obituary

The obituary of Marie Ravennah Taylor.

The Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), 18 June 1942.

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Marie Louise Ravennah was born about 1885 in Hampton County, South Carolina, to Emile J. Ravennah and Georgianna Rivers Ravennah. She married Rev. Halley B. Taylor in 1909; they likely met while students in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Taylors lived in Wilson about a decade, where Rev. Halley led Calvary Presbyterian Church.

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In the 1920 census of Town of Wilson, Wilson County: at 700 Green Street, preacher Henry [sic; Halley] Taylor, 40; wife Louise, 28; and children Bettie, 8, Louise, 6, Robert, 5, and Halley, 4.

In the 1930 census of Washington, D.C.: at 1715 First Street, minister Halley B. Taylor, 50; wife Marie L., 45; and children Bettie S., 19, M. Louise, 17, Robert E., 14, Halley B., Jr., 12, and Harold H., 1.

In the 1940 census of Washington, D.C.: Halley B. Taylor, 60; wife Marie L., 54; and sons Halley Jr., 22, and Holard T., 11.

 

James Miller, migrant to Indiana, dies in Wilson.

Indianapolis News, 5 November 1922.

James “Wilson” was from Wilson, but his last name was Miller. Oddly, I have found no trace of Miller’s 40 years in Indianapolis — or of his Civil War service. He apparently left his wife Priscilla and daughters Sarah, Louisa, and Prudence in Wilson when he migrated just before 1880. He came back periodically, and he and Priscilla had a son John in 1885.

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In the 1870 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farm laborer James M. Miller, 27, and wife Priscilla, 18.

In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Prissilla Miller, 28, servant, and children Sarah E., 8, Louisa, 4, and Prudence, 1.

On 23 June 1892, Amos Hines, 23, married Sarah Eliza Miller, 20, at “Pender Street Methodist Church,” Wilson. A.M.E. Zion minister J.F. Jordan performed the ceremony in the presence of W.J. Moore, S.H. Vick, and A.F. Moore.

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: house mover Frank Barnes, 25; wife Prudence, 21; mother Priscilla Miller, 45; and son John Miller, 14.

Priscilla Miller died in late 1908. W.A. Finch applied for letters of administration for Prissy Miller on 30 November 1908. Her heirs were John Miller and Sarah Eliza Hines, and her estate was valued at $750.

In the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Amos Hines, 32; wife Sarah, 28; and sons Ashley, 7, Branch, 4, and George D., 1.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Suggs Street, Allen Hines, 60; wife Sarah, 39; children Ashley, 16, Branch, 14, George D., 11, Allie M., 9, Priscilla, 6, Amos Jr. , 3, and John O., 1; and brother Amos, 40, widower [sic].

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Suggs Street, gardener Amos Hines, 53; wife Sarah, 47, laundress; and children Ashley, 23, lumber company wagoner, George, 21, grocery delivery boy, Allie, 18, Pricilla, 15, Amos Jr., 12, John, 10, Etta, 7, and Margret, 5.

James Miller died 22 October 1927 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 4 March 1842 in Wake County, N.C., to Doretha Miller; was a widower; lived at 631 Suggs Street; and was buried in Wilson [most likely, Vick Cemetery.] Sarah Hines, 631 Suggs Street, was informant.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 631 East Suggs Street, owned and valued at $1200, widow Sarah Hines, 58, and children Harvey, 25, Pricilla, 22, Amos, 20, John O., 18, Etta, 17, and Marguerite, 15.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 631 Suggs, owned and valued at $500, widow Sarah Hines, 69, and son Amos, 38, tobacco factory laborer.

John Henry Miller died 16 June 1957 at his home at 616 Maury Street, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 17 July 1885 in Wilson County to James Miller and Priscilla [maiden name unknown]; was a laborer; and was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery. Mary Miller was informant.

Sarah Hines died 13 September 1961 at 1306 Marlowe Street, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 5 September 1873 in Wilson County to James Miller and Pricilla Bass and was a widower. Informant was Margaret Hines, 1306 Marlowe Street.

The obituary of Peter Blackwell of Indianapolis.

The Indianapolis Star, 7 June 1937.

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In the 1900 census of Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana: day laborer Nathan Blackwell, 59; wife Delpha, 53; daughter-in-law Harriett, 33, house cleaner; and [grand]children James, 16, foundry offbearer, Jonas, 13, Martha, 11, and Peter, 10; all born in North Carolina.

In the 1910 census of Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana: at 969 West 24th, Robert Evans, 22, jobber; sister Georgia Blackwell, 23, laundress; brother-in-law Pete Blackwell, 23, street laborer; boarder Jim Staton, 35, cement laborer; and mother-in-law Ruth Evans, 46, laundress, widow.

In the 1918 Indianapolis, Indiana, city directory: Blackwell Peter E lab h 979 w 26th

Pete Blackwell died 6 June 1937 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana. Per his death certificate, he was about 48 years old; was born in North Carolina to Edward Blackwell and Hattie Lassiter; lived at 2706 Ethel, Indianapolis; was a porter at Claypool Hotel; and was married.

The obituary of Roscoe Johnson of Williamstown, New Jersey.

Delaware County Daily Times (Chester, Pa.), 30 August 1955.

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In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: day laborer Hardy Johnson, 33; wife Martha, 31; and children Jessee B., 10, Pauline, 7, Saniga, 5, Roscoe, 3, Herbert, 2, and Johnny G., 5 months.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: railroad laborer Hardy Johnson, 48; wife Martha, 40; and children Pauline, 17, market laborer, Thomas, 15, Rosco, 13, Hermon, 11, Jonnie, 10, Alford, 8, Joseph, 6, Annie L., 4, Hardy, 2, and Maggie L., 5 months.

In 1918, Roscoe May Johnston registered for the World War I draft in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Per his registration card, he was born 23 September 1898; lived at 2800 Webster, Pittsburgh; his nearest relative was Martha Johnson, 623 Green Street Wilson; and he worked as a laborer for Jones Laughlin Company, Pittsburgh.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 634 Green, Hardy Johnson, 50, foreman at electric light house; wife Martha, 48; and children Sidney, 20, laborer for barber; Roscoe, 23, John, 18, barber, Alfred, 18, Josey, 15, Annie Lee, 13, Hardey, 11, Russell, 8, and Martha, 4; plus lodger James Small, 22, barber.

On 24 October 1921, Roscoe Johnson, 23, barber, born in Wilson, North Carolina, to Hardy and Martha Johnson, married Virginia Marie Price (also known as Marie Virginia Price, 21, born in Baltimore, Maryland, to L.L. and Lucy Amer Price, in Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware.

In the 1930 census of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania: at 251 Hobart Street, owned and valued at $4500, barber Roscoe Johnson, 30; wife Marie, 28; and children Doris, 8, Roscoe, 7, Lloyd, 5, Marian, 2, and Gloria, 1. Marie was born in Maryland; the children, in Pennsylvania.

In the 1940 census of Williamstown, Gloucester County, New Jersey: now renting, construction laborer Roscoe Johnson, 40; wife Marie, 40; and children Doris, 18, Roscoe Jr., 17, Lloyd, 16, Marion, 12, Gloria, 11, William, 10, Barbara, 7, Smith, 6, Elaine and Eleanor, 5, Donald, 4, John, 2, and Shirley, 1.

In 1942, Roscoe Johnson registered for the World War II draft in Williamstown, Gloucester County, New Jersey. Per his registration card, he was born 23 July 1899 in Wilson, N.C.; lived on Glassboro Road, Williamstown; was a self-employed farmer; and his contact was Marie Johnson.

In the 1950 census of Williamstown, Gloucester County, New Jersey: on Glasstown Road, Roscoe Johnson, 51, oil refinery laborer; wife Marie, 50; and children Marion, 22, hotel domestic, William 19, Smitty, 18, laborer on family’s farm, Elaine and Eleanor, 15, Shirley, 10, Catherine, 7, Barbara, 18, Donald, 14, and John, 13.

The obituary of Annie Barnes Taylor.

Wilson Daily Times, 22 October 1946.

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On 30 December 1896, Hilliard Taylor, 21, of Gardners township, married Annie Barnes, 21, of Gardners township, in Wilson County.

In the 1900 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Hilliard Taylor, 25; wife Annie, 23; and sons James, 4, and Albert, 3.

In the 1910 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Hilliard Taylor, 35; wife Annie, 30; sons Albert, 13, and Walter W., 5; and lodger Joe D. Bynum, 20.

In 1918, Hillard Taylor registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born February 1873; lived at R.F.D. #2, Stantonsburg; farmed for J.J. Mattox; and his nearest relative was Annie Taylor.

In the 1920 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Hilliard Taylor, 47; wife Annie, 35; sons Gray, 24, Albert, 22, and Walter, 16; and servant Mary Ward, 23.

In the 1930 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Hilliard Taylor, 53; wife Annie, 48; and sons Walter, 24, and Moses, 14.

In the 1940 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farm laborer Walter Taylor, 34; wife Hagar, 27; father Hilliard, 65; mother Annie, 55; aunt Mattie, 60; cousin Lee, 35; and lodgers Jay Vance, 22, and Mary Taylor, 14.

Annie Taylor died 19 October 1946 in Saratoga township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was 67 years old; was born in Wilson County to Short Barnes and Matilda Barnes; was the widow of Hilliard Taylor; worked in farming; and was buried in Rest Haven cemetery. Walter Taylor of Stantonsburg was informant.

The obituary of Alonza Ward.

Wilson Daily Times, 22 July 1944.

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In the 1930 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Powell Street, owned and valued at $1200, Preston Ward, 27, public building plasterer; wife Edna, 26; and children Preston, 10, Elonzy, 8, Johnie, 6, Janie, 5, Virginia, 3, and Sylvester, 8 months.

In the 1940 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Powell Street, widower Preston Ward, 38, building plasterer; sister Annie, 26; and children James P., 20, building plasterer, Alonza, 18, Johnny Lee, 17, Rosa, 14, Virginia, 12, Sylvester, 10, Ruby, 8, Doris, 6, and Golden, 2.

The death of Zebulon M. Johnson, chiropodist.

We first encountered foot doctor Zebulon Myer Johnson in a post about his will. His obituary and a tribute letter yield more details of his singular life. Per Silas Lucas, a former mayor of Wilson, Johnson attended Cornell University and studied chiropody under a practitioner in Nashville, Tennessee. He was licensed to practice in North Carolina and Virginia and traveled a circuit through eastern North Carolina caring for patients’ feet. In 1926, he married Roberta Battle (one of the school boycott teachers) and settled in Wilson.

Wilson Daily Times, 14 July 1934.

Wilson Daily Times, 16 July 1934.

Wilson Daily Times, 16 July 1934.

The obituary of Sargent A. Simms of Salisbury, Maryland.

daily Times salisbury md 10 4 62.png

The Daily Times (Salisbury, Maryland), 4 October 1962.

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In the 1900 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Gemima Simms, 65, farm laborer; mother Mary, 89; and grandchildren Annie, 7, Ashley, 4, and Reubin, 2.

In 1917, Ashley Sims registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his draft registration, he was born 10 January 1896 in Wilson; lived at R.F.D. 4, Wilson; was single; and worked as a farm laborer for W.I. Condon.

On 24 December 1918, Ashley Simms, 22, of Wilson, son of Needham and Jane Simms, married Effie Spell, 18, of Wilson, daughter of Hugh and Patsy Spell, at the bride’s residence in Wilson. Rubin Ellis applied for the license, and Free Will Baptist minister E.S. Hargrove performed the ceremony in the presence of Whit Lewis, Nathan Weaver, and Frank Hodge.

In the 1920 census of Jackson township, Nash County: on Wilson and Stanhope Road, Ashley Sims, 27, farm laborer, and wife Effie, 23.

On 14 September 1935, Sargent Ashley Simms, 35, of Wilson, N.C., divorced, son of Nedim Simms and Elizabeth Ellis, married Elizabeth Bryant, 21, single, of Northampton County, Virginia, daughter of Richard Bryant and Mary Hargrove, in Cheriton, Northampton County, Virginia.

In 1942, Ashley Simms registered for the World War II draft in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York. Per his registration card, he was born 10 January 1896 in Wilson County; lived at 1521 Pacific Street, Kings County; his contact was Joe Davis, same address; and he worked for P. Savor[?], Chestnut and Fulton Streets, New York.

In the 1950 census of Salisbury, Wicomico County, Maryland: Sargent Simms, 55, born in Virginia [sic], laborer for building contractor.