Historic Black Business Series

Historic Black Business Series, no. 35: Levi H. Jones’ Barbershop.

The 500 block of East Nash Street is justly remembered as the 20th century epicenter of Wilson’s African-American-owned businesses. However, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Black entrepreneurs and tradespeople also operated across the tracks. As Wilson’s downtown experiences a resurgence, let’s rediscover and celebrate these pioneering men and women.

Check in each Sunday for the latest in the Historic Black Business Series!

Levi H. Jones operated a barbershop near the site of Wilson County’s Human Relations Office at what was then 105 North Goldsboro Street.

Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory (1908).

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, December 2024.

Historic Black Business Series, no. 34: Isaac J. Young’s blacksmith shop.

The 500 block of East Nash Street is justly remembered as the 20th century epicenter of Wilson’s African-American-owned businesses. However, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Black entrepreneurs and tradespeople also operated across the tracks. As Wilson’s downtown experiences a resurgence, let’s rediscover and celebrate these pioneering men and women.

Check in each Sunday for the latest in the Historic Black Business Series!

In the 1908 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Young Isaac J blacksmith 213 S Goldsboro h 427 Banks

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 315 Spring Street, horseshoer Isaac J. Young, 46; wife Laura, 27; children Cornelius, 12, and Robert, 9; and laborer Henry May, 5 [sic].

In the 1912 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Young Isaac J blksmith 213 S Goldsboro h 427 Banks

Also, in the 1912 directory:

Isic J. Young died 15 March 1913 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 1 May 1864 to Grandison Young and Nancy Cooper; was married; lived at 427 Banks; worked as a horseshoer; and was buried in Oxford, North Carolina. Laura Young was informant.

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, December 2024.

Historic Black Business Series, no. 33: Moses Parker, wood dealer.

The 500 block of East Nash Street is justly remembered as the 20th century epicenter of Wilson’s African-American-owned businesses. However, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Black entrepreneurs and tradespeople also operated across the tracks. As Wilson’s downtown experiences a resurgence, let’s rediscover and celebrate these pioneering men and women.

Check in each Sunday for the latest in the Historic Black Business Series!

Moses Parker was a carpenter and wood dealer whose woodyard today would lie under home plate of the Wilson Warbirds baseball stadium, seen under construction above.

Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory (1916).

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, December 2024.

Historic Black Business Series, no. 32: Sidney Wheeler’s eating house and barbershop.

The 500 block of East Nash Street is justly remembered as the 20th century epicenter of Wilson’s African-American-owned businesses. However, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Black entrepreneurs and tradespeople also operated across the tracks. As Wilson’s downtown experiences a resurgence, let’s rediscover and celebrate these pioneering men and women.

Check in each Sunday for the latest in the Historic Black Business Series!

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Sidney Wheeler, 40, barber; wife Lou, 40, private cook; and children Sidney, 9, Dave, 7, Floyd, 4, and Emma, 2.

Sidney Wheeler’s twin businesses in the 1908 Sanborn fire insurance map of Wilson. 

Sidney Wheeler died 8 March 1912 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 35 years old; was born in Nash County to Richard and Annie Wheeler; worked as a barber; was married; and resided at 710 Vance Street. Lula Wheeler was informant.

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, December 2024.

Historic Black Business Series, no. 31: Moore & Battle, soft drinks.

The 500 block of East Nash Street is justly remembered as the 20th century epicenter of Wilson’s African-American-owned businesses. However, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Black entrepreneurs and tradespeople also operated across the tracks. As Wilson’s downtown experiences a resurgence, let’s rediscover and celebrate these pioneering men and women.

Check in each Sunday for the latest in the Historic Black Business Series!

Around 1912, Henry Moore and John Battle ran a soft drink shop at 217 South Goldsboro Street.

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, December 2024.

Historic Black Business Series, no. 30: C.M. Wells’ blacksmith shop.

The 500 block of East Nash Street is justly remembered as the 20th century epicenter of Wilson’s African-American-owned businesses. However, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Black entrepreneurs and tradespeople also operated across the tracks. As Wilson’s downtown experiences a resurgence, let’s rediscover and celebrate these pioneering men and women.

Check in each Sunday for the latest in the Historic Black Business Series!

Charles Malachi “Mack” Wells‘ blacksmith shop stood on South Tarboro Street near the intersection of Kenan Street. Wells’ broad skill set went beyond blacksmithing to carpentry, wheelwright work, and, late in life, gunsmithing.

In February 1894, Wilson County reimbursed C.M. Wells $2.75 for repair work on a cart.

Wilson Mirror, 26 December 1894.

In September 1896, a man broke into “Mack” Wells’ “tool-chest” and stole some of his tools.

In the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: wheelwright Mack Wells, 40; wife Cherry, 38; and children Bertha, 11, Willie, 9, Clifton, 5, Lillie, 4, and Mary, 2.

1908 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory.

In the 1912 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory, Charles M. Wells is listed as owner of a blacksmith shop, and Clifton and William Wells as blacksmiths working for him.

A few years later, Wells moved his shop across the street. In the 1916 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory, Charles M. Wells is listed as owner of a blacksmith shop at 244 South Tarboro, and Clifton and Willie Wells as blacksmiths working for him.

When Clifton M. Wells’ registered for the World War I draft in 1917, he listed his occupation as blacksmith and machinist for C.M. Wells.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 624 Viola, blacksmith Mack Wells. 57; wife Cherry, 55, washing and ironing; children Clifton, 25, blacksmith, and Marie, 22, washing and ironing; and granddaughter Minnie Green, 8.

In the 1920 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory, C. Mack Wells is listed as a blacksmith at East Kenan near Tarboro. Clinton [sic] Wells is also listed as a blacksmith.

In the 1922 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory, Charles M. Wells is listed as a blacksmith at 107 East Kenan.

In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory; Wells C Malachi (c; Cherry) gunsmith h 615 Viola.

Charles Malacih [Malachi] Wells died 22 August 1939 at Mercy Hospital in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 23 October 1862 in Nash County to Dennis Wells of Nash and Nellie Adams of Nash; was married; resided at 615 Viola; and was a self-employed machinist at Wells Machinery. Informant was Clifton Wells, 700 Warren Street, Wilson.

Historic Black Business Series, no. 29: Collins & Vick Livery Company.

The 500 block of East Nash Street is justly remembered as the 20th century epicenter of Wilson’s African-American-owned businesses. However, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Black entrepreneurs and tradespeople also operated across the tracks. As Wilson’s downtown experiences a resurgence, let’s rediscover and celebrate these pioneering men and women.

Check in each Sunday for the latest in the Historic Black Business Series!

During its brief existence, Collins & Vick Livery Company sold buggies at this location (but perhaps in a predecessor building.)

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, December 2024.

Historic Black Business Series, no. 28: Short W. Barnes’ barbershop.

The 500 block of East Nash Street is justly remembered as the 20th century epicenter of Wilson’s African-American-owned businesses. However, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Black entrepreneurs and tradespeople also operated across the tracks. As Wilson’s downtown experiences a resurgence, let’s rediscover and celebrate these pioneering men and women.

Check in each Sunday for the latest in the Historic Black Business Series!

Short W. Barnes was a carpenter, not a barber, but at least briefly he invested in a barbershop in downtown Wilson that catered to white customers.

1908 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory.

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, March 2024.

Historic Black Business Series, no. 27: William Allen’s grocery.

The 500 block of East Nash Street is justly remembered as the 20th century epicenter of Wilson’s African-American-owned businesses. However, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Black entrepreneurs and tradespeople also operated across the tracks. As Wilson’s downtown experiences a resurgence, let’s rediscover and celebrate these pioneering men and women.

Check in each Sunday for the latest in the Historic Black Business Series!

William Allen‘s grocery was in a block of South Goldsboro Street packed with black businesses in the very early 20th century. The site will soon lie under a baseball stadium.

Allen is listed in the 1908 and 1912 Wilson city directories as a grocer at 412 South Goldsboro Street.

1908 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County, Ann Allen, 32, was described as a grocery clerk. Though her 33 year-old husband Will Allen’s occupation was farm laborer, he seems likely to have been the grocer above.

Historic Black Business Series, no. 26: Braswell R. Winstead’s livery stable.

The 500 block of East Nash Street is justly remembered as the 20th century epicenter of Wilson’s African-American-owned businesses. However, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Black entrepreneurs and tradespeople also operated across the tracks. As Wilson’s downtown experiences a resurgence, let’s rediscover and celebrate these pioneering men and women.

Check in each Sunday for the latest in the Historic Black Business Series!

Braswell R. Winstead attended Lincoln University with Samuel H. Vick and returned to Wilson to teach and work under Vick as assistant postmaster. Winstead later worked as a barber and briefly tried his hand at operating a livery stable at 129 South Goldsboro Street, now the site of Gig East.

1908 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory.

Detail from Sanborn fire insurance map of Wilson, N.C. (1908). John H. Aiken operated a stable at 125; it is not clear how he and Winstead divided the space.

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, March 2024.