Ford

Pvt. Ford killed in Christmas Eve car accident.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 6 January 1945.

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  • Pvt. Horace Clee Ford
  • Orland Braswell — in 1945, Arland Braswell registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 24 April 1927; lived at Route 3, Wilson; his contact was father George Braswell; and he worked for W.E. Barnes, Cherry Hotel, Wilson.
  • Delores Armstrong — in the 1940 census of Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County: carpenter Moses Armstrong, 54; wife Lily, 47; and children Moses E., 21, Ester, 16, Leola, 15, Berniece, 14, and Delois, 11.
  • Jessie Drake — in the 1940 census of Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County: Martha Drake, 65; grandson Jessie N., 12; granddaughter Nannie G., 7; son-in-law John Knight, 44; and daughter Martha D., 32.
  • Henry L. Chisel — in the 1940 census of Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County: farmer Lewis Chissel, 39; wife Louise, 38; and children James, 20, Maybell, 18, Henry Lewis, 14, and Lillie Ruth, 12.
  • Armour Gaston — in the 1940 census of Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County: on Wilson Street, coal yard laborer Armour Gaston, 45; wife Ethel, 42; and sons Lloyd, 21, James, 17, and Armour Jr., 15.

The estate of Clarissa Williams.

Clarissa Williams, teacher and principal at Wilson Colored Graded School, died in October 1921. Her niece Mamie Battle Ford, daughter of her maternal half-brother Richard Battle, was issued letters of administration.

North Carolina Wills and Estates, 1665-1998 [database on-line], http://www.ancestry.com.

Williams’ estate consisted of a house and lot (at 605 East Green Street) worth about $3000 and an estimated $100 in personal property. Her heirs at law were her nieces and nephews Mamie Ford, Fanny Battle, Clinton Battle, and Glynn Battle.

The inventory of Williams’ property, prepared in June 1922, included two dressers, two washstands, four bedsteads, six trunks, a table and six chairs, two sewing machines, a writing desk, two stoves, four center tables, a safe, two bowls and pitchers, 11 bed quilts, eight pillows, two feather beds, three sets of springs, and two rockers.

Ford filed her final report on 24 March 1923. The sale of Williams’ personal property had netted what must have been a disappointing $77. Nearly half of that amount went to pay a tax bill and $15.oo went to pay medical bills, including five dollars to Henrietta Colvert for nursing services.

Wilson County, N.C., Property Settlement Records 1923-1931, http://www.familysearch.org.

Ford reported that she was “unable to give the bond for the proceeds of the house and lot sold by the mortgagee” and resigned as administrator.  In her stead, the Superior Court appointed E.A. Darden, trust officer for Branch Banking and Trust, as the bank held the mortgage on Clarissa Williams’ house.

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In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Clarcy Williams, 50; roomer Curtis Ford, 37, house carpenter; nephew [sic] Mamie Ford, 24; and roomers [sic] Lias L., 4, and Quincey B. Ford, 2.

The obituary of Nathaniel Ford Jr. of Trenton, New Jersey.

Trenton Evening Times, 30 April 1986.

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In 1940, Nathaniel Ford registered for the World War II draft in Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey. Per his registration card, he was born 15 June 1906 in Wilson, N.C.; lived at 111 Fall Street, Trenton; his contact was friend Effie Olston; and he worked for W.P.A.-Fort Dix, N.J.

In the 1950 census of Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey: Nathaniel Ford, 43, building construction laborer; wife J.M., 33; children Nathaniel F., 6, Jimmie, 5, and Jay R., 1; and roomer Maud Stevenson, 34, cleaning woman.

Augusta Caple Ford, farmer and learner.

Wilson Daily Times, 17 August 1945.

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In the 1930 census of Black Creek township, North Carolina: farmer James Caple, 36; wife Mary, 37; and children Willie, 16, and Augusta, 12.

On 29 December 1937, Clinton Ford, 23, of Crossroads township, son of Jonathan and Annie Ford, married Augusta Caple, 20, of Crossroads township, daughter of James and Mary Caple. Primitive Baptist minister David Bynum performed the ceremony in the presence of Leslie Lee Miller, Robert Bynum, and Lonnie H. Rose.

In 1940, John Clinton Ford registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 18 April 1914 in Wilson County; lived at R.F.D. #1, Lucama; his contact was wife Agusta Ford; and he was self-employed.

In the 1950 census of Oldfields township, Wilson County: farmer John C. Ford, 35; wife Augusta C., 32; and roomer Nathaniel Williams, 20.

Augusta Ford died 16 September 1951 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 6 September 1917 in Rockingham County, N.C., to James Capel and Mary Riggins; was married to Clinton Ford; worked as a farmer; lived at R.F.D. 1, Simms; and was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery.

Clipping courtesy of J. Robert Boykin III.

Mother Emma F. Winstead of Saint Luke F.W.B. Church.

Emma Ford Winstead (1891-1950).

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On 21 July 1917, Emma Ford, 22, of Stantonsburg, daughter of Smith and Mary Ford, married Walter Winstead, 20, of Stantonsburg, son of James and Eliza Winstead, in Wilson.

In the 1920 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farm tenant Walter Winstead, 23; wife Emma, 24; and daughter Anlizer, 2.

In the 1930 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Walter Winstead, 39; wife Emma, 30, washwoman; and children Anna Liza, 12, Nancy B., 10, Clara, 8. Walter L., 6, Milton, 5, Clarence, 3, and Willie, 1.

In 1942, Walter Lee Winstead registered for the World War II in Wilson County, North Carolina. Per his registration card, he was born 12 October 1924 in Wilson County, N.C.; lived in Stantonsburg; his contact was his mother Emma Winstead; he worked “helping father on farm,” and had a scar on his right cheek.

In the 1950 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Walter Winstead, 45; wife Emma, 50; and children Nancy, 28, Walter, 23, Clarence, 20, Willie, 19, Lois, 18, Jessie, 10, and William, 6.

Photo courtesy of Saint Luke Free Will Baptist Church, Stantonsburg. Thank you!

James Wiggins shot to death at tobacco barn.

Wilson Daily News, 18 November 1921.

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James Wiggins, in fact, was fatally wounded. In fact, by time this article ran, he had been dead four days and buried two.

James Wiggins died 14 November 1921 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 26 years old; was born in Edgecombe County, N.C., to George Wiggins and Mary Pitt; and was a common laborer. 

  • Isaac Ford

On 10 October 1912, Isaac Ford, 22, married Jane Peaton, 21, both of Black Creek, were married at Peaton’s father’s house in Nahunta township, Wayne County (though their marriage license was issued in Wilson County.) H.R. Minshew applied for the license, and Missionary Baptist minister N.S. Newton performed the ceremony in the presence of John R. James, Peter Applewhite, and Charlie Newton.

In 1917, Isaac Ford registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 6 August 1889 in Fremont [Wayne County], N.C.; lived in Fremont; was a self-employed farmer; and had a wife and child.

In the 1920 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Isaac Ford, 32; wife Jane, 35, farm laborer; and son Calvin, 8. 

On 28 May 1927, Isaac Ford, 37, of Black Creek, married Nora Dickerson, 26, of Black Creek, in Wilson in the presence of Braxton Davis, Hugh Campbell, and Calvin Ford.

1008 Mercer Street.

This house is not within the bounds of East Wilson Historic District. However, the blocks of Mercer Street southwest of the Norfolk & Southern Railroad lines have been an African-American residential area since the early twentieth century. This house, with its original brackets, turned posts, balusters, and other millwork, is the gem of the block.

Per its architecture, I would peg the construction date of this house around the turn of the 20th century. City directories from that era, however, do not list house numbers for Mercer Street, describing houses only as “near Norfolk & Southern Railroad.”

The 1922 Sanborn fire insurance map shows 1008 Mercer as the last house inside city limits on that side of the street.

Detail from 1922 Sanborn fire insurance map of Wilson, N.C.

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Collins Debora (c) lndrs h 1008 Mercer

In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Collins Deborah (c) lndrs h 1008 Mercer

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1008 Mercer, owned and valued at $3000, South Carolina-born widow Deborah Collins, 37, laundress, and niece Clara Thomas, 26, public school teacher.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1008 Mercer, rented at $16/month, James Hall, 31, cook at Cherry Hotel; wife Edith, 31, stemmer at redrying plant; children James Jr., 10, and Lurrine, 8; and adopted son Columbus Dawson, 23, laborer at redrying plant.

In 1940, James Hardy Hall registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 6 October 1909 in Wilson; lived at 1008 Mercer; his contact was wife Edith Burnette Hall; and he was unemployed.

In the 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Hall Jas H (c; Edith E; 2) cook h 1008 Mercer

In 1942, Lonnie Ford registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 3 May 1924 in Dillon, South Carolina; lived at 1008 Mercer Street, Wilson; his mailing address was 1612 6th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.; his contact was Thomas Ford, 1008 Mercer; and he worked for War Department Bureau No. 5, Washington, D.C.

In the 1947 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Ford Thomas (c; Dora) confectioner 515 E Nash h 1008 Mercer

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, April 2022.

The obituary of Mamie Battle Ford, teacher.

Wilson Daily Times, 16 November 1946.

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Earnestine Ford died 10 November 1916 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was five months old; was born in Wilson to Curtis Ford of Dillon County, S.C., and Mamie Battle of Wayne County, N.C. Curtis Ford, 605 East Green Street, was informant.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Clarcy Williams, 50; roomer Curtis Ford, 37, house carpenter; nephew [sic] Mamie Ford, 24; and roomer Lias L., 4, and Quincey B. Ford, 2. [Mamie Battle Ford was the daughter of Clarissa Williams’ half-brother Richard Battle.]

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 407 Carroll, rented for $12/month, Curtis Ford, 52; sons Quincey, 20, and Harvey G., 19; wife Mayme, 42; son-in-law Liston Sellers, 22; daughter Leah, 22; and granddaughter Yvette Sellers, 2.

In 1940, Quincey Ford registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 23 October 1918 in Wilson; lived at 910 East Green Street; his contact was mother Mamye Ford; and he was employed by E.B. Pittman, 509 East Nash Street.

In 1942, Harvey Gray Ford registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 8 January 1921 in Wilson; lived at 910 East Green Street; his contact was mother Mamie Ford; and he was unemployed. His card is marked: “Dead Cancelled Feb. 19, 1943.”

Harvey Gray Ford died 4 June 1942 in Falling Creek township, Lenoir County, North Carolina, “drowned no boat involved.” He was born 8 January 1921 in Wilson, N.C., to Curtis Ford of Dillon, S.C., and Mamie Battle of Wayne County, N.C.; was a student; and was single. Mamie Ford, 910 East Green Street, was informant.

Mamie Battle Ford died 14 November 1946 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate, she was born 29 November 1892 in Wayne County to Richard Battle and Leah [Coley] Battle; was married to Curtis Ford; was engaged in teaching; and was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery.

Quincy Ford died 2 December 1965 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Per his death certificate, he was born 23 October 1918 in North Carolina to Curtis Ford and Mamie Battle Ford; lived at 2037 Master Street, Philadelphia; was a machine operator; and was married to Helen Ford.