Wilson Daily Times, 19 February 1948.
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In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Manchester Street, Isaac Tarboro, 48, sawmill laborer; wife Emma, 48; children Emma L. Roundtree, 22; John E. Tarbro, 15; Viriginer Tarbro, 13; and Richard Tarbro, 10; and grandson Julius L. Roundtree, 2.
Wilson Daily Times, 24 April 1923.
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In the 1900 census of Falkland township, Pitt County: farmer Jack Rountree, 49; wife Lucy, 27; and children Julius, 5, Daisy E., 2, and Cora, 2 months; sisters Marcela, 23, Cora, 24, and Ella Bargeron, 26; and boarder Jacob Worthan, 18.
In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Saratoga Road, farmer Jack Rountree, 53; wife Lucy, 35; and children Junius, 15, Delzel, 12, Cora Lee, 10, John H., 7, James, 6, Mable, 4, and Gollie May, 1.
On 14 September 1916, Julius R. Rountree, 21, of Wilson, son of Jack and Lucy Rountree, married Cora Gear, 19, of Wilson, daughter of John Bridgers and Emma Gear, in Wilson.
In 1917, Julius Rountree registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 4 March 1895 in Greenville, N.C.; worked as a mechanic for Samuel Vick; and had a wife and child.
In the 1920 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Old Stantonsburg Road, farmer Jack Rountree, 57; wife Lucile, 47; son Julius, 24; daughter-in-law Lida, 23; sons John Henry, 17, and Jesse, 16; and daughters Mabel, 14, and Ola May Rountree, 10, and Cora Farmer, 19.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 223 New Bern Street, owned and valued at $1800, plasterer Junious Rountree, 34; wife Lyda, 32; and sons John, 14, and Joulious, 5.
Julius Roundtree died 1 November 1942 in Durham, N.C. Per his death certificate, he was born 3 November 1922 in Wilson to Julius Roundtree of Pitt County and Lydia Boatwright of Mullins, S.C.; was single; lived at 112 Whitted Street, Durham; worked as a plasterer; and was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery.
Julius Rountree died 18 August 1945 at his home at 1001 Lincoln Street, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 4 March 1896 in Pitt County to Jack Rountree of Guilford County, N.C., and Lucille Barghan of Pitt County; worked as a plasterer for William Wilkins; and was a World War I veteran. He was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery.
Lydia Rountree died 16 June 1971 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 29 May 1898 in South Carolina to Collins Boatwright and Dinah Blaine; was a widow; lived at 1201 Lincoln Street, Wilson; and was a retired teacher. She was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery.
John H. Rountree died 19 March 1983 in Hampton, Virginia. Per his death certificate, he was born 15 May 1915 in North Carolina to Julius Rountree and Cora Gibb; lived in Newport News, Virginia; worked as a plasterer; and was divorced. He was buried at Culpeper National Cemetery, Culpeter, Virginia.
Yesterday, while working at Odd Fellows, Billy Foster of Foster Stone and Cemetery Care unearthed two more grave markers. One was blank, but the other was that of Jack Rountree, whose daughter Delzela Rountree is also buried at Odd Fellows. It is likely that his wife Lucille Rountree is there as well.
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In the 1870 census of Bushy Fork township, Person County, North Carolina: farm laborer Henry Rountree, 30; wife Margaret, 20; and son Jack, 6.
On 21 October 1891, Jack Rountree, 30, parents unnamed, and Lucy Bergeron, 20, of Falkland, of Elias and [illegible] Bergeron, were married in Pitt County, North Carolina.
In the 1900 census of Falkland township, Pitt County: farmer Jack Rountree, 49; wife Lucy, 27; and children Julius, 5, Daisy E., 2, and Cora, 2 months; sisters Marcela, 23, Cora, 24, and Ella Bargeron, 26; and boarder Jacob Worthan, 18.
In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Saratoga Road, farmer Jack Rountree, 53; wife Lucy, 35; and children Junius, 15, Delzel, 12, Cora Lee, 10, John H., 7, James, 6, Mable, 4, and Gollie May, 1.
Daisy L. [sic] Roundtree died 5 August 1914 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born in 1898 to Jack Roundtree and Lucy Body; was single; lived on Stantonsburg Street; and was buried in Wilson [Odd Fellows Cemetery].
In the 1916 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Rountree Jack (c) farmer h Stantonsburg rd extd
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Old Stantonsburg Road, farmer Jack Rountree, 57; wife Lucile, 47; son Julius, 24, daughter-in-law Lida, 23, sons John Henry, 17, and Jesse, 16, daughters Mabel, 14, and Ola May, 10, and married daughter Cora Farmer, 19. [Her husband Paul was working in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.]
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Mason Street, Loucile Roundtree, 52; husband John H., 67, yard gardener; and children Jessie D., 26, plasterer in public buildings; Mable, 22, dressmaking; John H., 27, cotton mill mechanic; Goldie J., 19; and Bertha, 14, “adopted daughter.”
Lucile Elizabeth Rountree died 14 May 1930 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 10 May 1875 in Pitt County to Elias Barden and Lettice Davis; was married to Jack Rountree; lived on Hadley Street; and was buried in Wilson [probably Odd Fellows Cemetery].
On 16 September 1931, Jack Rountree, 60, of Wilson, son of Henry Rountree and Margaret [maiden name not given], married Catherine Waddell, 50, of Rocky Mount, daughter of Charles and Mary Small, in Wilson. A.M.E. Zion minister B.P. Coward performed the ceremony in the presence of J.L. Cooke, Clara R. Cooke, and S.A. Coward.
In the 1940 census of Rocky Mount, Nash County, North Carolina: at 1812 South Church Street, yardman Jack Rountree, 78, and wife Katherine, 62.
In the 1950 census of Rocky Mount, Nash County: at 1812 South Church Street, John H. Rountree, 88, and wife Catherine, 77.
John Henry Rountree died 21 June 1953 at his home at 1812 South Church Street, Rocky Mount, Nash County. Per his death certificate, he was born 4 March 1887 in Person County, N.C., to Henry Rountree and Margaret [maiden name not stated]; worked as a retired janitor; and was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery, Wilson. [There is no marker in Rest Haven for John or Jack Rountree.]
Catherine Waddell Rountree died 1 September 1958 at her home at 1812 South Church Street, Rocky Mount. Per her death certificate, she was born 10 July 1888 in Greene County, N.C., to Charles Small and Mary Patrick; was the widow of Jack Rountree; and was buried in Unity Cemetery, Rocky Mount.
Wilson Daily Times, 9 November 1950.
Ben Hodges and Wiley Rountree were among a group of Wilson County men who traveled down to Craven County, North Carolina, to hunt deer in November 1950.
Last will and testament of Fannie Rountree.
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In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm laborer Osborn Dunstan, 37, wife Mariah, 45, and children Dora, 4, Cora, 2, Sarah, 2 months, John, 12, and Fanny, 6. [The latter two children were born prior to Mariah’s marriage to Osborne.]
In the 1880 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm worker Osbourn Dunston, 44, wife Mariah, 40, and children Dorah, 12, Corah, 11, Sarah, 9, Frances, 7, Hubbard, 5, Mary, 4, and Harriet, 3. Next door, in the household of farmer Henry Miller, was John Dunston, 20.
In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Fannie Rountree, 32, cook, married 16 years.
On 11 September 1901, Sarah Dunston, 23, of Wilson, North Carolina, daughter of Osborne and Mariah Dunston, married Marshall Bells, 24, waiter, of Charleston, South Carolina, son of Calvin and Lovinia Bells, in Norfolk, Virginia.
In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Fannie Rountree, 40, widow, cook, living alone.
In the 1916 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Rountree Fannie dom h 667 E Vance
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 667 Vance, widow Fannie Rountree, 52, cook, and sister Sarah Rountree [sic], 35, tobacco laborer.
Fannie Rountree died 4 June 1925 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was about 60 years old; was born in Wilson to Benjamin Rountree and Maria Dunston; was separated; lived at 710 East Vance; and worked as a cook for Mrs. Walter Woodard. Sarah Bell was informant.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 710 East Vance, owned and valued at $3000, Sarah Belle, 55, cook.
Sarah Bell died 29 December 1930 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 54 years old; was born in Wilson to Osborne Dunston and Mariah Monday; was married to William Marshall Bell. Informant was Hattie Wilkerson, 712 Brooks Street, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.
One Saturday evening in August 1911, 14 year-old Henrietta Faison tagged along with her sister Emma Faison to Walter F. Woodard’s house at the corner of North Goldsboro and Lee Streets. Emma Faison and an older woman, Fannie Rountree, were employed in the Woodards’ kitchen. Percy Jones, a farm hand employed by Woodard, was hanging around the back steps. Suddenly, he grabbed the girl and tried to force her to go off with him. She screamed.
Evidence presented to a county grand jury yielded this testimony, transcribed from court records:
“Henrietta Faison — I know Percy Jones; last Saturday night I was at Mr. Walter Woodards; Percy was sitting on back steps and he caught me by hands and said let’s go to the store; I told him to turn me loose; he put his arms around me and said I had to like he would me to, that he would give $5 or $10 to buy me a new dress; told him to turn me loose, that I would call Miss Fannie; I called Miss Fannie but she didn’t hear me; he asked me my age and went to pulling up my dress; he pulled me down to back part of Mr. Walter Woodard’s lot; he was on the out side of back gate, where he began to pull me; he told me if I hollered he would kill me, that he had a pistol in his pocket; he put his hand on my mouth and I tried to get it away when he slapped me in the face; when I began to holler he be tried to choke me; he turned me loose and jumped and run. After he began to run Sister Emma and Miss Fannie came out of the house. I then went to the house we were on the street where this took place. When he left me he went toward Mike Taylor‘s. He put his hand on known but clothes.
“Fannie Rountree — I saw Henrietta at Mr. Woodard’s Saturday night; I was in Mr. Woodard’s dining room and heard a scream; didn’t know who it was; sounded like it was on lawn; when I got out I heard it again saw Henrietta coming up toward steps; saw no one else. Asked her what was the matter; she said Percy snatched her out of gate and ran.She was screaming. Emma came out where we were. This was between 7 and 8 o’clock.
“Emma Faison — I am Henrietta’s sister; I was at Mr. Woodard’s last Saturday; I was washing dishes; heard some one screaming; it was Henrietta; said Percy had pulled her out of the yard, put his hand over her mouth and slapped her; that he had pulled up her clothes and asked her to go with him to the store; saw man running; don’t know who it was; her dress and waist was unfastened and her clothes was wrinkled; Percy had been working at Mr. Woodard’s. When I saw the man running he was half block away. Henrietta was crying when I got up with her.
“W.F. Woodard — I swore out warrant; I heard the screaming; my family was sitting on front porch — heard the screaming twice. Went on back porch, found Henrietta sobbing; asked her what was the matter; she said Percy had caught and dragged her down to back lot and told her if she hollered he would kill her; that he pulled her dress, put his hand on her mouth and she hollered. Phoned for officers, they came and I told them there the trouble. Didn’t notice condition of Henrietta’s clothes. This was a few minutes after 8.”
Jones was quickly caught and charged with assault with attempt to commit rape. He pled guilty to a lesser charge of simple assault and was sentenced to three months “on the roads,” i.e. working road maintenance on a chain gang.
A few weeks later, Jones’ lawyers, Daniels & Swindell, petitioned for a writ of habeas corpus. Under recent state law, they claimed, absent aggravating circumstances, 30 days was the maximum sentence for simple assault. Percy Jones was transported to Raleigh for a hearing before the state Supreme Court.
Wilson Daily Times, 10 October 1911.
The wait for a decision was not long. Three days later, Percy Jones was a free man.
Wilson Daily Times, 13 October 1911.
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In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Vance Street, widow Ellar Fason, 49, laundress, and daughters Mary, 18, laundress, Emma, 16, cook, Henretta, 13, and Flory, 10.
On 3 March 1914, John Ellis, 22, of Wilson, married Henretta Faison, 18, at Mrs. Ellar Faison’s place in Wilson. Missionary Baptist minister Fred M. Davis performed the ceremony in the presence of Ed Cox and Roscoe Yelverton.
In the 1916 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory, Ella Faison, Henrietta Faison, and Mary Faison are listed at 802 Viola. Ella and Mary Faison worked as laundresses.
On 3 July 1910, Percy Jones, 22, of Wilson, married Fannie Reid, 18, of Wilson, at the residence of Sam Miller in Wilson. Primitive Baptist minister Jonah Williams performed the ceremony in the presence of B.R. Winstead, Robert Talley, and Arthur Isom.
In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Fannie Rountree, 40, widow, cook, living alone.
Fannie Rountree died 4 June 1925 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was about 60 years old; was born in Wilson to Benjamin Rountree and Maria Dunston; was separated; lived at 710 East Vance; and worked as a cook for Mrs. Walter Woodard. Sarah Bell was informant.
Drayman Mike Taylor lived at 108 West Lee Street. Thus, Jones ran west when Faison began screaming.
Sanborn fire insurance map of Wilson (1922), page 7.
Criminal Action Papers, 1911, Wilson County Records, North Carolina State Archives.
Wilson Daily Times, 21 May 1911.
Well into the twentieth century, mayors presided over what we would think of as magistrate court, handling minor criminal and civil matters.
Wilson Daily Times, 16 December 1929.
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“Coronary Embolus auto accident. Not at R.R. crossing occurred at place of death”
“Run down by Automobile while crossing the street, killed almost instantly. Was dead when Doctor reached there.”
December 1935.
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In the 1870 census of the Town of Wilson, Wilson County: shoemaker Peter Rountree, 46; wife Lucinda, 30; and children Sarenena, 8, Peter, 4, and Sarah, 2.
In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Nash Street, merchant Peter Rountree, 56; wife Lucinda, 40, born in Virginia; and children Serena, 17, Peter, 14, Sarah, 12, Burtie, 2, and Lucinda, 11 months.
Burt Bowser, born in Halifax County, married Sarah Rountree, daughter of Peter and Lucinda Rountree, on 4 December 1888 in Wilson. Reddin S. Wilkins, A.J. Lindsay and James W. Parrington were witnesses to the ceremony.
In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: shoemaker Peter Rountree, 76, wife Lucinda, 53, daughter Sarah Bowser, 32, son-in-law Burt L. Bowser, 36, grandsons Russell, 9, Astor B., 3, and Thomas F., 1, stepdaughters (?) Manda L., 18, and Rosa E. Rountree, 14.
In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Nash Street, Best Bowser, 48; wife Sarah, 40; sons Russell, 19, Astor B., 13, and Thomas F., 11; sister-in-law Rosa Rountree, 21, and brother-in-law James Rountree, 14; and mother Lucindia Bowser, 60, widow [actually, probably mother-in-law Lucinda Rountree.]
In the 1920 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Nash Street, Bert L. Brown [sic], 56; wife Sarah M., 49; sons Aster B., 25, and Thomas, 21; daughter-in-law Georgia B., 20; and mother-in-law Lucinda Roundtree, 70.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 528 East Nash, widow Sarah L. Bowser, 59, laundress, and roomers George Lee, 24, restaurant cook, and George Sledge, 21, barber.
