Howard

Colored School Committee No. 17 buys a one-acre lot.

I’m reading Grace Elizabeth Hale’s In the Pines: A Lynching, A Lie, A Reckoning (about which, more, later), and this passage stood out: “The categories of public and private did not quite capture how schools operated in the early twentieth century in many areas of the rural South. In one sense, most schools were ‘private,’ meaning they were organized and run by the families that sent students and provided a building and other resources. In another sense, they were almost all public, as most got some funding — for Black schools it could be a pittance — from public revenues ….”

Until just after World War I, Wilson County’s Board of Education comprised dozens of tiny school districts designated white or colored. The schools in these districts dated as far back as the 1880s and, by 1900, one-, two, and three-room schoolhouses, mostly serving white students, dotted the landscape. The Board consolidated its white schools into several modern brick facilities in the early 1920s, and many of the old wooden buildings, already long past their prime, were converted to use for Black students.

However, a few early African-American schools were purpose-built on land donated or sold at low cost by Black farmers to “colored school” commissioners for the benefit of the community. Howard Colored School in western Wilson County was an example.  

In the summer of 1891, A.M. Thompson (a well-to-do white farmer) and Ira Howard, committeemen for colored district number 17, paid John and Mary Howard Taylor a nominal sum for a small plot of land. John Taylor was Ira Howard’s brother-in-law. The Howards, Taylors, and other families, such as Eatmons and Brantleys, descended from free people of color with close kinship ties to white families on both sides of the Nash-Wilson county border. They were generally prosperous farmers, and it is not surprising their members took leading roles in the establishment of a community school.

This deed made this the 6th day of June AD 1891 Between John Taylor and wife Mary of the County of Wilson and State of North Carolina of the first part and A.M. Thompson and Ira Howard School Committee for the Colored Race in district No. 17 and State and County aforesaid of the second part witnesseth that whereas the said John Taylor and wife Mary has for and in consideration of the sum of Ten Dollars to them in hand paid by the said A.M. Thompson Ira Howard as school committee out of Public School funds appropriated to said district, the receipt and payment whereof is hereby acknowledged have bargained and sold and by these presents does hereby bargain sell and convey unto the said A.M. Thompson and Ira Howard and to their successors in office one lot of land lying and being in Taylors township Wilson County and State aforesaid commencing at a red oak on the line between T.R. [Thomas Ruffin] Lamm and John Taylor thence South to a black jack oak thence East to lightwood stake thence North to a lightwood stake thence with west to the beginning containing one acre more or less to have and to hold and to their successors in office bounded by the lands of T.R. Lamm and ….”

Deed book 30, page 82, Wilson County Register of Deeds Office, Wilson.

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  • A.M. Thompson
  • John and Mary Taylor

In the 1880 census of Taylors township, Wilson County: farmer John Taylor, 34; wife Mary, 25; and children Mouzouria, 4, and George, 2.

In the 1900 census of Taylors township, Wilson County: farmer John Taylor, 50; wife Mary, 45; and children Jessie, 19, Hubard, 14, John R., 13, Eddie, 10, and Addie, 6.

In the 1910 census of Taylors township, Wilson County: farmer Mary Taylor, 55, widow; children George, 31, Jesse, 29, John R., 23, Eddie, 20, and Addie, 17; and brother Allison Howard, 34.

Addie Brantley died 15 February 1917 in Taylors township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was 22 years old; was born in North Carolina to John Taylor and Mary Howard; was married; and worked as a farmhand. Charlie Brantley was informant.

John Richard Taylor died 7 November 1917 in Wilson township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 2 March 1884 in Wilson County to John Taylor and Mary Howard; was married; worked as a carpenter; and was buried in Wilson County. Eddie Taylor was informant.

Jessie Taylor died 23 June 1920 in Taylors township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was 38 years old; was born in Wilson County to John Taylor and Mary Howard; was married to Fannie Taylor; and worked as a farmer. Gilbert Howard was informant.

Missouri Moore died 28 July 1920 in Taylors township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was 46 years old; was born in Wilson County to John Taylor and Mary Howard; and was married. Dewitt Moore was informant.

In the 1930 census of Taylors township, Wilson County: widow Mary Howard, 80, and brother Gilbert Howard, 65.

Mary Taylor died 31 May 1930 in Wilson township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was 80 years old; was born in Wilson County to Deal Howard and Rhoda Eatman; was a widow; was a farmer; and was buried in Wilson. Gilbert Howard was informant.

The estate of John Howard (1863).

John Howard‘s slender estate file contains this list of enslaved people.

  • Julia, 37 yrs, very infirm
  • Martha, 13 yrs
  • Daniel, 17 yrs
  • Isabel, 19 yrs
  • Edward, born Jany 31 1863
  • Ann, 38 yrs
  • Emma, 6 yrs
  • Bill, 4 yrs
  • Hester, 12 yrs
  • Jane, 27 yrs
  • Emily, 3 yrs
  • Mary, 7 yrs
  • Willie, 19 yrs

The list may be arranged in family groups, i.e. Julia and her children Martha and Daniel; Isabel and her son Edward; Ann and her children Emma, Bill, and Hester; Jane and her children Emily and Mary; and Willie. Surprisingly, there were no adult men in the group.

John Howard may have been Confederate Major John Howard, who died in October 1862 of wounds inflicted at Sharpsburg, Maryland, during the Battle of Antietam. Though the people he had enslaved were freed just two years after this inventory was made, I have not been able to trace forward anyone in this list.

John Howard Estate File, Wilson County; North Carolina Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998, http://www.ancestry.com.

Howard shoots and injures three.

Wilson Daily Times, 10 December 1945.

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In the 1910 census of Taylor township, Wilson County: on Howards Path, farmer William Howard, 26; wife Lula A., 26; and children Percy Lee, 3, and Essie May, 11 months.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Atlantic Street, Lucy Howard, 35, and children Parcy, 13, Lizzie, 9, Lola Bell, 8, William, 6, Aurtha P., 4, and Walter L., 3.

In the 1925 New York state census, Percy Howard is listed as a waiter living at Forest Hills Inn, Station Square, Queens. 

On 4 March 1926, Percy Howard and Marie Robinson were married in Wilson.

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Howard Percy (c; Marie) barber E L Artis h 717 E Green. [Ernest L. Artis‘ barbershop was at 517 East Nash Street.]

In the 1930 census of Manhattan, New York, New York, Percy Howard, 23, born in North Carolina, billiard parlor porter, was a lodger at 746 Saint Nicholas.

In the 1940 census of Manhattan, New York, New York, Percy L. Howard, 34, and wife Frances, 28, were lodgers at 119 West 115th Street.

In 1940, Percy Lee Howard registered for the World War II draft in Manhattan, New York, New York. Per his registration card, he was born 16 May 1906 in Wilson, N.C.; lived at 119 West 115 Street (also, 267 West 114 Street #1, 267 West 114 Street #3W); his contact was mother Lulu Ennie Howard; and he was self-employed. The registrar noted that Howard’s “left facial muscles paralyzed from stroke.”

Wilson Daily Times, 7 February 1946.

Percy Lee Howard’s obituary was published in the Wilson Daily Times on 19 December 1968. He died in New York City.

Snaps, no. 109: James E. and Narcissa Dunn Howard.

James E. Howard and Narcissa “Cisco” Dunn Howard.

In the 1880 census of Jackson township, Nash County, N.C.: Ira Howard, 22; wife Harriet, 21; son James E., 1; servant Merica Fanner, 8; and brother George Howard, 21.

In the 1880 census of Dunn township, Franklin County, N.C.: John Dunn, 35; wife Jone, 26; and children Maggie, 7, Victora, 6, Welden, 5, Narcissa, 3, and an unnamed boy, 10 months.

On 22 November 1899, James Howard, 22, of Taylor township, married Cisco Dunn, 20, of Wilson, in Taylor township.

In the 1900 census of Taylor township, Wilson County: farmer James Howard, 20, and wife Cisco, 20.

In the 1910 census of Dry Wells township, Nash County, N.C.: farmer James Howard, 36; wife Sisco, 30; and children William, 10, John, 9, James R., 7, Dempsy P., 5, Miria, 4, and Alice, 2.

In the 1920 census of Jackson township, Nash County: farmer James Howard, 47; wife Sisco, 40; and children Wm., 19, John, 17, James, 16, Dempsey, 14, Myrtle, 13, Sam, 9, Erley, 8, Beulah, 6, Ernest, 5, and Laura, 2.

James Howard died 18 November 1923 in “Col. Hospital,” Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 52 years old; was born in Wilson County to Ora Howard and Harriet Wilkins; and was a tenant farmer for J.R. Brantley. Sisco Howard was informant.

In the 1930 census of Mannings township, Nash County: farmer Cisco Howard, 51, widow, and children James, 25, Dempsie P., 23, Alice, 20, Faro, 19, Early, 18, Beulah, 15, Earnest, 13, and Lorene, 12.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: widow Sisco Howard, 63, laundress; son Dempsie Howard, 34, servant; daughter Earlie Hester, 28, servant; granddaughter Eva May Hester, 7; and daughter Laura Howard, 22, tobacco stemmer.

In 1940, Ernest Howard registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 15 April 1915 in Wilson; his contact was mother Sisco Howard, 312 Pender Street; and he worked for Mollie Howard, R.F.D. #1, Wilson.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Pender Street Alley, widow Sisco Howard, 71; daughter Early, 28, widow; and granddaughter Eva Mae, 17, servant.

Sisco Howard died 29 July 1958 at her home at 312 Pender Street, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 15 July 1885 in Franklin County, N.C., to John Dunn and Flora Harris; she was a widow; and her informant was Earlie Hester.

Photo courtesy of Ancestry.com user Joshua Freeman.

Studio shots, no. 226: Phenie Powell Howard.

Phenie Powell Fleming Kornegay Howard (1873-1970).

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In the 1880 census of Taylor township, Wilson County, N.C.: farmer Ichabud Powell, 32; wife Mary A., 32; and children Beedy A., 9, Pheny, 7, John, 5, James W., 4, Henry G., 3, and Mary A.E., 11 months.

In the 1910 census of Taylor township: on Finchs Road, farm laborer William Fleming, 35; wife Phanie, 24, farm laborer; daughter Geneva Howard, 4; and orphan Annie Holy, 13, farm laborer. 

On 29 November 1921, Allison Howard, son of Deal and Rhoda Howard, married Phenie Kornegay, 40, daughter of Jacob [sic] and Mary Powell, in Wilson. William Powell and Mattie Lucas witnessed the ceremony.

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Howard Allison (c; Feenie) lab h 401 N Reid

In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Howard Allison (c; Thenie) farm hd h 400 (401) N Reid

Moses Allerson Howard died 6 October 1937 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 70 years old; was born in Wilson County to Deal Howard and Rhoda Eatmon; was married to Phenina Howard; worked as a farmer; and was buried in Wilson [likely, Vick Cemetery.]

Phenie Powell Howard died 13 January 1970 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 20 April 1890 to an unnamed father and Mary Lassiter; was a widow; and lived at 400 North Reid Street. Mahalie Harmon, Washington, D.C., was informant.

Photo courtesy of Levolyre Farmer Pitt.

The last will and testament of Ira Howard.

Ira Howard made out his will on 24 August 1906.

  • to son James Howard, a 42 1/2-acre tract known as the “Joe Howard tract” and a 28 1/2-acre tract called the “Ivey Ivens tract”;
  • to son William Howard, the 50-acre “home place” tract and the 22 1/2-acre “Cally Taylor lands”;

  • to Manuel Batchelor, Silver Lee Batchelor and Roxie Ann Batchelor, children of Mahala Batchelor (once they reached age 21), the 50-acre “Jim Taylor lands,” the 22-acre “Peter High lands,” and the 22-acre “Cally Taylor lands,” to be equally divided;

  • William Howard was to serve as guardian for the Batchelor children;
  • all personal property, including farm animals, farm implements, furniture, and crops was to be sold to pay debts, with the remainder divided equally between sons James and William Howard (with William to receive an extra $150 to make up for the $150 James owed their father);

  • and son William Howard was appointed executor.

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In the 1870 census of Taylors township, Wilson County: farmer Delus [Zealous] Howard, 35, wife Rodah, 33, and children Mary, 16, Ira, 13, George, 11, Delus, 8, Gibbs, 6, Jesse, 3, and Doctor, 1.

On 26 December 1877, Orry [Ira] Howard, 22, married Harriet Wilkins, 22, in Wilson County.

In the 1880 census of Jackson township, Nash County, N.C.: farmer Ira Howard, 22; wife Harriet, 21; son James E., 1; servant Merica Farmer, 8; plus brother George Howard, 21.

In the 1900 census of Taylor township, Wilson County: farmer Ira Howard, 45; wife Harette, 44; and son William, 15; also James Howard, 20, and wife Cisco, 20.

On 15 November 1895, Willie Lucas, 23, of Nash County, son of John Kalis and Frances Lucas, married Sylvia Howard, 21, of Nash County, daughter of Ira Howard and Mahala Batchelor, in Taylor township, Wilson County.

William Howard died 18 January 1918 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 30 June 1892 in Wilson County to Ira Howard and Harriett Wilkins; was married; and worked as a farmer. Lula Howard of Wilson was informant.

James Howard died 18 November 1923 at the “Col. Hospital” in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 26 October 1875 in Wilson County to Ora Howard and Harriet Wilkins; was married to Sisco Howard; and was a tenant farmer for J.R. Brantley.

Manuel Howard died 7 December 1930 in Rocky Mount, Nash County, N.C. Per his death certificate, he was perhaps 50 years old; was born in Wilson to Ara Howard and Lizzie Batchelor; was a farmer; and was married. Sylvie Lucas, Wilson, was informant.

Will Book 4, page 112, Office of Clerk of Superior Court, Wilson County Courthouse, Wilson

Studio shots, no. 206: Bessie Eatmon Howard.

Bessie Eatmon Howard  (1898-1971).

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In the 1900 census of Oldfields township, Wilson County: farm laborer Henry Eatmon, 25; wife Mahala A., 21; and daughter Bessie, 1.

In the 1910 census of Oldfields township, Wilson County: farmer Henry Eatmon, 35; wife Hally A., 35; children Bessie, 12, Wade, 7, and Mack, 2; and hired man Willie Durden, 17.

On 14 November 1919, Willie Howard, 22, of Nash County, N.C., married Bessie Eatmon, 20, of Nash County, in Taylor township, Wilson County. Duncan Eatmon was a witness.

In the 1920 census of Jackson township, Nash County: farmer Willie Howard, 22, and wife Bessie, 21.

In the 1930 census of Ferrells township, Nash County: farmer Willie Howard, 34; wife Bessie, 31; and children Vester, 9, Ruby, 8, Exie M., 6, Lee, 5, Roman, 2, and Madeline, 8 months.

In the 1940 census of Ferrells township, Nash County: farmer Willie Howard, 48; wife Bessie, 39; and children Vester, 20, Ruby, 18, Ellabe, 13, Roma, 12, Magaleen, 10, W.H. Jr., 7, Bessie, 6, and Carilene, 3.

In the 1950 census of Ferrells township, Nash County: farmer Willie Howard, 52; wife Bessie, 48; and children Romer, 22, W.H. Jr., 17, Bessie Ann, 14, and Caroline, 12.

Bessie Howard died 20 March 1971 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 11 September 1899 to Hand Eatmon and Hallie [maiden name unknown]; was married to Willie Howard; and lived at Route 2, Middlesex, Nash County.

Photo courtesy of Ancestry.com user howardm49.

The last will and testament of Zealous Howard Sr.

We have read here, here, and here of Zealous “Deal” Howard Sr., who was born a free person of color in what was then Nash County, N.C., and developed relative wealth as a farmer and landowner in Taylor township, Wilson County. Howard died in 1911, leaving a detailed last will and testament executed in 1905. Some of the land he owned still remains in the hands of his descendants.

After directing payment of his debts and funeral expenses, Howard bequeathed:

  • to son Ira Howard, five dollars, noting that Ira had already received 37 acres of land;
  • to son Dock Howard, five dollars and nothing more (though he noted that Dock had previously received “advances”);
  • to daughter Anner Blackwell, a lifetime interest in a 4 1/4 acre tract of land, with the remainder to Anna’s daughter Lydia Blackwell and any other children;

  • to son Zelius Howard, a lifetime interest in a 38 3/4-acre parcel of land on Cabin Branch, with the remainder to his children;
  • to son Kenyon Howard, his “home tract” containing 50 7/8 acres on Cabin Branch, with the remainder to his children if he had any, and if not, to be divided equally among Anner Blackwell, Zelius Howard, Jesse Howard, and Mary Taylor (or their children, if they are deceased);

  • to son Jesse Howard, a lifetime interest in a 42 1/2-acre tract, with the remainder to his children;
  • to son Allison Howard, a lifetime interest in a 42 1/2-acre tract, with the remainder to his children if he had any, but if not to daughter Mary Taylor (or her children if she were dead);

  • to son James Gilbert Howard, a lifetime interest in the rest of his property, consisting of the 27 1/2-acre “Nelson Eatmon tract” on Big Branch and the 25 1/2-acre “Wood Eatmon land,” with the remainder to his children;
  • all his personal property to daughter Mary Taylor or her children.

Lastly, Zealous Howard appointed Devit Moore executor of his will.

About five weeks after executing this will, Howard executed a codicil that added a provision for his son George Howard, leaving him one dollar in addition to property he had already given him.

The will was not well-received. Kenyon Howard, Anna Howard Blackwell, and Allison Howard filed a caveat in order to challenge the validity of the document.

Receipt filed for publication of notice re estate action.The caveat filed to contest Zealous Howard’s will.

A jury heard In re Will of Zelius Howard during Wilson County Superior Court’s February Term, 1915, and Judge George W. Connor issued a judgment finding the will valid.

Will Book 4, page 406, Office of Clerk of Superior Court, Wilson County Courthouse, Wilson; Estate of Zelius Howard (1911), Wilson County, North Carolina Estate Files, http://www.familysearch.org.

209 South Vick Street.

The one hundred-seventy-ninth 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. 1913; 1 story; hip-roofed, double-pile cottage with turned porch posts.”

This house was demolished, along with nearly all others in the triangle bounded by Nash, Pender and Hines Streets, to make way for Wilson’s Freeman Place redevelopment project, which has constructed more than one hundred affordable houses in the area.

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On 14 April 1914, Kenyon Howard paid Boykin-Townsend Realty Company $200 for a parcel on Second [South Vick] Street [between Robeson and Wiggins Streets] adjoining another of Howard’s lots, another of Boykin-Townsend’s lots, and a lot belonging to Jonah Wilson. This property appears to be 209 South Vick. Howard was a prosperous farmer in western Wilson County, and it does not appear that he ever lived at the address.

Deed book 26, page 329, Wilson County Register of Deeds Office.

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Hines Windsor (c; Fannie) lab h 209 S Vick

In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Hines Windsor (c; Fannie) hlpr h 209 S Vick

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 209 South Vick, rented for $20/month, Winsor Hines, 53, junkyard laborer; wife Fannie, 47; daughter Margaret, 20; daughter Ada Hemery, 22; son-in-law John Hemery, 27, junkyard laborer; grandchildren Winsor, 4, and Jim L. Hemery, 3; and mother-in-law Jennette Corbett, 96, widow.

Winger Hines died 22 August 1930 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 51 years old; was married to Fannie Hines; was born in Pitt County, N.C., to Wiley Hines and Nancy Barnes; lived at 209 South Vick Street; and worked as a common laborer.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 209 South Vick, Connie Batts, 59, oil mill laborer; wife Mattie, 51; children Beatrix, 27, Ruth, 25, both tobacco factory laborers, and Lula, 23, private housekeeper; grandchildren Susan, 7, Elizabeth, 5, Carl, 4, and Rudolph, 9 months; and son James, 21, grocery store deliveryman, and his wife Louise, 19.

Geather Connie Batts died 10 May 1941 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 60 years old; was born in Wilson County to Redman Batts and Celester Battle; was married Mattie Batts; lived at 209 South Vick; worked as a laborer; and was buried in Rountree cemetery.

In the 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Batts Mattie (c; 4) tob wkr h 209 S Vick

Mattie Batts died 17 June 1944 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 15 July 1890 in Nash County, N.C., to John Ford and Lettie Jones; was the widow of Gorther C. Batts; and lived at 209 South Vick. Lettie Ruth Batts was informant.

In the 1947 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Bell Jerry (c; Eileeza) farmer h 209 S Vick

Wilson Daily Times, 2 March 1948.