Johnson

The Colored Democratic Club.

Daily National Intelligencer, 21 September 1868.

Neither Joseph F. Johnson nor Buck Powell — who eschewed the counsel of carpetbagging “creatures” to “take their stand along with their white neighbors and friends” — are not found in Wilson County records. Presumably, the Colored Democratic Club failed to gain traction among their black neighbors and friends, and the two took their talents elsewhere.

Powell may have been the Buck Powell, 23, barber, listed in the 1870 census of Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina. I have no hints for Johnson.

Sailor Johnson killed when destroyer escort torpedoed.

New York Age, 15 November 1941.

Mess Attendant, First Class, Joseph Johnson was among the 100 sailors killed when a German submarine torpedoed the USS Reuben James off the coast of Iceland shortly before the United States entered World War II.

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In the 1930 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: farmer Sollie Johnson, 38; wife Annie, 37; son Joseph, 14, and daughter Jasper, 9.

The obituary of Lavinia M.P. Johnson, hotel maid.

Wilson Daily Times, 23 November 1949.

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In the  1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Pierce David (c; Livinia) deliverymn h 317 Hackney

In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Pierce Livinia (c) maid Briggs Hotel h 317 Hackney

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on North Hackney, Levenia Pierce, 36, hotel maid; Sandra Pierce, 19, farm laborer; and Clara Pierce, 1; Cesar Williams, 20, hotel bellboy; Darthy L. Williams, 16; and Boyed L. Williams, 7 months; Estelle Butler, 30, private cook; and John Kitchen, 30, barber.

Louvenia Pierce Johnson died 22 November 1949 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 3 March 1896 in Edgecombe County, N.C., t0 unknown parents; lived at 317 Hackney Street; and was married. Clyde Cooper was informant.

Tom Johnson is gunned down.

Wilson Daily Times, 26 December 1942.

We read about some of Tom Johnson‘s earlier troubles here. On Christmas Day, as Johnson walked down Pender Street, he encountered Milton Lucas, whom he had allegedly shot days before near First Baptist Church. Lucas shot Johnson, then turned himself in at police headquarters, but a court soon released him, finding “no probable cause.”

Johnson shot and seriously wounded during card game.

Wilson Daily Times, 6 July 1932.

Tom Johnson survived this shooting, but not a second ten years later.

For more of Johnson’s colorful life, see here.

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  • Tom Johnson

On 24 February 1917, Tom Johnson, 31, son of Orange and Lula Johnson, married Ethel McGill, 21, daughter of James and Hattie M. McGill, in Farmville, Pitt County, N.C.

Probably, in the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 112 Reid Street, owned and valued at $1500, Tom Johnson, 41, and wife Ethel, 38, cosmetics agent.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Tom Johnson, 55; wife Ethel, 42; mother Lula, 68, widow; and son Rogers McGill, 27.

Tom Johnson died 25 December 1942 on Pender Street, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 12 September 1895 in Terrll County, Georgia, to Orange Johnson and Lula [no maiden name]; lived at 112 South Reid Street; was married to Ethel Johnson; and worked as a laborer. He died of gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen “on the street.”

  • George Porter 

In the 1925 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Porter Geo clnr and presser, h 116 Ashe

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Porter Geo tobwkr h 506 Spring

In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Porter Geo lab h 508 Spring

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 508 South Spring Street, pressing club operator George Porter, 34, born in Georgia; servant Jeneva Brown, 30, and her children Esther, 13, Martha, 12, and Oliver, 9; and George’s daughter George M., 14.

On 28 February 1935, George Porter, 36, of Wilson County, son of William and Louisa Porter, married Geneva Townsend, 35, of Wilson County, daughter of Louis and Henrietta Townsend, at the home of Baptist minister W.T. Thompson Jr. in Nashville, Nash County. Luther Jones applied for the license and was a witness, as were James W. Hardy and Laura Harris.

George Porter died 4 September 1937 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 37 years old; was born in Georgia to William Porter of Georgia and Louisa Barnes of Wilson County; worked as a storekeeper; was married to Geneva Porter; and was buried in Wilson.

Where we worked: Wilson Furniture Company.

Wilson Daily Times, 22 August 1941.

Wilson Furniture Company’s large newspaper ad included its deliveryman, James “Gates” Johnson. The business was located at 125-127 South Goldsboro Street.

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In the 1930 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Highway 91, farmer James Johnson, 50; wife Carrie, 38; and children Mamie, 17, Roxanna, 12, Victoria, 9, James, 7, Lendsy, 5, Katie B., 3, and Clyde, 1.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 503 Viola, house carpenter James H. Johnson, 50; wife Carrie, 45; children Mamie, 25, Roxanna, 22, Victoria, 18, all domestic servants, James, 16, retail feed store delivery boy, Lancey, 13, Katie, 12, Clyde, 9, Herman, 7, and Stella M., 5; and foster son Thurman Land, 14.

In 1942, James Arthur Johnson registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 27 November 1923 in Wilson; lived at 503 Viola Street, Wilson; his contact was William Henry Johnson, 611 Warren Street, Wilson; and he worked for E.H. Barnes of Wilson Furniture Company. He was described as 6 feet 10 inches tall and 165 pounds. 

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 907 Stantonsburg, Henry Johnson, 60; wife Carrie, 55; and children Roxanne, 31, James, 28, Lansey, 24, Katie B., 21, Herman, 16, Helen, 10, and Jo Ann, 8.

Johnson burned to death.

Wilson Daily Times, 21 February 1921.

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  • Nathan Joyner
  • Roderick Johnson — There is no death certificate for Roderick Johnson. However, on 20 February 1921, Rudolph Johnson died in Wilson township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born in Jacksonville, N.C., to unknown parents; his age was unknown; he was single; and he worked as a sawmill helper for sawyer W.W. Sims Company. Under “cause of death”: “No further information obtainable.”

Stick ’em up.

In which Tom Johnson, losing at cards, robs (and shoots) Jesse Foster to get his money back. 

Wilson Daily Times, 3 October 1930.

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  • Tom Johnson

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 112 Reid Street, owned and valued at $1500, Tom Johnson, 41, and wife Ethel, 38, cosmetics agent.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Tom Johnson, 55, public service laborer; wife Ethel, 42; mother Lula, 68; and son Rogers McGill, 27, tobacco factory laborer. [The Johnsons lived in the same house they had occupied in 1930, but were paying $20/month in rent.]

Thomas Johnson died 25 December 1942 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 12 September 1895 in Terrell County, Georgia, to Orange Johnson and Lula [no maiden name given]; was married to Ethel Johnson; lived at 112 South Reid Street; and died of gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen.

  • Jesse Foster

On 20 January 1915, Jesse Foster, 23, of Fremont [Wayne County,] N.C., son of Jesse and Cora Foster, married Zalister Grice, 22, of Black Creek, daughter of Joe and Lillie Grice, in Wilson.

In 1917, Jesse Foster Jr. registered for the World War I draft in Fremont, Wayne County. Per his registration card, he was born 11 March 1892 near Stantonsburg, N.C.; was a farm worker on his father Jesse Foster’s farm; and married. He signed with an X.