migration to Ohio

The talented Daniel Freeman.

While a student, Daniel E. Freeman designed a new scoreboard for Tuskegee Institute’s athletic stadium.

Montgomery Advertiser, 21 August 1926.

——

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: 56 year-old carpenter Julius Freeman, wife Eliza, 46, and children Elizabeth, 19, Nestus, 17, Junius, 11, Ernest, 9, Tom, 6, Daniel, 4, and Ruth, 4 months.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: house carpenter Julius Freeman, 65; wife Eliza, 54; and children Nestus, 28, bricklayer; Ollie, 18, Daniel, 14, John, 7, Junius, 22, Ernest, 20, and Thomas, 17.

On 28 May 1921, Dedquard [Daniel Edward] Freeman, 25, born in Wilson, N.C., to Julius Freeman and Eliza Daniel, sign painter, married Ellen D. Wilson, 22, born in Wilson, N.C., to William Wilson and Sarah Bullard, in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.

In the 1930 census of Tuskegee, Macon County, Alabama: Daniel A. Freeman, 32, private school drama teacher; wife Ellaine, 28; and daughter Elaine, 6, born in Ohio.

In the 1940 census of Greenwood, Macon County, Alabama: at Tuskegee Institute, Dequard Freeman, 43; wife Ellen, 35, laundry checker; and daughter Elaine, 16.

Montgomery Advertiser, 21 August 1946.

In the 1950 census of Greenwood, Macon County, Alabama: Daniel E. Freeman, 53; wife Ellen D., 47; and cousin Donald McLauren, 10, born in New York.

Daniel E. Freeman. 

Dedquard E. Freeman died 27 January 1972 in Tuskegee, Alabama.

The obituary of Sophia Dawson Artice of Cleveland, Ohio.

The Call and Post (Cleveland, Oh.), 7 June 1952.

Sophia Dawson Artice was another of Alexander D. and Lucy Hill Dawson‘s accomplished children. After graduating Scotia Seminary, she married Jesse A. Artice, but he died less than two years later. Artice taught for decades in Wilson County before migrating to Cleveland, Ohio.

——

In the 1900 census of Concord Town, Township #12, Cabarrus County, N.C.: at Scotia Seminary,  student Sophia L. Dawson, 16.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: restaurant cook Alexander Dawson, 50; wife Lucy, 49; and children Sophie, 25, school teacher, Mattie, 23, stenographer, Virginia, 19, school teacher, Lucile, 17, Alexander, 15, Clarence, 13, Augusta, 11, and Arlander, 1.

Also, in the 1910 census of Huntington, Cabell County, West Virginia: at Colored Orphans Home, teacher Sophia L. Dawson, 25, born in N.C.

In the 1916 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Dawson Sophia (c) tchr h 505 E Vance

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: A.D. Dawson, 59, widower, and daughter Sophey Dawson, 28, public school teacher.

On 26 May 1920, Jesse Artis, 37, of Wayne County, son of Jesse and Lucinda Artis, married Sophia Dawson, 30, daughter of A.D. Dawson, in Wilson. Presbyterian minister H.B. Taylor performed the ceremony at 650 East Green Street in the presence of C.L. Darden, F.L. Artice, and Eugene Norman.

Jessie Arthur Artis died 9 March 1922 in Nahunta township, Wayne County, N.C. Per his death certificate, he was 39 years old; was born in Wayne County to Jessie Artis and Lucinda Hobbs; worked as a tenant farmer for his mother; and was buried in the “country” by C.H. Darden & Son. Sophia Artis of Wilson was informant.

Sophia Artis is listed in the 1925, 1928, and 1930 Wilson city directories.

Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory (1928).

In the 1950 census of Cleveland, Cuyahoga township, Ohio: Sophia Artice, 64, widow, and Lucy Artice, 38, lodgers.

The obituary of Ivey T. Atkinson of Dayton, Ohio.

The Journal-Herald (Dayton, Oh.), 2 January 1956.

——

In the 1900 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer Thomas Atkinson, 26; wife Zillie, 29; and children Luella, 8, Ivey T., 5, Stephen C., 3, and Quillie J., 1.

In the 1910 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer Thomas Atkinson, 37; wife Zillie, 38; and children Louella, 16, Ivory T., 14, Stephen C., 13, Aquilla J., 12, Jaydee, 10, Lottie M., 7, John K., 5, Charles X., 3, and Pearlie, 7 months.

In the 1920 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer Thomas Atkinson, 47; wife Zillie, 49; and children Ivory, 24, Lottie M., 16, Kinchen, 15, Charles, 3, Pearl, 11, Ramon, 9, Mattie, 7, and Annie L., 4.

On 4 April 1920, Ivey Atkinson, 25, of Springhill township, son of S.T. and Zillie Atkinson, married Minnie Pearce, 22, of Springhill township, daughter of Tom and Ruthie Pearce, in Wilson.

On 5 December 1945, Ivy Thomas Atkinson, 51, widower, born in Wilson, N.C., to Stephen T. Atkinson and Lillie Barnes, resident of Buckroe Beach, Virginia, married Edna Florence Smith, 45, divorced, born in Phoebus, Virginia, to Jesse Smith and Lena Jackson, in Elizabeth City County, Virginia.

On 17 July 1953, William Thomas Atkinson, of Dayton, Ohio, born 11 February 1922 in Wilson, N.C., to Ivory T. Atkinson and Minnie Pierce, married Waverly Jackson,

The obituary of Carrie Jones of Dayton, Ohio.

Dayton Daily News, 29 November 1971.

——

In the 1930 census of Durham, Durham County, North Carolina: tobacco factory stemmer Carrie Jones, 27, and children Hester, 12, Carson, 17, and Viola, 14.

In the 1940 census of Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio: Carrie Jones, 40, and children and grandchildren Viola, 22, Hester, 21, Robert, 7, Shirley, 5, Joseph, 1, and Charles, 7 months.

In the 1950 census of Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio: widow Carrie Jones, 49, motor shop maid; daughters Hester Jones, 33, restaurant busgirl, and Viola Byrd, 34; and grandchildren Robert, 18, and Shirley Jones, 14, and Joe Lee, 11, Charles, 10, Emmajean, 9, Jane, 8, Donald, 4, Pauline, 5, and Carol Ann Byrd, newborn.

John W. Perrington of Portsmouth, Ohio.

John W. Perrington appears on Wilson’s 1926 delinquent property tax list, owing $3.81. Perrington had left Wilson more than a dozen years earlier to make Portsmouth, Ohio, his home.

——

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 614 Gold Street, widow Louise Perrington, 48; daughters Annie, 22, and Omma, 23, both cooks; son John, 17; and grandchildren John, 2, and Virginia Glastor, 4.

In the 1912 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Perrington Jno (c) lab h 324 S Spring

In the 1916 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Perrington John (c) porter h 324 S Spring

In 1917, John Perrington registered for the World War I draft in Wilson. Per his draft registration card, he was born 22 November 1894 in Wilmington, North Carolina; worked as a barber for Morris Ellis in Black Creek; and had “weak eyes.”

In the 1920 census of Reidsville, Rockingham County, North Carolina, John Perrington, 27, barber, is a boarder in the household of Robert and Annie Penn.

On 22 November 1921, John W. Perrington, 27, of Wilson, son of Weldon and Louisa Perrington, married Nannie F. Frazier, 21, of Smithfield, daughter of Leslie and Amanda Drew, in Raleigh, Wake County, N.C.

In the 1924 Portsmouth, Ohio, city directory: Perrington John W (Nannie) barber Play House Barber Shop h 1012 11th

Portsmouth Daily Times, 5 March 1925.

In the 1928 Portsmouth, Ohio, city directory: Perrington John W (Nannie) barber Gooden & Phifer h 1409 Union

In the 1929, 1930, and 1932 Portsmouth, Ohio, city directories: Perrington John W (Nannie) barber Gooden & McConnell h 1409 Union

In the 1930 census of Portsmouth, Scioto County, Ohio: at 1409 Union Street, owned and valued at $3500, barber John W. Perrington, 35; wife Nannie, 29; and stepsons  John, 14, and James, 13. [The boys’ surname was actually Thomas.]

In the 1935 Portsmouth, Ohio, city directory: Perrington John W (Nannie) barber Gooden’s Barber Shop h 1409 Union

Portsmouth Times, 29 October 1936.

Portsmouth Times, 11 March 1937.

John Weldon Perrington died 29 November 1937 in Portsmouth, Scioto County, Ohio.

The obituary of Arlando R. Dawson of Cleveland, Ohio.

The Charlotte News, 12 April 1980.

Arlando R. Dawson was another of the accomplished children of Alexander D. and Lucy Hill Dawson.

——

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: restaurant cook Alexander Dawson, 50; wife Lucy, 49; and children Sophie,  25, school teacher, Mattie, 23, stenographer, Virginia, 19, school teacher, Lucile, 17, Alexander, 15, Clarence, 13, Augusta, 11, and Arlander, 1.

In the 1916 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Dawson Orlando (c) film opr h 505 E Vance

In 1918, Arlander Richard Dawson registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 26 August 1900; lived at 121 Pender Street, Wilson; worked as a waiter at Girard Hotel, 44th Street, New York City; and his nearest relative was A.D. Dawson, 121 Pender Street.

The Charlotte Observer, 3 May 1923.

In the 1929 Winston-Salem, N.C., city directory: Dawson Arlando R (c) tchr Columbian Hghts Sch bds 636 Bruce

Clementine Azalee Dawson, daughter of Arlando and Clementine Hill Dawson, was born 23 June 1929 in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County.

In the 1930 census of Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina: at 636 Bruce Street, lodgers William B. Stinson, 22; Arlando R. Dawson, 29; and George F. Newell, 24; all public school teachers.

Also, in the 1930 census of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina: school paper editor William Hill, 58; wife Alice, 50; daughter Clementine Dawson, 23, school teacher; granddaughter Clementine A. Dawson, 7 months; and mother Caroline Hill, 85, widow.

In the 1934 Winston-Salem, N.C., city directory: Dawson Arlando R (c) tchr Atkins High Sch h 1422 Hattie av

In the 1940 census of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio: at 10121 South Boulevard, city school teacher Arlanda Dawson, 36; wife Clementine, 31; and daughter Azalea, 10.

In 1942, Arlando Roween Dawson registered for the World War II draft in Cleveland, Ohio. Per his registration card, he was born 26 August 1902 in Wilson, N.C.; lived at 10121 S. Boulevard, Cleveland; worked for the Cleveland Board of Education; and his contact was Clementine H. Dawson.

Clementine Hill Dawson died 15 July 1943 in Cleveland.

Call and Post (Cleveland, Oh.), 31 July 1943.

Arlando Dawson remarried in 1948.

Call and Post (Cleveland, Oh.), 19 June 1948.

In 1953, he and his daughter were oddly featured in a Call and Post article, “Cleveland Father-Son Teams Are Doubly Proud”: “‘Through a daughter’s marriage, fathers inherit sons,’ believes Arlando Dawson of South Boulevard. Dawson is an English teacher at Kennard Junior High school and his daughter, Mrs. Azalea Dawson Wagner, is a teacher at R.B. Hayes Elementary school. He holds a B.A. from Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, N.C., and the M.A. from Western Reserve. A graduate of West Virginia State College, Mrs. Wagner is working on her M.A. at Kent State University.”

Call and Post (Cleveland, Oh.), 20 June 1953.

Other suns: Ohio.

Though Cleveland (and nearby Youngstown) appear to be have been the largest draw, Black Wilsonians headed to Ohio during the Great Migration settled across the state.

  • Freeman, Nestus L., Champaign County (later, Marysville), bef. 1873
  • Rountree, Charles, and Alice Thorn Rountree, Xenia, 1880
  • Rountree, Joseph, and Adeline Artis Rountree, Xenia, ca. 1889
  • Freeman, Henry A., Cleveland, bef. 1899
  • Williamson, Charles, and Clara Vick Williamson, Xenia, bef. 1900
  • Freeman, Oliver L., and Emma Pender Freeman, Cleveland, 1900 (returned to Wilson)
  • Barnes, Harvey G., Cleveland, betw. 1900 and 1910 (returned to Wilson, then to Washington, D.C)
  • Suggs, James T., Cleveland, bef. 1907
  • Blount, Willie, Xenia, bef. 1909
  • Harris, Frank W., Youngstown, bef. 1910
  • Freeman, Earnest A., Cleveland, bef. 1917
  • Dasher, Carrie Pitts, Cleveland, bef. 1918 (prior, New York City)
  • Harris, Oscar, Dublin, bef. 1918
  • Thomas, Charles, Cleveland, bef. 1920
  • Newsome, Oliver, Jr., Youngstown, betw. 1920 and 1930
  • Hill, John, Youngstown, betw. 1920 and 1930
  • Hagans, Charles W., Barberton, ca. 1921
  • Arrington, Allison, Cleveland, bef. 1928
  • Perrington, John W., Portsmouth, bef. 1930
  • Ward, Charles, Portsmouth, bef. 1930
  • Bynum, Julius, and Elizabeth Bynum and brother Hilliard Bynum, Cleveland, bef. 1930
  • Atkins, Spencer, Youngstown, bef. 1930
  • Howell, John, Youngstown, bef. 1930
  • Hill, Jeffry, Youngstown, bef. 1930 (prior, in Homestead, Pa.)
  • Sanders, James J., Youngstown, bef. 1930
  • Farmer, Paul J., Marion, then Bexley, bef. 1930
  • Barnes, James C., Cleveland, bef. 1930
  • Hines, Melvin, Cleveland, bef. 1934
  • Atkinson, Ivey T., Dayton, 1936
  • Howard, William J., Cleveland, bef. 1940
  • Smith, Grover, Portsmouth, bef. 1940
  • Briggs, William J., Cleveland, bef. 1940
  • Edwards, Philis, Cleveland, bef. 1940
  • Powell, Edward K., Cleveland, bef. 1940
  • Hill, Edward, Youngstown, bef. 1940
  • Farmer, Charles C., Coshocton, bef. 1942
  • Dawson, Arlander R., Cleveland, bef. 1942
  • Whitney, Lawyer P., Columbus, bef. 1942
  • Edwards, William H., Cleveland, bef. 1942
  • Bryant, Curtis M., Youngstown, bef. 1942
  • Moore, Webb C., Akron, bef. 1944
  • Perry, Nelson, Jr., Bowling Green, bef. 1945
  • Hayes, Marvin, Jr., Cleveland, bef. 1945
  • Stewart, Hattie Sanders, Toledo, bef. 1949
  • Artis, Sophia Dawson, Cleveland, bef. 1952

The Journal-Herald (Dayton, Ohio), 2 January 1956.

Other suns: the Williamsons of Wilson and Xenia, Ohio.

Shortly after their marriage, Charles and Clara Vick Williamson followed the footsteps of Charles Rountree‘s family to Xenia, Ohio.

——

In the 1870 census of Wilson, Wilson County: domestic servant Robert Vick, 19, and wife Spicy, 18; Anna Williamson, 25, washerwoman, children Jena, 10, Charles, 5, and Ann I.M., 2, and husband Jackson Williamson, 45, blacksmith.

In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Tarboro Street, Jack Williamson, 55, blacksmith; wife Ann, 30; and children Eugina, 20, cook, Charles 16, blacksmith shop worker, Tete, 14, and Lea, 4.

On 6 January 1887, Charles Williamson, 21, son of Jack and Ann Williamson, married Clara Vick, 18, daughter of Nelson and Viney Vick, in the Town of Wilson. Amanda Vick applied for the license, and A.M.E. Zion minister H.C. Phillips performed the ceremony in the presence of S.H. Vick, H.C. Rountree and Daniel Vick.

In the 1900 census of Xenia, Greene County: on 128 East Second Street, blacksmith Charles Williamson, 30; wife Clearo, 26; and children Mamie, 10, Charles A., 7, William H., 6, and John, 2. All the children were born in Ohio.

On 27 September 1904, Charles Williamson, 34, of Xenia, Ohio, blacksmith, born in North Carolina to Jack and Ann Williamson, married Lulu B. Anderson, 21, of Xenia, born in North Carolina to George Nelson Anderson and China Brown, in Xenia, Ohio.

In the 1910 census of Xenia, Greene County, Ohio: at 228 Fair Street, ropewalk laborer Charles Williamson, 46, married twice; wife Lula, 29; and children barber Charles Jr., 18, ropewalk laborer William, 16, John, 12, Hugh, 3, and Marcus, 4. Charles and Lula were born in North Carolina; the children in Ohio.

Though described as a ropewalk laborer in the 1910 census, Charles Williamson Sr. apparently continued to do some blacksmithing work as a horseshoer in 1911.

Xenia Daily Gazette, 12 April 1911.

On 8 July 1912, Charles Arnold Williamson Jr., laborer, of Xenia, age 20 on 1 April 1912, born in Xenia to Charles Williamson and Clara Vick, married Marguerite Scott Howard, age 18 on 10 September 1911, born in Xenia to James A. Howard and Mary Lucy Scott, in Xenia.

Xenia Daily Gazette, 27 February 1913.

Xenia Daily Gazette, 20 June 1913. Was this Charles Williamson Sr.’s second wife Lula?

In 1917, Charles Williamson registered for the World War I draft in Xenia, Ohio. Per his registration card, he was born 1 April 1894 in Xenia; resided at 1118 East Main, Xenia; was a laborer at H.& A. Twine Company; was single and had a dependent child.

In the 1920 census of Xenia, Greene County, Ohio: at 31 Orchard Street, Charles Williamson, 27, and wife Lena, 28.

In the 1920 census of Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio: factory laborer Charles H. Jennings, 39, and wife Mamie, 26.

In the 1930 census of Xenia, Greene County, Ohio: at 33 Orchard Street, owned and valued at $200, Charles Williamson, 36, mason tender in construction.

In the 1930 census of Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio: at 3323 Erie, foundry moulder Charles H. Jennings, 49; wife Mamie E., 29, laundress; and boarder John Williamson, 33, restaurant manager.

In the 1930 census of Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio: at 511 Wyandotte, Hugh Williamson, 29; wife Elsie, 27; and children Carmen, 4, Leona, 3, and May, 10 months.

In 1940, Marcus McCampbell Williamson registered for the World War II draft in Xenia County, Ohio. Per his registration card, he was born 1 January 1906 in Zenia, Ohio; lived at Rural Route #5, Xenia; and worked for himself. Contact was aunt Hattie Young, Route 5, Xenia, Ohio.

In 1942, Hugh Theodore Roosevelt Williamson registered for the World War II draft in Lucas County, Ohio. Per his registration card, he was born 14 November 1900 in Zenia, Ohio; lived at 3323 Erie Street, Toledo; and worked for Toledo Smoke Shop. Contact was sister Mamie Jennings, 2332 North Erie, Toledo, Ohio.

In 1942, Charles Williamson registered for the World War II draft in Greene County, Ohio. Per his registration card, he was born 1 April 1896 in Xenia, Ohio; lived at 51 Columbus Road, Xenia; and was unemployed. Contact was Mamie Jennings, 2332 North Erie, Toledo, Ohio.

Charles Williamson died 16 July 1971 in Xenia, Greene County, Ohio.

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Xenia Daily Gazette, 16 July 1971.