Journal of the National Medical Association, volume 21, number 4 (1929).
- Frank S. Hargrave
physician
Recommended doctors.
Wilson Daily Times, 1 May 1935.
In 1935, Garner-Tarkenton Drug Store published a list of 27 recommended physicians and surgeons. The final three on the list were African-American — Drs. William A. Mitchner, Joseph F. Cowan, and Boisey O. Barnes (thus, B.O., not T.O.)
Dr. Darden makes good.
Wilson Daily Times, 29 September 1936.
“Darden and Family at Pharmacy.” This unattributed photo is posted at “First Black Doctor in Opelika, AL,” Valle Vision News blog, 22 February 2018. Dr. Darden is at center, with his wife Maude Jean Logan Darden to the left, standing in front of his Opelika pharmacy. The man at far right may be J.B. Darden, a pharmacist who worked in his brother’s shop before settling in Virginia.
- Dr. J.W. Darden — John W. Darden.
- C.L. Darden — Camillus L. Darden.
Clipping courtesy of J. Robert Boykin III.
The Tuberculous Negro.
Wilson Daily Times, 1 October 1915.
In 1915, Dr. Frank S. Hargrave was invited to speak at a tuberculosis conference in Columbia, South Carolina.
Clipping courtesy of J. Robert Boykin III.
Proud he was born in Wilson.
Dr. Joseph H. Ward, circa World War I. Photo credit unknown.
In September 1926, Dr. Joseph H. Ward sent a note of thanks to Daily Times editor John D. Gold for a complimentary article the paper had published a few weeks before. The New York World had picked up and reprinted the piece, which had caught Dr. Ward’s attention.
Dr. Ward noted the “generosity and goodwill” of Wilson’s citizens and proclaimed that he was “proud to have been touched by the benign influence of the men who laid the foundation of the Wilson of today — the Messrs. Barnes, Woodards, Ruffins, Rountrees, Golds, Daniels, Conners, Davises, Vicks and Prices, and their illustrious compatriots.”
By populating his roll call with surnames only, Dr. Ward was able to place on an equal footing the African-American men who had positively impacted his youth — Samuel H. Vick and Joseph C. Price (and possibly, Rev. Fred M. Davis.) Notably, he did not name the family of his biological father, Dr. David G.W. Ward.
Wilson Daily Times, 3 September 1926.
I have not been able to find the August 19 article.
Many thanks to J. Robert Boykin III for the clipping.
Snaps, no. 79: Dr. James A. Battle.
We met Dr. James A. Battle, born in Wilson in 1885 to Parker and Ella Battle, here. His granddaughter, Mae Castenell, recently shared several family photographs.
Dr. Battle and wife Della Plummer Battle. Della Battle’s sister was E. Courtney Plummer Fitts, who lived in Wilson.
The Battle house on West 4th Street in Greenville, North Carolina. The Battles and their young daughter Ella are seated in the lawn.
Dr. Battle, seated at left, with an unknown group of young African-American men.
Many thanks to Mae Castenell.
The Ward-Locklear wedding: “the bride wore white silk mull over taffeta silk.”
——
The 1904 nuptials of Wilson native Dr. Joseph H. Ward and Zella Louise Locklear was a highlight of the season in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Indianapolis News, 24 November 1904.
Iredell County Chronicles, no. 9.
Statesville Landmark, 7 June 1932.
Statesville Daily Record, 20 April 1934.
——
In the 1880 census of Salisbury, Rowan County: tanner Robert Lord, 48; wife Rosetta, 40; and children Robert, 19, tobacco factory worker, Nora, 15, Irene, 12, Alonzo, 8, and Elizabeth, 21.
In the 1900 census of Statesville, Iredell County: on Garfield Street, Alonzo Lord, 28, physician; wife Lula, 24; and sister Nora B., 31.
Alonzo Richardson Lord was born 26 April 1904 in Cabarrus County, N.C., to Lula Hart and Alonzo David Lord.
In the 1930 census of Statesville, Iredell County: A. Loid, 54, physician, and wife Lula, 52.
In the 1930 census of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, N.C.: Alonzo Hart, 25, teacher, lodger in the household of W.F.G. Moore.
Alonzo D. Lord died 15 April 1934 in Statesville, Iredell County. Per his death certificate, he was born 24 October 1874 in Salisbury to Robert and Rosetta Lord; was married to Lula Lord; and was a physician.
In the 1938 Hill’s Rocky Mount, N.C., city directory: Lord Alonzo R (c) prin Booker T Washington Sch h 232 Atlantic av
In the 1940 census of Statesville, Iredell County: on Adams Road, Lula Lord, 63, widow, and Henrietta Thomas, 49, widow, private nurse.
In the 1940 census of Rocky Mount, Edgecombe County, N.C.: Alonzo Hart, 35, principal and teacher, lodger in the household of Marion Hood, 35.
In 1942, Alonzo Richardson Lord registered for the World War II draft in Edgecombe County. Per his registration card, he was born 26 April 1904 in Concord, N.C.; lived 232 Atlantic Avenue, Rocky Mount, N.C.; his contact was Lula H. Lord; and he worked for Rocky Mount City Schools at Booker T. Washington High School.
On 1 October 1943, Alonzo R. Lord, 39, of Statesville, N.C., son of Alonzo and Lula Hart, married Mae McKoy, 36, of Mebane, N.C., daughter of David and Alice Murray, in Wilson. Dr. B.O. Barnes applied for the license, and Presbyterian minister J.W. Barnette performed the ceremony. [Per Beverly A. Henderson, Dr. Barnes and Alonzo Lord were close friends from their college days at Johnson C. Smith University.]
The 1962 Elizabeth City State College Catalogue lists A.R. Lord as principal and M.M. Lord as a teacher at Fourth Street Elementary School, Plymouth, N.C.
Alonzo R. Lord died 3 June 1986 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Alonzo R. Lord, Bertha Hart, a Murphy (first name not known), Minnie McNeely, Ardeanur Smith, Statesville, N.C., mid-1920s.
Photo in collection of Lisa Y. Henderson.
Thus ends the week. Who will pick up the blogging mantle to create a one-place study chronicling the lives and history of Iredell County African-Americans?
The funeral of Dr. William A. Mitchner.
Wilson Daily Times, 10 November 1941.
- Dr. William A. Mitchner
- J.F. Cooke
- Rev. Fred M. Davis — Missionary Baptist minister.
- Charles James — Charles D. James, undertaker.
- Rev. R.L. Jeans — Robert L. Jeans, Presbyterian minister.
- Dr. B.O. Barnes — Boisey O. Barnes, physician.
- Hartford E. Best — Hartford E. Bess.
- Elnora Foster — Elenore H. Foster, teacher.
- John F. Moreland — A.M.E. Zion minister.
- C.L. Darden — Camillus L. Darden, undertaker.
- J.M. Barnes — John Mack Barnes, builder.
- D.C. Yancey — D’Arcey C. Yancey, pharmacist
- Dr. W.H. Phillips — William H. Phillips, dentist.
- Prof. Ed Barnes — Edward M. Barnes, high school principal.
- Louis Thomas Sr. — carpenter.
- James H. Knight
- William Hines — barber and hospital administrator.
The obituary of Dr. Walter Darden.
New York Times, 17 February 1986.
The former slave(s) to which Dr. Walter T. (not L.) Darden was born were Charles H. and Dinah Scarborough Darden. His daughters wrote Spoonbread and Strawberry Wine, a memoir of family foodways.