lightning

Uzzell dazed, horse killed in lightning strike.

As a bad thunderstorm rolled over Wilson in August 1899, a bolt of lightning stunned Green Uzzell and killed a horse in the barn in which he was working.

The Wilson News, 10 August 1899.

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In the 1870 census of New Hope township, Wayne County, North Carolina: farmer James Tolar, 42; wife Sallie, 51; children Haywood, 16, Elizar, 19, Dilla, 15, and Margarett, 13; Green Uzzel, 6; and Darkis Atkinson, 85.

On 19 November 1892, Green Uzzell, 26, married Molly Wood, 24, in Wayne County, N.C.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farm laborer Green Uzzell, 35, and wife Mollie, 30, wash woman.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: factory laborer Green Uzzell, 40, and wife Mollie, 35, laborer.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 709 South Goldsboro Street, tobacco factory laborer Green Uzzell, 61, and wife Mollie, 48, laborer.

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Uzzell Green (c; Mollie) tobwkr h 709 S Goldsboro

Molly Uzzell died 26 October 1928 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was about 55 years old; was born in Lenoir County, N.C., to Bob and Molly May; was married to Green Uzzell; and was buried in Wilson. [Mollie Uzzell’s fine marble headstone is one of the few standing in Rountree Cemetery. Presumably, Green Uzzell was buried nearby.]

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 709 South Goldsboro Street, tobacco factory laborer Green Uzzell, 60, widower.

Green Uzzell died 24 May 1935 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 61 years old; was born in Wayne County, N.C., to Harriet Uzzell; was the widower of Mollie Uzzell; lived at 709 South Goldsboro; and worked as a laborer. Margaret Haggans of Stantonsburg, N.C., was informant. Uzzell was buried in Wilson.

Lightning strike kills two.

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Wilson Daily Times, 6 July 1926.

This article does not reveal the depths of this tragedy — Frank, James, and Herbert Barnes were brothers, and Herbert was only 17 years old.

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  • Frank Barnes
  • James Barnes
  • Herbert Barnes

In the 1900 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farm laborer Drew Barnes, 31; wife Stella, 26; and children John, 10, Wade, 6, Frank, 5, James, 3, Lula, 2, and Andrew, 5 months.

In the 1910 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: on Stantonsburg Road, farmer Andrew Barnes, 40; wife Estella, 37; and children John W., 20, Wade, 16, Frank, 15, James, 13, Lula,12, Andrew 10, Maggie, 8, Fransis, 6, Joseph, 4, Ella, 3, and Hubbard, 15 months.

In 1917, Frank Barnes registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 2 April 1895 in Wilson County; lived on R.F.D. #6, Wilson; was a laborer/farmhand for Drew Barnes; and was single. He signed his full name to the document.

In the 1920 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: tenant farmer Drue Barnes, 51; wife Stella, 49; and children Wade, 25, Frank, 23, James H., 22, Lula D., 21, Andrew, 20, Maggie, 18, Francis, 17, Hubert, 10, Lanciel, 7, and Estella, 5.

“Killed by Lightning while in field ploughing Death was sudden”

Hat tip to J. Robert Boykin III for passing along this article.

Killed by a bolt of lightning.

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Pittsburgh Courier, 1 August 1931.

Abraham Bynum was a newlywed. On 2 February 1931, he, 30, son of Charlie and Julia Bynum, married Carrie Beaman, 23, daughter of Dave and Sarah Beaman. Willie McLondon, a Free Will Baptist minister, performed the ceremony at 707 Suggs Street in the presence of Jack Rountree, Alice Davis and Leemoor Hannah.

Per his death certificate, Abraham Bynum died 21 July 1931, “killed accidentally by being struck by lightning during electrical storm.” He resided at 1008 Woodard Street, Wilson; was 31 years old; was married to Carrie Bynum; and worked as a day laborer at a tobacco manufacturing plant. He was born in Wilson to Charles Bynum and July Ann Davis, a Pitt County native, and J.C. Bynum of 807 Stantonsburg Street was informant.

House fires and lightning strikes.

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Wilson Mirror, 23 August 1893.

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: mechanic Charley Barber, 41; sons Luther, 12, James, 7, John, 7, and Hubert, 5; sister Mary Tomlingson, 42, a cook, and her children Ella, 9, and Charley, 4; and boarders Turner Utley, 27, John Purkison, 31, and George Garret, 25. [Charley was described as married, but his wife is not listed. She was teacher Sallie Barber.]

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Wilson Daily Times, 23 June 1911.

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: merchant Lee Moore, 36, wife Louisa, 32, and son Ernest, 12.