerly Sauls Cross Roads) in far northeast Wayne County. Though an intelligent man, Like Hagans, Williams was illiterate. Thus, he did not actually write the letter tacitly discouraging Black farmers from joining the exodus to Indiana and other points west and midwest, and we don’t know the circumstances under which he or Hagans agreed to lend their names to this propaganda.

Goldsboro Messenger, 30 December 1880.

Attention Arkansas families with Wilson County roots.

I’ve been surprised by the number of African-American Wilson County families that migrated to Arkansas as Exodusters in the 1880s and 1890s. These families tended to travel together and settle in close proximity, especially in Lonoke County. Descendants of several have made contact here at Black Wide-Awake, and it’s time for a Facebook to try to connect with more. If these are your people, join us there!

The family of Nathan and Lucy Barnes, exodusters.

Nathan and Lucy King Barnes and their children were among thousands of North Carolinians, many from Wilson County, who sought greener pastures in Arkansas.

On 29 March 1877, Nathan Barnes married Lucy King in Wayne County, North Carolina.

In the 1880 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: Nathan Barnes, 28; wife Lucy, 20; and children Morrison, 2, and Dinah, 6 months.

On 31 January 1897, Deana Barnes and John Edmondson were married in Cross County, Arkansas.

In the 1900 census of Searcy township, Cross County, Arkansas: farmer Nathan Barnes, 48; wife Lucy, 37; children Marson, 22, Mary Jane, 16, Claudie, 14, Elroy, 12, Maggie, 8, and Rosco L., 5; son-in-law John Edmondson, 21; daughter Diana, 21; grandson Snode, 6 months; and boarder, Mack Stewart, 19. The Barnes’ two youngest children were born in Arkansas; the rest in North Carolina. Thus, we can pinpoint their migration to years between 1888 and 1892.

In the 1910 census of Searcy township, Cross County, Arkansas: farmer Nathan Barnes, 48; wife Lucy, 37; and children Claudy, 23, Leroy, 22, May[illegible], 17, Reskin, 15, and Tike, 10. All, curiously, were described as born in Alabama except Tike, who was born in Arkansas.

In the 1910 census of Smith township, Cross County, Arkansas: Marshel [sic] Barnes, 32; wife Valley, 20; and son Thomas L., 1.

Nathan Barnes died 7 September 1917 in Searcey township, Cross County, Arkansas. Per his death certificate, he was born 1 January 1852 in North Carolina to Ben Barnes; was a farmer; and was buried in Mount Zion Cemetery. C.D. Barnes was informant.

In 1918, Morrison Barnes registered for the World War I draft in Cross County, Arkansas. Per his registration card, he was born 15 January 1878; lived in Vanndale, Cross County; worked as a farmer; and his nearest relative was Vallie Barnes.

On 11 January 1920, Roscoe Barnes married Bessie R. Vause in Cross County, Arkansas.

In the 1920 census of Searcy township, Cross County, Arkansas: Morrison Barnes, 41; wife Vallie, 31, and children Thomas, 11, Tennie, 7, Sister, 3, and Elliott, 1.

In the 1920 census of Searcy township, Cross County, Arkansas: Elroy Barnes, 31; wife Daisy, 21; and children Callie, 8, and Savannah Barnes, 3, and Ernest Futrel, 4.

Daddy [Claudie] Barnes died 11 January 1930 in Forrest City, Madison township, Saint Francis County, Arkansas. Per his death certificate, he was 44 years old; was born in North Carolina to Nathan and Lucy Barnes; worked as a farmer for C. Barton; was married to Lucy Barnes; and was buried in Hinton cemetery.

In the 1930 census of Smith township, Cross County, Arkansas: Marshal Vaughnes [sic], 53; wife Rosey, 42; children Surtina E., 13, John E., 11, and Joshway R., 9; and mother Lucy Barnes, 68.

In the 1940 census of Wynne township, Cross County, Arkansas: Lucy Barnes, 87, is a lodger in the household of Alex Abraham.

In 1942, Elroy Barnes registered for the World War II draft in Saint Francis County, Arkansas. Per his registration card, he was born 23 May 1888 in Wilson, N.C.; lived in Palestine, Saint Francis County, Arkansas; and his contact was Daisy Barnes.

On 16 October 1932, Morrison Barnes, 54, married Mary Sweeten, 27, in Wittsburg, Cross County, Arkansas.

In 1942, Roscoe Lee Barnes registered for the World War II draft in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Per his registration card, he was born 12 March 1895 in Wynne, Arkansas; lived on Valley Forde Road, Devon, Chester County; his contact was daughter Lolly Barnes; and he worked for McAlvoy Brickyard, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.

On 15 September 1945, Roscoe L. Barnes, 50, widower, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, born in Arkansas to Nathaniel and Lucy Barnes, married Thelma H. Moultrie, 39, of Philadelphia, born in South Carolina to West and Addie Hunter, in Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware.

Elroy R. Barnes died 23 December 1962 in Saint Louis, Missouri. Per his death certificate, he was born 23 May 1888 in North Carolina to Nathan Barnes and Lucy (maiden name unknown) and was a minister. Daisy Barnes was informant.

Roscoe Barnes died 24 January 1966 in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Per his death certificate, he was born 12 March 1895 in Wynne, Arkansas, to Nathan Barnes; lived in Chester, Pennsylvania; was a widower; and worked as a laborer.

The death of Rosetta Ellis McCoy, Exoduster.

In a post about the Littleton and Judie Ellis cemetery on today’s Forest Hills Road in Wilson, I asked if the Ellises had migrated to Arkansas with the Exoduster movement, then returned to Wilson. The death certificate of their daughter Maggie Ellis Darden reported that she was born in Arkansas in 1886.

Below, the death certificate of Rosetta McCoy, filed in North Little Rock, Pulaski township, Arkansas, states she was born 22 October 1887  in Wilson, N.C., to Littleton Ellis and Mary [is this a mistake?; maiden name unknown]. Thus we have additional evidence that Littleton Ellis and family made the long journey west, but returned to Wilson County before 1900.

In the 1880 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Littleton Ellis, 45; wife Judah, 30; and children Bryant, 14, Martha, 12, Patsey, 10, Mary, 8, Bud, 6, Thomas, 4, Rose, 2, and James, 1.

On 28 November 1897, James McCoy, 21, of Toltec, Lonoke County, Arkansas, married Rosetta Ellis, 19, of same, in Lonoke County, Arkansas.

In the 1900 census of Williams township, Lonoke County, Arkansas: farmer James McCoy, 23; wife Rosetta, 22; and children Alberta and Birtrice, 1; also, Sarah Smith, 26, a cook.

In the 1910 census of Lafayette township, Lonoke County, Arkansas: on Witherspoon Road, farmer James McCoy, 33, born in North Carolina; wife Rosetta, 32; and children Bertrice and Alberta, 11; Willie, 9; Johnny, 8; Asillie, 6; Gus C., 4, and James M., 1.

In the 1920 census of Lafayette township, Lonoke County, Arkansas: on Keo Road, James H. McCoy, 47; wife Rosetta, 43; children Bertrice and Alberta, 21, Willie, 19, Johnnie, 18, James M., 11, Norah, 8, L.C., 7, Nathaniel, 5, Ruthie, 2, and Thomas, 6 months; daughter Rosa L. Huggins, 16, and son-in-law James Huggins, 19.

In the 1940 census of Lafayette township, Lonoke County, Arkansas: farmer Rosetta McCoy, 45, widow; children L.C., 17, Nathaniel, 15, Ruthie, 13, and Thomas, 10; and grandson Willie Henry, 8.

In the 1940 census of North Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas: Rosetta McCoy, 63, widow, born in North Carolina; daughter Gertrude Duckery, 40, widow, maid; and grandchildren Rosetta Howard, 15, Artelia Howard, 12, James Duckery, 9, Famous Hall, 15, and Rosie Anne McCoy, 4.

L. Henry and Elizabeth Lassiter Daniels, exodusters.

After reading the recent post about Hardy Lassiter, Thelma Simmons reached out to alert Black Wide-Awake that another Lassiter migrated to Arkansas. Elizabeth Lassiter Daniels and her family arrived in Pine Bluff around the same time as her cousin Hardy.

In the 1860 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer Silas Lassiter, 38; wife Orpie, 34; children Sallie, 12, Mary, 11, James, 9, John, 7, Elizabeth, 5, Penina, 4, Hardy, 3, Silas, 1, and George, 2 months; and Delpha Simpson, 14. [Note: there were several Hardy Lassiters in this family. Silas Lassiter’s father was named Hardy Lassiter, and Silas named a son after him. Similarly, Silas’ brother Green Lassiter also named a son Hardy, and this Hardy was the one who migrated to Arkansas.]

In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm laborer Silas Lassiter, 47, and children Ophelia, 25, Mary, 20, Elizabeth, 16, Handy, 14, Penninah, 15, Silas W., 12, Milly, 8, and Jerusha, 4.

On 24 December 1879, Henry Daniels, 33, married Elizabeth Lassiter, 24, at E. Lassiter’s in Wilson County. B. Barnes and Short Barnes were witnesses.

On 20 May 1892, Henry Daniels, alias Henry Lewis Daniels, applied for an invalid pension for his service in Company K, 14th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery. [I am seeking more information about his Civil War service.] Daniels filed from Arkansas, the state to which the family had recently migrated.

In the 1900 census of Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas: day laborer Henry Daniels, 55; wife Elizabeth, 46; and children William H., 17, Martha A., 15, Mary J., 15, and Rice B., 7. All were born in North Carolina except the youngest child.

In the 1908 Pine Bluff, Arkansas, city directory: Daniels Henry (c) mach Prescott Table & Furn Co r 1013 w 8th av

In the 1910 census of Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas: odd jobs laborer Henry Daniels, 66; wife Bettie, 37; and children Henry, 27, street laborer, and Matilda, 10. Bettie reported that only three of her ten children were living.

On 3 March 1912, W.H. Daniel, 30, married Willie Floyd, 24, in Pine Bluff.

In 1918, William Henry Daniels registered for the World War I draft in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Per his registration card, he was born 23 September 1879; lived at 506 East 17th Avenue; worked as a laborer for Standard Lumber Company, Pine Bluff.

In the 1920 census of Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas: at 500 East 17th, Henry Daniels, 78; wife Elizabeth, 65; daughter Mary Webb, 30, and grandchildren Ulus, 10, Felton, 9, Louise E., 8, and Mary, 3. Next door: W. Henry Daniels, 38, born in N.C., railroad shop laborer; wife Willie, 32, born in Georgia; and children Justine, 6, Thurland, 4, Rosabelle, 3, and Doretha, 4 months. [Hardy and Nellie Lassiter occupied the household on the other side of Henry and Elizabeth Daniels, in effect right around the corner.]

Lewis Henry Daniels died 30 May 1920 in Pine Bluff. Per his death certificate, he was 79 years old; was married; was born in North Carolina; was “bright” colored [i.e. very light-skinned]; and lived at 500 East 17th Street. W.H. Daniel was informant. The cause of death: “operation of the eye and heart troubles.” Contributing factor: “Old cival war Soldier.”

In the 1927 Pine Bluff, Arkansas, city directory: Daniels Elizabeth (c) h 500 e 17th av

In 1942, William Henry Daniels registered for the World War II draft in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Per his registration card, he was born in 23 September 1881 in Wilson, N.C.; lived at 506 East 17th; he worked for Cotton Belt Railroad, East 2nd Avenue, Pine Bluff; and his contact was Mrs. Willie F. Daniels.

William Henry Daniels Sr. died 25 November 1945 in Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas. Per his death certificate, he was born 23 September 1880 in Wilson, N.C., to Lewis Henry Daniels and Elizabeth Lassiter; was a laborer; and was married to Willie L. Daniels. Doretha M. Daniels was informant.