Oates

The inventory of Wiley Oates’ estate.

Wiley Oates wore a lot of hats — farmer, grocery merchant, dredge boat operator — and built a comfortable, middle-class life for himself and his family. After his death in 1913, John C. Ellis, administrator of Oates’ estate, itemized his possessions: a lot and a house; two feather beds; two bedsteads; two heaters; a range; four trunks; a bureau; a sideboard; an organ; two sofas; a washstand; 18 chairs; two mattresses; six pictures; a safe; a clock; a hall tree; a wash pot; two tubs; a watch; carpets and rugs; a sewing machine; a hog; ten bushels of potatoes; a farm with 13 acres of cotton; two plows; two hoes; a rake; and a mule, valued at just over $2000.

[Wiley Oates’ grave marker is arguably the loveliest still standing in Odd Fellows Cemetery.]

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  • John C. Ellis

On 7 January 1877, John C. Ellis, 21, married Della Joyner, 21, in Number 14 township, Edgecombe County, North Carolina.

In the 1880 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: farm laborer John C. Ellis, 22; wife Della, 22; and son William C., 2, and Walter D., 5 months.

In the 1900 census of Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County: school teacher John C. Ellis, 44; wife Della, 44; and children Walter, 20, Martha, 18, Minnie, 16, John, 14, Haywood, 11, Arthur, 7, and Doretha, 4.

In the 1910 census of Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County: teacher John C. Ellis, 54, widower, and children Haywood, 22, odd jobs laborer, Minnie, 20, teacher, Doretha, 14, and Iredell, 7.

John C. Ellis died 15 March 1926 in Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 1 November 1847 in Wilson County to Harry Ellis; was married to Pennie Ellis; was a teacher; and was born in Elm City. Doretha Barnes was informant.

Wilson [County, North Carolina] Probate Records 1905-1919, http://www.familysearch.org.

A guardian for Fannie Oates.

Odd Fellows members frequently stood to handle the personal affairs of their lodge brothers’ families. Emma Oates died in 1908, leaving her minor daughter Fannie Oates a small inheritance. [Fannie’s father Charles Oates was still living. Was he divorced from Emma Oates at her death?] Samuel H. Vick applied to serve as guardian for Fannie’s financial affairs, and Alexander D. Dawson joined him to post a bond. Vick, Dawson, and Charles Oates were members of Hannibal Lodge #1552, and all were buried in Odd Fellows Cemetery.

The obituary of Dollie Roberts.

Wilson Daily Times, 9 March 1950.

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In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Vick Street, dredge boat laborer Wiley Oats, 32; wife Nettie, 28; and daughters Dollena, 8, and Dottie Lee, 13 months. Wily Oates died 23 July 1913 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 26 September 1879 to Adam and Amanda Oates; was a farmer; and was married.

In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Roberts Dollie (c) dom r 1000 Wainwright av

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1000 Wainwright Avenue, Frank Battle, 42, minister at Good Hope Church; wife Rosetta, 43; daughter Mary C., 15; and roomers Dollena Roberts, 30, cook, and her children Virginia D., 7, and Jesse Jr., 4, Laura Bogins, 42, widow, and Margaret Morrison, 17.

In the 1947 and 1949 Montclair, New Jersey, city directories: Roberts Dollie wid Jesse laundry worker h 69 Mission

Dollie Roberts’ father Wiley Oates’ lovely grave marker is adjacent to the Vick family plot at the eastern edge of Odd Fellows Cemetery. Was she buried there, too?

Where did they go?: Georgia death certificates, no. 1.

The counties in which these Wilson County natives died are all in south Georgia and suggest migration to work in the naval stores industry after North Carolina’s longleaf pines were tapped out.

  • Adam Oates

In the 1880 census of Lower Town Creek township, Edgecombe County: Albert Oates, 51; wife Bettie, 34; and children Charles, 13, Turner, 11, Adam, 9, and Willie, 3.

In the 1910 census of Cairo, Grady County, Georgia: city drayman Adams Oates, 37, and wife Emma, 35.

In the 1920 census of Cairo, Grady County, Georgia: sawmill laborer Adams Oates, 57, and wife Emma, 46.

Adam Oates died 7 February 1928 in Cairo, Georgia. Per his death certificate, he was an estimated 47 years old; was born in Wilson, N.C., to Albert Oates and Rebecca [maiden name not known]; worked as a laborer; and was buried in Cairo Cemetery.

  • William Barden

In the 1880 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Bryant Bardin, 61, farm worker; wife Annise, 52; and children Francis, 15, William, 10, and Richard, 8.

William Barden died 6 May 1928 at Charity Hospital, Savannah, Georgia. Per his death certificate, he was born 15 June 1872 in Wilson, N.C., to Bryant Barden and an unnamed mother; worked as a farmer; and was buried in Laurel Grove Cemetery.

  • John Lynch and Noah Lynch (brothers)

In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: brick maker Wyatt Lynch, 48, wife Nicey, 35, and children Harriet, 4, and John, 1.

In the 1880 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on the south side of the Plank Road, widow Nicy Lynch, 40, children Harriot, 13, John, 11, Noah, 9, Sammy, 7, and Mary Wyatt, 3, with mother-in-law Nancy Lynch, 98.

On 12 January 1892, Noah Lynch married Mary A. Horne in Dodge County, Georgia.

In the 1910 census of Rawlings township, Dodge County, Georgia: farmer Noah Lynch, 40, born in North Carolina; wife Mary, 35; and children John, 18, odd jobs laborer, Noah Jr., 15, Hattie, 13, Rachel, 10, and George, 6.

In the 1920 census of Rawlings township, Dodge County, Georgia: farmer Noah Lynch, 50, born in N.C.; wife Mary, 48; son George, 20; daughter-in-law Cary, 16; son John, 25l daughter-in-law Pinkey, 23; and orphan Edgar Thomas, 12.

John Lynch died 5 March 1929 in Eastman, Dodge County, Georgia. Per his death certificate, he was born in 1869 in Wilson, N.C., to Wyatt Lynch and an unnamed mother; was married to Queen Lynch; and worked in farming. He was buried in Pleasant Hill cemetery, Dodge County. Noah Lynch was informant.

In the 1930 census of the Town of Eastman, Dodge County, Georgia: Noah Lynch, 60, born in N.C.; wife Mary, 53; daughters Hattie M., 26, and Rachel, 23; and granddaughter Hattie M. Jones, 7.

In the 1940 census of the Town of Eastman, Dodge County, Georgia: at 520 Sixth Street, Noah Lynch, 67, farmer, born in N.C.; wife Mary, 65, laundress; roomer Hattie M. Jones, 18; and granddaughter Johnnie M. Lynch, 1.

In the 1950 census of the Town of Eastman, Dodge County, Georgia: Noah Lynch, 78, born in N.C.; wife Mary, 76; and granddaughter Johnnie Mae Lynch, 11.

Noah Lynch, 78, died 2 December 1950 in Decatur, Georgia. Daughter Rachel Chatman was appointed temporary administrator.

  • Harvey Williams

In the 1920 census of Douglas, Coffee County, Georgia: at 615 Coffee Street, fertilizer factory worker Harvey Williams, 45, born in North Carolina, and wife Susan, 39, born in South Carolina.

Harvey Williams died 22 August 1928 in Douglas, Coffee County, Georgia. Per his death certificate, he was about 50 years old; was born in Wilson, N.C.; did public work; was married to Susan Williams; and was buried in Douglas Cemetery.

  • Victoria Bird

In the 1910 census of Militia District 58, Emanuel County, Georgia: on Wadley Southern Railroad, Willie Byrd, 28; wife Victoria, 18, born in South [sic] Carolina; and children Earnest, 6, Wiley Lee, 4, Ethel, 2, and Katie, 2 months.

In the 1920 census of the Town of Aline, Candler County, Georgia: farmer Willie Bird, 35; wife Sugar, 22; and children Ethel, 12, Ernie Lee, 14, Ernest, 16, Katie, 10, Lula, 7, and Willie, 3.

Victoria Bird died 13 March 1920 in Aline, Candler County, Georgia. Per her death certificate, she was 27 years old; was born in Wilson, N.C., to Willie Strickland and Silvie Binon; was married to Will Bird; and worked as a farmer. She was buried in New Life Cemetery. [Hillard Strickland, 21, married Silvia Bynum, 20, on 21 March 1879 in Wilson County.]

Lane Street Project: Emma Oates and Rev. Henry W. Farrior.

“Emma Wife of Charlie Oates Died Sept 3 1908 Age 40 Years” “Rev. Henry W. Farrior Aug 12 1859 May 6 1937”

The headstones of Emma Oates and Rev. Henry W. Farrior stand in the Oates family plot in Odd Fellows Cemetery. They are clearly newer stones, erected long after the deaths of the people they commemorate. Nearby, Emma Oates’ broken original marker with the epitaph “Every joy to us is dead, Since Mother is not here.”

In the background of the first photo, the small white marker of Emma Oates’ husband, Charles Oates, leans against that of their daughter Fannie Oates McCullins. The markers of two other daughters, Ella Oates and Rosa Oates Barnes, lie broken nearby. Farrior’s kinship to the Oates family, if any, is not clear.

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In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: day laborer Charles Oates, 34; wife Emma, 30; and children Willie, 11, Fannie, 9, Annie, 8, Effie, 5, and Queen Elsie, 4.

Emma Oates died before Wilson County maintained death certificates.

Emma Ruby Oates died 2 May 1922 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 10 May 1905 in Wilson to Charley Oates of Edgecombe County and Emma Williams of Edgecombe County; lived at 415 Hadley Street; was single; and was in school. [She was likely buried in Odd Fellows Cemetery with her parents and sisters.]

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, April 2021.

Lane Street Project: Fannie Oates McCullins.

Fannie Oates McCullins‘ broken headstone lies in Odd Fellows cemetery a short distance from her parents and sisters Rosa O. Barnes and Ella Oates.

Fannie Wife of Andrew McCullins

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In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: day laborer Charles Oates, 34; wife Emma, 30; and children Willie, 11, Fannie, 9, Annie, 8, Effie, 5, and Queen Elsie, 4.

On 3 December 1908, Andrew McCullen, 40, of Wilson, son of Emma McCullen, married Fannie Oats, 19, of Wilson, daughter of Charles and Emma Oats. A.M.E. Zion minister J.S. Jackson performed the ceremony in the presence of Charles Knight, Henry Tart, and T.S. Beaty.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: pool room laborer Andrew McCollen, 36, and wife Fannie, 20, tobacco factory laborer. 

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 133 Ashe Street, tobacco factory laborer Andrew McCullers, 40, and wife Fannie, 30, shared a duplex with laborer Bob Strickland, 70, and wife Mary, 45.

906 Mercer Street.

This house is not within the bounds of East Wilson Historic District. However, the blocks of Mercer Street southwest of the Norfolk & Southern Railroad lines have been an African-American residential area since the early twentieth century.

906 Mercer appears in the 1922 Sanborn fire insurance maps of Wilson.

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Outlaw Arthur (c; Mary) fishermn h 906 Mercer

In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Oates Henry (c; Minnie) driver Clark Hdw Co Inc h 906 Mercer

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 906 Mercer, rented for $21/month, Henry Oates, 34, hardware store truck driver; wife Minnie L., 26; and children Willie, 9, Albert L., 8, Fredie, 6, and Bubbie, 2.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 906 Mercer, Lettie Smith, 48, widow, works at stemming machine at redrying plant; her children Harvey, 28, gas station attendant, Mary, 15, Herbert, 13, and Elijah and Elisha, 11; and grandson Donald Ray, 8.

The house is listed as vacant in the 1941 city directory, but in the 1947 directory was occupied by tobacco worker Lena Whitley. (Whitley died in 1965 at her home at 918 Mercer. The informant on her death certificate was Eula King, 906 Mercer.)

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, April 2021.

Lane Street Project: Ella Oates.

Ella Dau of Charlie & _____ Oates _____ 1897 _____

Ella Oates died 21 July 1913 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was about 17 years old; was single; lived on Ash Street; was a servant; and was the daughter of Charles Oates and Emma Williams.

Both Charles and Emma Oates are buried in Odd Fellows, but, Charles’ headstone, like Ella’s, is broken and lies at a distance from Emma’s. Ella Oates’ marker is in the stamped concrete anchor-and-ivy style.

Lane Street Project: Wiley Oates.

Wiley Oates‘ sandstone obelisk is arguably the loveliest surviving monument in the Lane Street Project cemeteries. When I found it, it was shrouded in a dense cape of honeysuckle vine, but the five-foot gravestone was in nearly perfect condition. 

Wiley Oates Born 1877. Died July 23, 1913. A loving Husband and a friend to all.

The lotus motif is unique in these cemeteries and symbolizes resurrection and eternal life. The designs alternate with fern and ivy imagery.

For more about Wiley Oates, see here and here and here and here.