farm life

Walker Cain believes in conservation.

Wilson Daily Times, 5 April 1944.

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In the 1900 census of Williamsburg township, Lake County, South Carolina: farmer Alfred Cain, 42; wife Maggie, 40; and children Ralph, 17, Benjamin W., 15, Ella, 14, Fanny, 12, Walter, 10, Leonard, 7, and Robert W., 2.

In the 1910 census of Cain township, Florence County, South Carolina: widower Alfred Cain, 50; children Walker, 24, Ella, 23, Fanny, 19, Walter, 19, Leonard, 18, Robert W., 14; and nephew Willard Wiley, 7.

In the 1930 census of Oldfields township, Wilson County: farm laborer Walker B. Cain, 49; wife Elizabeth, 30; children Erea, 16, Bessie, 14, Adrian, 8, and Alford, 5; nephews Earlie, 18, and Buster, 16; and “croper” James Redin, 18. 

In the 1940 census of Oldfields township, Wilson County: farmer Walker Cain, 58; wife Elizabeth, 35; and children Bessie, 19, Adam, 16, and Alfred, 14.

In the 1950 census of Oldfields township, Wilson County: farmer Walker Cain, 60; wife Elizabeth, 49; and grandsons Jeff R., 17, and Earnest Weatherspoon, 15.

Benjamin Walker Cain died 14 February 1974 in Wilson, N.C. Per his death certificate, he was born 30 September 1884 in South Carolina to Alfred Cain and Edith [no maiden name given]; resided near Sims, Wilson County; was married to Elizabeth Rush; and was buried in New Vester cemetery.

Henrietta Ruffin, champion canner.

Wilson Daily Times, 25 August 1944.

Once again, Henrietta Ruffin was recognized for her canning prowess, here crowned Wilson County champion canner by the Farm Security Administration. Using a pressure cooker obtained via an FSA loan, Ruffin planned to can 800 quarts of fruit, meat, and vegetables in 1944, topping her 550-quart total the year before.

Annual farm family picnic.

Wilson Daily Times, 26 June 1941.

County Extension Agent Carter W. Foster published a reminder of the annual county-wide picnic for farm families, held in 1941 at Yelverton School in far southeastern Wilson County.

Farm life, school life.

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Wilson Daily Times, 3 December 1936.

In 1936, African-American children at Rocky Branch, Williamson, Kirby’s, New Vester and Calvin’s Level schools — all in the rural southwest quadrant of Wilson County — responded to a survey about education and farm life. To the surprise of the writer of this article, most children indicated that would like to live on a farm (in the future?)