Ricks

Hog-killing time in Dixie.

On 1 January 1949, the Baltimore Afro-American ran a story on hog-killing time featuring Olford Ricks of R.F.D. 1, Wilson. Ricks actually lived just over the line in Nash County, but his close ties with Wilson County more than warrant his inclusion here. (Plus, we’ve already met members of his family who did live in Wilson.) The article not only detailed the work that went into processing hogs, but emphasized Ricks’ accomplishments as a prosperous, modern farmer.

The Afro-American (Baltimore, Md.), 1 January 1949.

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Olford Ricks died 5 September 1973 in Rocky Mount, Nash County, N.C. Per his death certificate, he was born 22 January 1897 to Joseph Ricks and Nancy Jones; was a retired farmer; was married to Odell Brodie Ricks; and was buried in William Chapel cemetery, Wilson County.

 

Ricks reports on the Elm City scene.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 15 June 1946.

Carrie P. Ricks was an occasional correspondent to the Journal and Guide, reporting on social events in and around Elm City. This particular column was heavy on the doings of her own family, but touched on the Jesse Wynns moving to a new store and receiving visits from two of their sons; Doris Gaston‘s return home from college and Mrs. A.N. Spivey‘s attendance at summer school; and other visits.

70 years of wedded bliss.

This charming piece celebrates the life and seven-decade love of Aaron and Mamie Ricks Dantley, whom we first met here. Dantley was born in Georgia, but moved to Elm City as a boy. There he met his future wife on the playground of their four-room school. He migrated to Washington, D.C., first. She followed, and they married in a funeral home on 30 June 1930.

The New Mexican (Santa Fe, N.M.), 27 February 2000.

The Dantleys celebrated one more anniversary together. Mamie Ricks Dantley died 13 May 2001, and Aaron Dantley, 18 June 2003.

Maggie Ricks Barnes’ marriage announced.

The New York Age, 5 July 1930.

Maggie Marie Ricks married John Barnes, not Banner.

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  • Nannie Ricks

In the 1880 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: farm laborer William Gaston, 24; wife Maria, 21; children Willie, 7, Lola E., 5, Clara, 4, and Nannie, 2; and George Harrison, 35, schoolteacher.

In the 1900 census of Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County: widow Mirah Gaston, 33; children Lola, 22, Nancy, 19, Lula, 16, Eddie, 15, Cora, 13, Fredrick, 8, and Elma, 6; and orphans, Eva, 11, and Mary Barnes, 20.

On 4 July 1900, Ed Ricks, 33, of Wilson County, son of Ben and Abby Ricks, married Nannie Gaston, 21, of Wilson County, daughter of William and Mariah Gaston, at the bride’s residence in Elm City, Wilson County.

In the 1910 census of Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County: on Church Street, Ed Ricks, 33, odd jobs laborer; wife Nanie, 30, laundress; and children Sidney, 11, C[illegible], 7, Maggie, 3, and Minnie C., 1 month.

In the 1920 census of Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County: on Railroad Street, Ed Ricks, 41, digs wells; wife Nanie, 38; children Siddie, 20, Annie, 17, Maggie, 11, Nannie, 10, Raph, 8, and Ruth, 5; and niece Albie Walker, 17.

In the 1930 census of Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County: laborer Ed Ricks, 52; wife Nannie, 50; children Mamie, 21, and Ruth, 16; and grandson Eugene, 10 months.

In the 1940 census of Washington, D.C.: Aaron Dantley, 32; wife Mamie, 31; children Eugene, 10, Dorothy, 8, Annie, 6, Ralph, 4, Aaron, 3, and Ruth, 3 months; brother-in-law John Barnes, 33, and sister-in-law Maggie, 33; brother-in-law Alonzo Pender, 27, and sister-in-law Ruth, 26; mother-in-law Nannie Ricks, 60; Velmont Ricks, 24, nephew; and lodgers Robert Blackwell, 28, and wife Minnie, 26.

In 1940, Ralph Ricks registered for the World War II draft in Washington, D.C. Per his death certificate, he was born 16 September 1911 in Elm City, N.C.; lived at 1530 Swann Street, N.W.; his contact was mother Nannie Ricks, 1742-6th Street, N.W.; and he worked for Joseph Westline.

Nannie Gaston Ricks died 8 February 1949 in Washington, D.C.

Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), 9 February 1949.

  • Maggie Marie Ricks Barnes

In the 1910 census of Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County: on Church Street, Ed Ricks, 33, odd jobs laborer; wife Nanie, 30, laundress; and children Sidney, 11, C[illegible], 7, Maggie, 3, and Minnie C., 1 month.

In the 1920 census of Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County: on Railroad Street, Ed Ricks, 41, digs wells; wife Nanie, 38; children Siddie, 20, Annie, 17, Maggie, 11, Nannie, 10, Raph, 8, and Ruth, 5; and niece Albie Walker, 17.

On 31 [sic] June 1930, John Barnes, 22, of Toisnot township, son of John and Hattie Barnes, married Maggie Ricks, 23, of Toisnot township, daughter of Ed and Nannie Ricks, in Wilson, Wilson County.

In the 1940 census of Washington, D.C.: at 1742 Sixth Street, Aaron Dantley, 32; wife Mamie, 31; children Eugene, 10, Dorothy, 8, Annie, 6, Ralph, 4, Aaron, 3, and Ruth, 3 months; brother-in-law John Barnes, 33, and sister-in-law Maggie, 33; brother-in-law Alonzo Pender, 27, and sister-in-law Ruth, 26; mother-in-law Nannie Ricks, 60; Velmont Ricks, 24, nephew; and lodgers Robert Blackwell, 28, and wife Minnie, 26.

In the 1950 census of Washington, D.C.: at 1742 Sixth Street, Aaron Dantley, 42, machine operator, born in Georgia; wife Mamie, 39, rooming house maid service, 39; born in N.C.; children Eugene, 21, Dorothy, 18, Annie, 16, Ralph, 15, Avon, 14, Elaine, 10, and Mamie, 9; brother-in-law Elonza Pender, 34; sister-in-law Ruth Pender, 32; sister-in-law Marie Barnes, 42, and brother-in-law John Barnes, 42.

The extended Ricks-Dantley family (of which former NBA star Adrian Dantley is a member) shared the three-story building at 1742 Sixth Street, N.W., in D.C.’s Shaw neighborhood for decades. The three condominiums in the building are now valued from $500,000 to $700,000. Image courtesy of Google Maps.

Cocaine, knock-out drops, and boosted clothes.

We first met Cora Moore when we read of her daring escape from the Wilson city jail. Here’s what put her there to begin with.

It started with the arrest of Mamie Ricks for possession of cocaine and “knock-out drops” after she tried to poison Ada McNeal. When Ricks was arrested at her Railroad Street home, police found “a number of pieces of fine clothing.” Efird’s Department Store quickly identified two silk dresses as goods stolen from them. The remaining items were a mystery, but Joe and Ada McNeal were also charged with larceny.

Wilson Daily Times, 27 November 1923. 

Less than two months later, the police cracked the case.

In short, a New York coat and suit manufacturer shipped goods south via Norfolk Southern freight. About three miles outside Wilson, someone (a co-conspirator?) threw the boxes of clothing off the train. Joe McNeal witnessed “two negroes in a large seven passenger car” stash the clothes at a spot in Grabneck. As the goods were already hot, he tipped off two friends, Cora Moore and Aaron McKeithan, and three retrieved some of them and hid them in a trunk in Moore’s house. When they realized they were under suspicion, they sold as much of the loot as they could.

Wilson Daily Times, 15 January 1924.

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Neither Cora Moore, Mamie Ricks, Ada McNeal, Joe McNeal, nor Aaron McKeithan are readily identifiable in Wilson County records. The surnames of the McNeals and McKeithan suggests they came from the Cumberland County, N.C., area, and they may not have remained long in Wilson.

Eulogistic Service for Mrs. Mae Ella Ricks.

Capturey

Capturex

On 5 March 1879, Patrick Baily, 21, of Wilson County, married Atsey Sanders, 19, of Nash County, in Wilson County.

In the 1880 census of Old Fields township, Wilson County: laborer Patrick Bailey, 19; wife Atsey, 20; and son Arthur M., 6 months.

In the 1900 census of Bailey township, Nash County, North Carolina: farmer Patrick Bailey, 39; wife Atsie, 45; and children Liew I., 18, Mary E., 16, [illegible], 14, Jodie, 10, Oda, 8, Fatie, 6, Alice, 4, and Shellie A., 1.

On 3 January 1907, Mae Ella Bailey married Jonah L. Ricks.

In the 1910 census of Dry Wells township, Nash County: on Raleigh and Wilson Road, farmer Jonah Ricks, 25; wife Mae Ella, 26; and children Eula Mae, 2, and Jonah C., 1. Next door: Patrick Bailey, 49; wife Gatsey, 52; and children Arthur M., 29, Oda, 18, Fatima, 16, Alice, 13, Shelly, 10, and Frank M., 8.

In 1918, Jonah Lewis Ricks registered for the World War I draft in Nash County. Per his registration card, he was born 24 March 1882; lived in Bailey, Nash County; was a farmer for V.J. Perry; and his nearest relative was wife May Ella Ricks.

In the 1930 census of Bailey township, Nash County: farmer Jonah Ricks, 45; wife May E., 45; and children Eula M., 22, James, 18, Lena, 17, Anna, 15, Wayland, 14, Leonard, 12, Felton, 10, and Pauline, 2.

In the 1940 census of Dunn township, Franklin County, North Carolina: on U.S. Highway 64 farmer Jonah Ricks, 55; wife May Ella, 55; and sons Rudolph, 21, and Fleton, 19, and granddaughter Pauline, 13.

In the 1947 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Ricks John [Jonah] C (c; Ella) h 307 N Reid

Ella Mae [sic] Ricks died 4 February 1956 at Mercy Hospital in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 5 February 1885 in Nash County to Patrick Henry Bailey and Gatsey Finch; lived at 307 North Reid; and was widowed. Informant was Jonah Ricks, 307 North Reid.

Wiley Ricks is still barbering.

Wilson Daily Times, 13 October 1980.

Wiley Ricks and young customer.

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In the 1900 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: Millie Ricks, 40, widow, with sons William, 12, and Wiley, 1.

In the 1910 census

On 27 July 1918, Wiley Ricks, 21, of Toisnot, married Fannie Fort, 21, of Toisnot, in Elm City. Presbyterian minister A.E. Sephas performed the ceremony in the presence of John Gaston, Samuel T. Ford and T.H. Nicholson.

Fannie Ford Ricks died 9 March 1924 in Elm City, Toisnot township. Per her death certificate, she was born 11 January 1899 in Wilson County to Sam Ford of Halifax County and Mattie Williams of Wilson County and was married to Wiley Ricks.

In the 1930 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: Wiley Ricks, 30, barber; wife Carrie, 29; and children Miriam, 2, and Maggie, 9 months.

In the 1940 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: on Branch Street, barber Wiley Ricks, 41; wife Cary P., 39; and children Miriam, 12, Maggie R., 10, Lois, 8, and Malinda, 1.

Wylie Ricks died 28 March 1985 in Hollister, Halifax County, North Carolina. Per his death certificate, he was born 4 December 1898 in Wilson County to Wiley Sharpe and Millie Sharpe; was a barber; resided in Elm City; and was married to Carrie Parker Ricks.

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A 1947 photo taken outside Wiley Ricks’ barbershop. Courtesy of Thomas Griffin via Wilson Daily Times, 15 January 2002.

Haircut photo courtesy of article re Ricks in History of Wilson County, North Carolina (1985).