Farmer

Applications for military headstones, no. 5: Rountree Cemetery.

None of these veterans’ headstones have yet been found in Rountree, Odd Fellows, or Vick Cemeteries, the cemeteries collectively known as “Rountree.”

  • Cleveland Daniels

In the 1910 census of Beall Springs district, Warren County, Georgia: farm laborer Peter Daniel, 46; wife MaryJ. 46; and children Forest, 15, Cleveland, 13, Ella, 11, Mary, 9, and Peter Jr., 4.

In the 1925 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Daniels Cleveland firemn h 207 S Reid

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Daniels Cleveland (c; Hattie L) firemn h 207 S Reid

In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Daniels Cleveland (c; Hattie L) firemn h 207 S Reid

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 207 Reid Street, owned and valued at $1600, Cleverland Daniels, 33, light plant fireman, and wife Hattie, 29, both born in Georgia; niece Christine Owens, 8, and nephew Filman Owens, 4.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 908 Wainwright, owned and valued at $1500, Cleveland Daniel, 40, fireman at city plant; wife Hattie, 38, saleswoman; and father-in-law Mack Owens, 60, farm laborer. All were born in Georgia.

In 1942, Cleveland Daniels registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 15 April 1897 in Warrengton, Georgia; lived at 908 Wainwright Avenue, Wilson; his contact was Mrs. Dora Godwin, 910 Wainwright; and he worked for the City Light Plant.

George Cleveland Daniels died at his home at 908 Wainwright on 19 August 1949. Per his death certificate, he was born 15 April 1897 in Warren County, Georgia, to Peter and Jane Daniels; was a fireman; was married to Hattie Daniels; was a veteran of World War I; and was buried in Rountree Cemetery.

  • Roscoe Pitt

In the 1910 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: on Rose Bud Church Road,  James Pitt, 45; wife Lucy, 48; and children Carter, 19, Arthur, 16, John D., 11, Harriett, 8, Rosco, 6, and William, 2.

Roscoe Pitt registered for the World War I draft in Newport News, Virginia, in 1917. Per his registration card, he was born 4 May 1892; lived in Wilson, N.C.; was single; and worked as a laborer for Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company.

Private First Class Roscoe Pitt of Company D, 333rd Service Battalion (Colored), appears on the passenger list for the Santa Rosa, which set sail 10 June 1919 from Bordeaux, France. 

On 20 July 1927, Roscoe Pitt, 35, of Wilson, son of Martha Pitt, married Mary Arrington, 36, of Wilson, daughter of Martin Pender, in Wilson. John P. Battle applied for the license, and Disciples minister W.W. Webb performed the ceremony in the presence of Battle, Victoria Webb, and Ella Adams.

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Pitt Roscoe (c; Mary) lab h 404 S Goldsboro

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Roscoe Pitt, 38, truck driver for Williams Lumber; wife Mary, 42; and roomer Life Wright, 70, widower, street sweeper.

On 27 June 1935, Rosco Pitt, 40, of Edgecombe County, N.C., son of Jim and Lucy Pitt, married Lillie Eatmon, 34, of Edgecome County, daughter of Avery and Harriet Eatmon, in Wayne County, North Carolina.

Roscoe Pitt died 15 August 1937 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 42 years old; was married to Lillie Pitt; worked as a common laborer; was born in Wilson County to James Pitt of Edgecombe County and Lucy Barnes of Wilson County. Dallas Pitt, 700 Lodge Street, was informant. 

  • Jesse Farmer

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: drayman Jefferson Farmer, 40; wife Blanch,  28; and children May, 12, Turner, 11, Jesse, 8, Charley, 4, and Gola, 2.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 615 Hines Street, Jeff Farmer, 50; wife Blanch, 37; and children Turner, 20, Jessie, 16, Charlie, 13, Goler, 10, Jeff Jr., 7, Henry, 3, Allice, 2, and Gola, 1.

On 13 November 1921, Jessie Farmer, 28, married Henrietta Wright, 20, in Wilson.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1112 Carolina Street, rented for $16/month, Jessey Farmer, 34, tobacco factory laborer; wife Henerator, 26, laundress; and children Jessey Jr., 8, Ervin, 4, and Trumiller, 3.

Jesse Farmer died 26 September 1931 at the Veterans Administration Hospital, Asheville, Buncombe County, North Carolina. Per his death certificate, he was born 1 October 1893 in Wilson County to Jeff Farmer and Blanche Gay; was married to Henrietta Farmer; worked in a factory; and lived in Wilson.

  • Will Walker

Will Walker died 8 August 1849 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 15 May 1896 in Mount Olive, N.C., to Nelson Walker and Jane Herring; was married to Irene Walker; lived at 403 Murry [Maury?] Street, Wilson; and worked as a laborer.

  • Hood Vick

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Marther Vick, 46, widow, washing, and sons [sic] Peater, 20, and Hud, 6.

In the 1908 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory, Martha Vick, Peter Vick, and Hood Vick, the latter two described as laborers (though Hood was only 14 years old) are listed at 105 Pender.

Mildred Ward died 9 January 1914 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 24 October 1913 in Wilson County to Hood Vick of Wilson County and Lucy Ward of Pitt County; and lived at the corner of Nash and Railroad Streets. Lucy Ward, Wilson, was informant.

In 1917, Hood Vick registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 10 June 1894 in Wilson; lived on Pender Street; worked as a machine operator at a moving picture theater for C.L. Jones; and was single. He signed his name to the card.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 105 Pender Street, Martha Vick, 65, widow, and grandchildren Aretha Stokes, 15, and Hood Vick, 25, laborer.

In 1942, Hood Vick registered for the World War II draft in Norfolk, Virginia. Per his registration card, he was born 10 June 1897 in Wilson; lived at 411 Church Street, Norfolk; worked for Union Bus Company, Norfolk; and his contact was Lucy Wilson, 411 Church Street.

  • Thomas Cook

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Alfred Cook, 53, farmer; wife Caroline, 36; children Dora, 18, Leora, 17, Maggie Ann, 16, Thomas, 6, Charlie, 4, and Albert A., 2; and adopted son Oscar, 5.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farm laborer Alfred Cook, 56; wife Caroline, 48; and sons Thomas, 16, Oscar, 14, Charlie, 13, and Albert, 11.

Thomas Cook registered for the World War II draft in 1917 in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 18 May 1894 in Wilson; worked as a carpenter for Garfield Grantham; and signed his name with an X.

On 5 February 1927, Thomas Cooke, 36, married Mary Sauls, 23, in Wilson. Baptist minister B.F. Jordan performed the ceremony in the presence of B.F. Jordan Jr., Marion B. Jordan, and Maggie L. Jordan.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: house painter Thomas Cook, 35, and wife Mary, 22.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County:  at 900 Stantonsburg Street, painter Thomas Cook, 45, and wife Mary, 35.

In 1942, Albert Anderson Cook registered for the World War II draft in Norfolk, Virginia. Per his registration card, he was born 20 April 1898 in Wilson County; lived at 317 West Lenoir Street, Raleigh; his contact was Thomas Cooke, 1104 Stantonsburg Street; and he was employed by Third Division, Railway Mail Service, Washington, D.C., Norfolk & Raleigh R.P.O.

Thomas Cooke died 26 April 1944 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 49 years old;was born in Wilson County to Alfred Cooke and Caroline Robins; lived at 900 Stantonsburg Road; and was buried in Rountrees Cemetery [probably, Vick Cemetery.]

“Our loss is heaven’s gain”: a tribute to Sallie Barbour.

Wilson Daily Times, 29 April 1942.

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  • Sallie Barbour
  • Nancy Wilkins
  • Magnolia Farmer — in the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 207 East Street, Robert Farmer, 48, Farmers Cotton Oil laborer; wife Magnolia, 45; and daughter Marion Z., 16, washing and ironing..

The apprenticeship of Patsy and Treasy Whitaker (1895).

On 15 July 1895, Clerk of Superior Court J.D. Bardin apprenticed Patsy Whitaker, 11, and Treasy Whitaker, 5 1/2, to Alford Jordan until they were 18 years old. 

Alford Jordan was a black man, and the four of his neighbors — Nathan, Hardy, Perry, and Shade Bass — were called upon to vouch for his character: “Alfred Jordan has been living in our neighborhood Several years. He has a family of children and we never have heard of his cruelly treating them. Some of his children are grown and we never have heard any charges brought against them. Since Alfred moved into our neighborhood he has conducted himself fairly well so far as we know.”

In the 1900 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Alfred Jordan, 56; wife Cherry, 50; children  Sallie, 14, Jannie, 12, George and Mary, 9; and Albert, 8; stepchildren [sic] William, 26, Frances, 20, Patsy, 17, and Creasy Farmer, 10; and brother [actually, son] Benjamin Jordan, 35.

When Dr. T.L. Brooks reported vaccinations in the Black Creek area in 1902, he listed Patsy Whitaker and Cresy Whitaker.

On 2 December 1908, E.F. Hooker, 19, of Wayne County, and Patsy Whitaker, 21, of Black Creek township, applied for a Wilson County marriage license. 

In the 1910 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: widow Cherry Jordan, 60; children Rosetta, 22, Trecie, 20, Mary and George, 19, and Albert Jordan, 17; and grandchildren Lizina, 4, and Adlina Jordan, 3 months. 

Emerson F. and Patsy Hooker eventually migrated to Richmond, Virginia, where Patsy Whitaker Hooker died in 1945. Per her Social Security application, she was born in February 1888 in Wilson County, N.C., to Jacob Whitaker and Viney Jordan.

These records reminds us that we cannot take census entries at face value. Patsy and Creasy Farmer are certainly Patsy and Treasy Whitaker, but (1) their surnames are inconsistent; (2) Treasy’s name is altered; (3) Patsy’s age is slightly off; and (3) they are described as Jordan’s stepchildren (and Treasy as Cherry Jordan’s child.)

Alford Jorden and Cherry Ellis married in August 1884, when he was 40 and she was 35. Given norms of the time, it stands to reason that both had prior marriages. (Per his death certificate, Benjamin Jordan — described as “brother” in the 1900 census — was actually Alford’s son.) The four Jordan children listed in the 1900 census were born after the marriage and presumably were Alford and Cherry’s together. Patsy could have been, but Treasy was too young to have been brought into Cherry’s marriage.

It appears that the Whitaker girls were close kin on their mother’s side to Alford Jordan. Their apprenticeship served essentially as an informal adoption into Alford Jordan’s family. 

Apprentice 1895, Miscellaneous Records, Wilson County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

Keeping the Atkinson-Battle-Farmer stories alive.

Kudos to Samuel Joyner, who has published a volume detailing the “who, where, when” of more than seven generations of his Atkinson, Battle, and Farmer lines. These surnames that will be familiar to African-American Wilson County researchers. This 500+ page book is available via Amazon.com.

James Robert Washington celebrates his fourth birthday.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 19 January 1929.

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H. Farmer leads Negro Farmers Advisory Committee.

Wilson Daily Times, 14 November 1942.

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In memoriam: Capt. William W. Farmer Jr. (1932-1961).

Capt. William Woody Farmer Jr., 341st Bombardment Squadron, 4038th Strategic Wing, Dow Air Force Base, Maine.

On 30 March 1961, a B-52 went down near Denton, North Carolina, killing five of the seven crewmen aboard. Among them was Captain William Woody Farmer, Jr., of Wilson.

This account of that terrible accident is found in a post in a Denton history blog:

Photos courtesy of Levolyre Farmer Pitt.

James E. Farmer Jr.’s seventh birthday.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 2 November 1940.

James E. Farmer Jr.‘s birthday party guests were Helen Barnes and John H. Barnes; Levolyre Farmer; William Woody Farmer and Irving Farmer; Geraldine Sutton; “Baby” Bullock; Francis Williams; Tommy Young and Alexander Young; Ray Miller Hines; Howard Hines and Grover Hines; Charles Sanders; Arnold Walker Jr.; Dorothy Bynum; Thelma Weaver; Rudolph Farmer; Joan Bynum; Randolph Hunter; Samuel Caswell Lathan; Faye Bryant and Gene Bryant; Gloria Hagans; William Hargrave Jr.; James Ellis; and Minnie Ellis.

Funeral Program Friday: William Woody Farmer Sr.

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In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Farmer Woody (c) porter Wm Hines h 706 E Green.

On 13 January 1929, Woody Farmer, 22, son of John Wash Farmer and Edmonia [no maiden name], married Savannah Powell, 21, daughter of Wiley Powell, in Wilson. Presbyterian minister A.H. George performed the ceremony in the presence of Emma Farmer, Rufus E. Speight, and Theodore Speight.

An unnamed boy was stillborn to Savannah Powell and Woody Farmer on 26 June 1929 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, his parents’ residence was 706 East Green Street, and he was buried at Rountree Cemetery [probably, Vick.]

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 706 East Green, plasterer John A. Farmer, 60; wife Nona, 61; sons James E., 17, and Woodie, 22, barber; and daughter-in-law Savana, 22, lodge bookkeeper.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1303 Washington Street, Woody Farmer, 33, doorman at Carolina Theatre; wife Savannah, 31, teacher at Ferrell School; and children Levolyre C., 8, William W., 7, Ervin W., 6, and George G., 1.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 502 Reid Street, plasterer Woody Farmer, 42; wife Savannah, 41; and children Woody Jr., 17, John Ervin, 16, George C., 11, and Golden B., 4.