Goldsboro News-Argus, 28 May 1932.
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Wilson Daily Times, 1 November 1929.
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This suit is most interesting, in my view, because Camillus L. Darden, in his capacity as administrator of the estate of Evan Powell, was going up against R.G. Lassiter and Company, the roadwork behemoth.
Powell was born in far southeast North Carolina, 125 miles from Wilson. He had left Columbus County before he was 20, finding work as a furnace man at a Baltimore copper smelting company. He registered for the World War I draft in Maryland, listing his mother in North Carolina as his nearest relative. By 1920, he had returned home to Whiteville. When he arrived in Wilson is unknown, but he settled into a house on Hadley Street and took a job as a day laborer with R.G. Lassiter. On 28 December 1928, he was digging a ditch at a Mercer Street construction site when the trench collapsed, crushing him under the dirt. He was pulled free, paralyzed, but died two days later.
Darden’s lawyers pursued the case to the North Carolina Supreme Court, where Powell’s estate ultimately was awarded $5234.03, with costs and interest. The final account Darden filed shows payments for attorneys and other litigation expenses, a a nice commission for Darden, and the remaining 40% divided between Powell’s four siblings.
Wilson County, North Carolina, Property Settlement Records 1923-1931, http://www.familysearch.org.
Wilson, 8 September 1921.
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Durham Sun, 1 March 1933.
Robert Jones was finally arrested in Raleigh in early October. Within days, he was on trial, but facing a reduced charge of manslaughter. Jones had recanted a confession that he had shot Wilson native Mildred Powell in “a Hayti rooming house” over a liquor dispute. His defense then claimed he and Virginia White had been tussling over a gun that accidentally discharged and fatally struck Powell. While Jones was on the lam, White died of tuberculosis and the investigating detective was murdered, severely cramping the state’s case against Jones. Nonetheless, he was convicted and sentenced to 30 years in prison.
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Mildred Powell died 28 February 1933 in Durham, Durham County, North Carolina. Per her death certificate, she was 26 years old; was born in Wilson County to John Powell and Sarah Hagan; lived at 518 Elm Street; worked in a factory; and died of “gun shot wound (pistol) of chest; homicide.” Virginia White was informant, and Powell’s body was returned to Wilson for burial.
Daily National Intelligencer, 21 September 1868.
Neither Joseph F. Johnson nor Buck Powell — who eschewed the counsel of carpetbagging “creatures” to “take their stand along with their white neighbors and friends” — are found in Wilson County records. Presumably, the Colored Democratic Club failed to gain traction among their black neighbors and friends, and the two took their talents elsewhere.
Powell may have been the Buck Powell, 23, barber, listed in the 1870 census of Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina. I have no hints for Johnson.
Died Nov. 3, 1921. Age 51 Yrs. Gone to a brighter home, where grief cannot come.
Is this broken headstone in Odd Fellows Cemetery that of Mariah Powell?
Per her death certificate, Mariah Powell of Wilson died 3 November 1921 at the age of 53. (This is a little off the age on the marker, but reasonably close.) She was born in Tarboro, Edgecombe County. Informant Luciar Stamper did not know Powell’s parents, and her marital status is ambiguously conveyed. Powell was buried by undertakers Batts Bros. & Artis in Wilson County, which possibly was a generic designation for Vick Cemetery.
Unfortunately, I can find little about Mariah Powell before her death. She may have been the Maria Powell listed in the 1916 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory as a laundress living at 411 East Green, as was laundress Lucille Powell.
Perhaps the new season of Lane Street Project cleanups with uncover the rest of her marker.
Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, December 2023.
Ichabud and Mary Ann Lassiter Powell.
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In the 1880 census of Taylor township, Wilson County, N.C.: farmer Ichabud Powell, 32; wife Mary A., 32; and children Beedy A., 9, Pheny, 7, John, 5, James W., 4, Henry G., 3, and Mary A.E., 11 months.
In the 1900 census of Jackson township, Nash County, N.C.: Ichabod Powell, 50, farmer; wife Mary A., 50; children Mary A., 20, Martha, 18, Joseph, 16, Margarett, 14, Geneva, 12, Billie P., 11, Dempsey H., 9, and Paul J., 6; and nephew Henry Lassiter, 28.
Mary Ann Powell died 5 April 1921 in Jackson township, Nash County. Per her death certificate, she was 74 years old; was born in Wilson County to Silas Lassiter and Orpie Lassiter of Wilson County; was the widow of Ickibuck Powell; and was buried in Powell graveyard, Nash County.
Many thanks to Levolyre Farmer Pitt for sharing this photo of her great-grandparents.
Dempsey Powell sitting in photographer George Barnes‘ one-armed chair.
Thank you to Levolyre Farmer Pitt for sharing a copy of this photograph.
Julius, Sally, Julia, and Savannah Powell, circa 1918.
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In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Saratoga Road, Howard Powell, 21; wife Geneva, 24; and children Savannah Lee, 19 months, and Sallie V., 1 month.
In the 1920 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Saratoga Road, Howard Powell, 31; wife Geneva, 33; and children Savannah L., 11, Sallie, 9, Julius and Julia, 6, Johnny H., 4, and Christine, 2.
Thank you to Levolyre Farmer Pitt for sharing a copy of this precious photograph.
Bedie Powell Blackwell (1871-1957)
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In the 1880 census of Taylor township, Wilson County, N.C.: farmer Ichabud Powell, 32; wife Mary A., 32; and children Beedy A., 9, Pheny, 7, John, 5, James W., 4, Henry G., 3, and Mary A.E., 11 months.
On 9 April 1892, Asberry Blackwell, 35, of Wilson township, married Beedey Powell, 25, of Wilson township, in Taylor township, Wilson County.
In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Bedie Blackwell, 27, tobacco stemmer.
In the 1912 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Powell Bedie (c) lndrs h 311 Mercer
Asberry Blackwell died 21 September 1919 in Oldfields township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 1857 in Wilson County; was a widower [actually, it appears he and Bedie were separated or divorced]; and worked as a farmhand for Grover Lamm.
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Mercer Street, lodging house landlady Beady Powell, xx, widow, with lodgers James Daniel, xx, machinist, and Zeb Dew, 28, cafe cook.
In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Powell Bedie (c) lndrs 401 N Reid
In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Powell Bedie (c) lndrs 400 (401) N Reid
In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 400 North Reid, laundress Beddie Powell, 72; great-nephew Reubin Hammond, 11; and lodgers Lucius Faison, 67, cleaning yards, and A.G. Dunston, 69, dishwasher at state sanitorium.
Sunday Star, 27 October 1957.
Copy of photo courtesy of Levolyre Farmer Pitt.