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.
Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 19 January 1929.
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Wilson Daily Times, 14 November 1942.
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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.
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.
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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.
In 1868, Robert Hilliard Farmer and Haywood White were among 11 “d—d black Radicals” crammed into a tiny jail cell, threatened, given meagre portions of over-salted meat and deprived of water, and viciously beaten because they would not support the Democratic party. White’s cry, under torture, that he had already sworn an oath to support the Constitution and the Union hints that the men may have been members of the Union, or Loyal, League, which formed across the South during Reconstruction to mobilize freedmen to register to vote and to vote Republican. About ten days before this story broke in the Raleigh Standard, Bill Grimes, local president of the League, had been jailed in Wilson for allegedly burning down the house of a white man who had shot a black man named David Ruffin.
New-York Tribune, 19 September 1868.
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On 14 September 1869, Haywood White, son of Benj. and Selie White, married Martha Daniel, daughter of Dennis and Exie Daniel, in Wilson County.
In the 1870 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farm laborer Haywood White, 26; wife Martha, 17; son Robert, 11 months; and Noah Tyson, 21, farm laborer.
Perhaps, in the 1880 census of Jamesville, Martin County, N.C.: laborer Haywood White, 40; wife Martha, 30; and sons Alexandria, 15, and Elisha, 12.
On 13 April 1910, Haywood White, 60, of Black Creek township, married Luetta Oggins, 40, of Black Creek township, at White’s house.
In the 1910 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: laborer Haywood White, 65, and wife Rosetta, 37. Haywood reported having been married three times; Rosetta, twice.
Haywood White died 14 March 1914 in Black Creek township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 22 November 1840 in South Carolina; was married; and worked as a farmer. B.S. Jordan of Wilson was informant.
The descendants of Robert and Katie Farmer Hall hold yearly reunions up and down the Atlantic seacoast! This year, the family gathered in Delaware to renew and reaffirm their deep Wilson County ties!
Photo courtesy of Barbara Hall Jones.
Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 17 July 1943.
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In the 1930 census of Taylors township, Wilson County: Howard Farmer, 52, wife Sarah, 51, and son Quinton, 7.
In the 1940 census of Taylors township, Wilson County: Howard Farmer, 61, wife Sarah, 61, and son Quenten, 17.
In 1942, Quentin Alston Farmer registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 16 December 1922 in Wilson; lived at Route 2, Elm City; and his contact and employer was father Howard Farmer.
On 21 June 1943, Quenton Farmer, 20, of Elm City, son of Howard and Sarah V. Farmer, married Annie Elizabeth Cooke, 22, of Wilson, daughter of J.L. and Clara R. Cooke, in Wilson. A.M.E. Zion minister William A. Hilliard performed the ceremony in the presence of J.L. Cooke, Charles James, and Carter Foster.
On 4 June 1952, Quentin A. Farmer, 29, of Wilson, son of Howard and Sarah Farmer, married Cecil Chaminade Clinton, 28, of Wilson, daughter of Willie and Lottie Clinton of Silver Spring, Maryland, in Weldon, Halifax County, N.C.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Hadley Street, railroad mail clerk Jerry L. Cook, 43; wife Clara, 39, teacher; children Henderson, 20, Edwin D., 18, Clara G., 14, Georgia E., 12, Annie, 8, Jerry L., 6, and Eunice D., 4; sister Georgia E. Wyche, 48, teacher; and nieces Kathaline Wyche, 7, and Reba Whittington, 19.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 916 East Green Street, railway clerk J.L. Cook, 54, born Wake County; wife Clara, 48, born Craven County; children Henderson J., 30, Clara, 24, Annie, 18, Jerry, 16, and Eunice, 14; and cousin Ella Godette, 18. Henderson and young Clara were born in New Bern; the remaining children in Wilson.
Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 9 June 1934.
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In the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Hilliard Farmer, 53; wife Annie, 53; children John, 20, Bettie, 15, Mahaly, 13, Contesta, 12, and Jesse, 11; and grandchildren Lou Genie, 14, and Eddie, 21.
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: William Lonzie, 35; wife Bettie, 33; children Paul, 16, Willis, 13, and Bertha, 11; and lodger Solomon Bullock, 33.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 305 North Hackney, rented for $16/month, grocery store salesman William Lonze, 44; wife Bittie, 43, laundress; and daughter Alberta, 21.
Bettie Lonzie died 20 May 1934 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 47 years old; was born in Wilson County to Hilliard Farmer and Bobie Mason; was married to William Lonzie; lived at 803 East Nash Street; and was buried in Wilson.