Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 15 January 1927.
Among the early January social happenings reported to the Journal and Guide in 1927, we learn that attorney Glenn S. McBrayer was the keynote speaker at Wilson’s January 1 Emancipation Celebration, held in the Wilson Colored High School auditorium. We also learn that Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church had wrapped up a series of Good Will services at their new chapel, i.e. the building Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church now occupies.
Five days after entering State Prison on a bank fraud conviction, Henry S. Stanback gave lawyer Glenn S. McBrayer power of attorney to handle a deed of trust executed by Thomas and Victoria Coley.
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In the 1930 census of Crossroads township, Wilson County: farmer Thomas Coley, 55; wife Victoria, 44; daughters Mary, 15, Pennie, 13, and Sallie, 9; nephew Richard, 27, and niece Pauline, 21, both laborers; and lodger Tobie Durden, 75, laborer.
Wilson [County, North Carolina] Power of Attorney Records 1859-1961, http://www.familysearch.org.
We first encountered the Patriotic Order of Ethiopians of America here. Below, a series of agreements detailing financial incentives paid to its organizers.
McBrayer, a South Carolina native and graduate of Howard University Law School, was Wilson’s first Black attorney. In this agreement, the Lodge acknowledged that McBrayer had “spent much of his time, life and energy” into the organization’s creation and, “as founder and promoter [had] furnished the finance with which to bring the … order into being.” In consideration of these services and money advanced, McBrayer was to receive five cents for every member initiated into the order and smaller amounts for Grand Lodge and Princess Circle Auxiliary members and others for various periods of time. President John A. Mebane, secretary Michael E. DuBissette, trustee John S. Spell, and McBrayer himself signed. D.C. Yancey notarized the document.
Deed book 76, page 378, Hertford County Register of Deeds Office, Winton, North Carolina.
Mebane was to deliver to the Grand Lodge “a copy of the Rituals and the Modus Operandi … and designs for the Paraphernalia, Regalia, ensigns, designs, escutcheons and seals” in exchange for various per capita sums.
Deed book 76, page 379, Hertford County Register of Deeds Office, Winton, North Carolina.
McBrayer agreed to accept the position of Deputy-at-Large and “to set up lodgings int he several States and Territories” in exchange for certain per capita payments.
Deed book 76, page 382, Hertford County Register of Deeds Office, Winton, North Carolina.
James Edward Smith died of complications from an auto accident, and his wife Annie B. Smith applied for letters of administration on 25 March 1925. She described his estate as a house and lot worth about $3000; four vacant lots worth about $300; and personal property worth about $800. His heirs were his wife, a brother, two sisters, and a “1/2 nephew.”
On 24 March 1927, Annie B. Smith filed a final administrator’s report, noting that she had received $37.00 from the sales of a revolver, watch, tools, and an “old car,” and had disbursed $40.00 to attorney Glenn S. McBrayer, Dr. Michael E. Dubissette, and the clerk of Superior Court.
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In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Washington Street, laborer James Smith, 49, and wife Annie, 36.
James Edward Smith died 7 March 1925 in Wilson township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 21 January 1981 in Columbia, South Carolina; was married to Annie B. Smith; lived on East Nash Street; was a garage owner; and was buried in Hillsboro [sic], North Carolina. Annie B. Smith was informant.
Record of Settlements, Volume 5, 1923-1931, Wilson County Superior Court, North Carolina Division of Archives and History.
Fresh off his successful decades-long campaign to strip African-Americans of basic rights in his home state of North Carolina, Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels delivered the commencement speech at Howard University’s 1916 graduation. No doubt without irony, Daniels spoke of “progress made by the colored race.”
Who received his juris doctor degree that day? Glenn S. McBrayer, who passed the North Carolina bar the following spring and hung his attorney shingle in Wilson around 1920. He hit the ground running, hosting the first annual convention of the Negro State Bar Association and getting elected that organization’s corresponding secretary in December 1921. McBrayer practiced in Wilson through 1929.
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The Washington Herald, 8 June 1916.
Wilson Daily Times, 22 September 1928.
Patrons of Oscar Reid‘s cleaning and pressing business may have been surprised to find their garments advertised for auction to satisfy liens against Reid. Edward C. Brewington, the lienholder, was also in the dry cleaning business.
The seventieth 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: “ca. 1930; 1 story; double shotgun with bungalow-type porch posts.”
In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: McBrayer Glenn S (c; Lillian) lawyer h 1007 E Nash. [The house is not listed in the 1930 census.]
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1007 East Nash Street, (1) paying $11/ month rent, Elizabeth Hardy, 29, husband Herman, 33, a “P.W.A.” laborer, and son Leroy, 5; and (2) also paying $11/month rent, Carter Powell, 42, stationary fireman for apartment building, and wife Anna, 35.
In 1940, Herman Hardy registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 8 December 1907 in Greene County; his contact was wife Elizabeth Hardy, 1007 East Nash; and he worked for Watson Tobacco Company, Wilson.
In 1940, Carter James Powell registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 4 January 1899 in Nash County; his contact was Sylvester Powell, “no number” East Nash “near Gills Store”; and he worked for Dr. M.A. Pittman, Raleigh Highway, Wilson, who was a second contact.
In the 1947 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Hardy Mrs Eliz (c; nurse) 1007 E Nash
Virginia A. Jones died 3 July 1966 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 12 May 1879 in Wilson County to Enos and Cherry Applewhite; had been a farmer; was the widow of Joseph Jones; and resided at 1007 East Nash. Informant was [daughter] Elizabeth Hardy, 1007 East Nash.
Walter Jones died 31 November 1973 at home at 1007 East Nash, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 10 August 1921 in Wilson County to Joseph Jones and Virginia Applewhite; had been a cook; and was married to Nora Allen. Informant was sister Elizabeth Hardy, 1007 East Nash.
Elmer Jones died 21 March 1975 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Durham, N.C. Per his death certificate, he was born 20 January 1920 in Wilson County to Joseph Jones and Virginia Applewhite; had been a porter-electrician; had never married; and resided at 1007 East Nash. Informant was sister Elizabeth Hardy, 1007 East Nash.
Elizabeth Jones Hardy lived in her home at 1007 East Nash until she passed away in 2001.
Photograph by Lisa Y. Henderson, December 2017.
Wilson Daily Times, 25 November 1921.
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Glenn S. McBrayer was born about 1884, probably in South Carolina, to Randall and Sylvia McBrayer. He was reared near Shelby, in western North Carolina, and appears in Cleveland County in the 1900 census. Ten years later, he was listed as a 23 year-old farm laborer, but he was soon to make life-changing moves. Sometime during the decade he obtained a degree from Howard University. In January 1917, he married Lillie Brown in Zebulon, Nash County. Shortly after, he passed the North Carolina bar.
The Crisis, April 1917, page 293.
In 1920, however, the McBrayers were in Wilson, and, according to the census, Glenn was working a retail grocery merchant. Sometime during the next year, he hung out his shingle and got himself elected corresponding secretary of the Negro State Bar Association. In the 1922 Wilson city directory, his occupation is clearly noted:
He appears in Wilson directories throughout the 1920s, but seems to have left Wilson after 1930. In 1934, Glenn and Lillian McBrayer are listed in the city directory of Buffalo, New York. His occupation is given as salesman.
