physician

B.W.A. Historical Marker Series, no. 25: Dr. William A. Mitchner.

In this series, which will post on occasional Wednesdays, I populate the landscape of Wilson County with imaginary “historical markers” commemorating people, places, and events significant to African-American history or culture.

We been here.

DR. W.A. MITCHNER

Johnston County, N.C., native William A. Mitchner arrived in Wilson ca. 1908. Second known Black physician in Wilson County. Dr. Mitchner built this small office in 1936 in the middle of the Black business block and practiced here until his death in 1941.

First Lieutenant H.B. Taylor Jr. assigned to Tuskegee Field.

The Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), 15 November 1943.

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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.

On 15 June 1944, Halley Blanton Johnson married Doris Eugenia Johnson in Washington, D.C.

In 1946, Halley Blanton Taylor registered for the draft in Washington, D.C. Per his registration card, he was born 18 August 1917 in Wilson, N.C.; lived at 1715 First Street, Washington; his contact was wife Doris E. Taylor; and he was an unemployed veteran.

In the 1950 census of Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey: medical doctor Halley B. Taylor, 32; wife Doris E., 25; and Luanne E., 3.

Halley B. Taylor Jr. died 12 February 2006 and was buried Quantico National Cemetery, Quantico, Virginia.

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.