Vintage Santa, customized by my Mama circa 1972. Black Wide-Awake started at home.
Santa Claus
Letters to Santa.
Thomas A. and Mary Ida Bagley Jones‘ children did not leave anything to chance with Santa Claus at Christmas of 1924.
Wilson Mirror, 10 December 1924.
Nor did their cousins, the children of John A. and Bettie Hinnant Jones:
Wilson Daily Times, 17 December 1924.
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In the 1920 census of Oldfields township, Wilson County: farmer Thomas A. Jones, 51; wife Mary I., 45; children Milbry, 28, Andrew, 19, Leonia, 17, James H., 14, Ollie T., 9, Ida May, 7, Paul H., 5, and Jim Lawrence, 3; and granddaughter Bettie Lee, 4.
In the 1920 census of Oldfields township, Wilson County: farmer J.A. Jones, 42; wife Bettie, 28; and children Johnnie W., 16, Grover, 7, Susie, 5, Maomie [Naomi], 4, and Ruth, 1.
In the 1920 census of Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County: widowed farmer George Gaston, 69, and children [and grandchildren] Ada, 33, Nina, 31, August, 27, George J., 6, Lucile, 2, and Ernest, 9 months. (Also, in Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Garfield Perkins, 36; wife Laura, 36; children Ethel, 15, and G. William, 12; and boarder P. Ada Gaston, 34, a teacher.
(More about Jones Hill School to come.)
Dear Santa Claus.
Wilson Daily Times, 24 December 1940.
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In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: in New Grabneck, Joe Jones, 44, tobacco factory laborer; wife Mary L., 33, county home nurse; and children Marie, 12, and Joseph Jr., 9.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: in New Grabneck, Oliver W. Best, 32, [occupation illegible],and wife Sadie L., 24, public school teacher.
Model 1938 Red Ryder BB gun, today.
Letters to Santa Claus.
In early December 1948, the Daily Times published letters to Santa from William B. “Billy” Davis Jr. and Diana Davis (now Myers), children of William B. and Hazel Ingram Myers.
Wilson Daily Times, 4 December 1948.
The children wrote again a few days later with revised lists. (Only the request for a baby brother remained constant.)
Wilson Daily Times, 16 December 1948.
I will not ask for much this year, because you can’t afford it.
At the dawn of the Great Depression, these children wrote letters to Santa Claus making modest requests for themselves and asking Saint Nick to remember their parents, siblings and teachers.
Wilson Daily Times, 13 December 1930.
- Willia B., John Wesley, James T. and Elroy Jones were children of Wesley and Martha Taylor Jones. (Willia Jones Turner and Elroy Jones are still celebrating the season. Merry Christmas!)
- Fred Douglas Barnes was the son of Roscoe and Jessie Adams Barnes.
- Julia Burnette Harrell
- Addie Davis Butterfield
