Farmer

A committee to look for a burial ground.

Late local historian Hugh B. Johnston Jr.’s file contain this note, apparently copied from volumes of city commissioners or boards of aldermen meetings that cannot now be located:

“Dec. 17, 1888 Oakview Cemetery. Gray Farmer, [illegible] Robinson, and Washington Sugg were appt. a Committee to look for a burial ground for the colored people.”

This is the earliest reference to a public African-American cemetery in Wilson and appears to presage the establishment of Oakdale (also called Oaklawn, Oakland, Oakwood, and Oakview) Cemetery in the area of present-day Cemetery Street south to the former Elvie Street School. Sugg (or Suggs) owned extensive property in the area, and the deed for his first land purchase refers to a preexisting “graveyard lot” near his property. This lot may have been developed into a city cemetery.

However, an 1895 Wilson Daily Times article mentions that county commissioners had begun to search for a “suitable burying ground for the colored people.” What had happened (or not happened) in the previous seven years?

Oakdale Cemetery, which was active until about 1920, was the predecessor of Vick Cemetery.

Thanks to J. Robert Boykin for bringing this to my attention.

The death of Joseph Marvin Farmer.

Wilson Daily Times, 9 June 1947.

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In the 1930 census of Smithfield, Johnston County, North Carolina: farmer Elija Farmer, 39; wife Nancy, 38, child nurse; and children Georgia, 9, Eli, 7, Frank, 6, Booker T., 4, Marvin, 3, and Lizzie M., 1.

In the 1940 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: town garbage remover Elijah Farmer, 49; wife Nancy, 49, midwife; and children Georgia B., 19, Elijah Jr., 18, Frank, 15, Booker T., 14, Marvin, 13, Lizzie May, 11, Alfred, 10, Marjorie, 6, Doris, 5, and Joe Lewis, 2.

Joseph Marvin Farmer died 6 June 1947 at Central Prison, Raleigh, North Carolina, of asphyxiation by court order of State of North Carolina. Per his death certificate, he was born 8 May 1927 in Wilson County to Elijah Farmer and Nancy McNeil; was a farmer; was single; resided in Johnston County; and was buried in Wilson.

Statesville Record and Landmark, 6 June 1947.

The obituary of Johnny Farmer.

Wilson Daily Times, 31 March 1944. 

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In the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: George Farmer, 60, teamster; wife Bettie, 62, laundress; and children George N., 21, teamster, Miner, 19, Aulander, 18, drayman, Willie, 17, farm laborer, Johney, 15, farm laborer, and daughter Emma, 12.

In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Finchs Mills Road, George Farmer, 78, livery stable laborer; wife Bettie, 62, laundress; son John, 18, butler; and daughter Emma, 16, nurse.

In 1917, Johnie Farmer registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 4 February 1895 in Wilson; lived on Finch Mill Road; worked as a butler for Mrs. F.S. Davis, Wilson; and was unmarried.

On 25 July 1919, Johnnie Farmer sailed with Company C, 348th Service Battalion, from Brest, France, to the Port of New York abroad the U.S.S. Finland.

In the 1920 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Bynum Street, Bettie Farmer, 56, widow, and children Emma, 23, cook, and Johnnie, 25, butler.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 714 Stronach Avenue, paying $10/month in rent, cook Johnny Farmer, 50, and his mother Betty, 85, widow.

Johnie Farmer died 30 March 1944 after 912 days at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Kecoughtan, Elizabeth City County, Virginia. Per his death certificate, he was born in 1893 in Wilson, N.C., to George Farmer and Betsey Crowell [Crumell]; was single; was a cook; was a World War I veteran; and ordinarily lived at 714 Stronach Alley, Wilson. His body was returned to Wilson for burial.

Clipping courtesy of J. Robert Boykin III; Army Transport Service Arriving and Departing Passenger Lists 1910-1939, http://www.ancestry.com.

Chester Woodard participates in corn variety test.

Wilson Daily Times, 6 May 1940.

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In the 1920 census of Speights Bridge township, Greene County, N.C.: farmer Johnie Woodard, 28; wife Emma Line, 29; and children Marvin, 6, Chester, 4, and Mary Adell, 21 months.

In the 1930 census of Gardners, Wilson County: farmer Johnie Woodard, 47; wife Emma L., 45; children Marvin, 18, Chester, 16, Adell, 14, Vernell[Vernon] L., 12, Jounes [Junius], 10, and Sherman W., 6; and lodger John McCory, 28.

In the 1940 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: widow Emiline Woodard, 48, farmer, and children Marvin, 26, farmer, Chester, 24, farmer, Mary, 21, beautician, Vornal, 19, Junious, 15, Helen G., 9, Bennie J., 6, and Thurman, 12.

In 1940, Chester B. Woodard registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his draft registration, he was born 5 August 1915 in Greene County, N.C.; lived at R.F.D. #4, Wilson; his contact was Emiline Woodard, mother; and was employed by Emiline Woodard.

Raids on moonshiners.

Wilson Daily Times, 19 March 1941.

  • Stokey Manning 

In the 1940 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Stokey Manning, 23; wife Nina, 18; and son James, 3.

In 1940, Elbert “Stoky” Manning registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 16 August 1916 in South Carolina; lived at R.F.D. 1, Elm City; his contact was wife Nina Bannon Manning; and he worked for farmer T.J. Wiggins, R.F.D. 1.

  • Joe Hester

In the 1940 census of Taylors township, Wilson County: widower Joe Hester, 39; sons Jasper, 16, Walton, 14, and Elmer, 9; and siblings Annie, 21, Edward, 16, and Lawerence Hester, 19.

In 1942, Joe Hester registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 3 August 1900 in Granville County, N.C.; lived at Route #1, Taylors; his contact was W.H. Davis, Route 1; and he worked for farmer U.H. Cozart, Route 1.

  • Booker T. Farmer

On 18 September 1937, Booker T. Farmer, 21, of Gardners township, son of Robert and “Babe” Farmer, married Sarah Williams, 22, of Gardners township, daughter of Turner and Lula Williams, in Wilson.

In the 1940 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Booker T. Farmer, 23; wife Sarah, 24; and daughter Fannie, 2.

In 1940, Booker Washington Farmer registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 26 June 1916 in Edgecombe County, N.C.; his contact was wife Sarah Williams Farmer; and he worked for T.J. Wiggins, Elm City.

Clipping courtesy of J. Robert Boykin III.

1203 Atlantic Street.

The one hundred-forty-eighth in a series of posts highlighting buildings in East Wilson Historic District, a national historic district located in Wilson, North Carolina. As originally approved, the district encompasses 858 contributing buildings and two contributing structures in a historically African-American section of Wilson. (A significant number have since been lost.) The district was developed between about 1890 to 1940 and includes notable examples of Queen Anne, Bungalow/American Craftsman, and Shotgun-style architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

As described in the nomination form for the East Wilson Historic District, this building is: “ca. 1930; 1 story; shotgun with bungalow type porch posts.”

In the 1925 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Farmer Chas W (c) lab h 1203 Atlanta [Atlantic]

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Farmer Chas W (c; Maggie) h 1203 Atlanta

In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Farmer Chas W (c; Maggie) h 1203 Atlanta 

Charlie W. Farmer, son of Jeff and Blanch Gay Farmer, died 10 October 1938 in an Asheville, N.C., veterans hospital. His widow Maggie Farmer, who remained in the home they shared on Atlantic Street, ordered a flat military headstone for his grave in Rest Haven Cemetery. 

In the 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Batts Edw (c; Eliza) chauf h 1203 Atlantic av

In the 1947 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Batts Edw (c; Eliz) butler h 1203 Atlantic av

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, January 2022.