Stewart

Military headstone applications for the Masonic Cemetery.
  • Columbus Stewart

Columbus Stewart registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County in 1917. Per his registration card, he was born 25 December 1895 in Fuquay Springs, N.C.; lived in Wilson; was a convict in Wilson County; and was married.

Stewart was inducted on 30 March 1918 and sent to Camp Grant, Illinois, for training.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: blacksmith Lewis Striver [sic], 73; wife Ellen, 43; children Columbia, 23, Albert, 21, Mary L., 16, Lizzie, 15, Burnice M., 12, Lewis Jr., 9, and Boss, 8; and grandchildren James, 7, and Paulian Harper, 6.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 604 Spruce Street, rented for $10/month, retail grocery salesman Columbus Stewart, 47; wife Pearl, 29; daughter Eva, 5; nieces Mary E., 14, and Rita G. Wright, 12; and nephew Jessie Matthews, 27.

In 1940, Jesse Lee Matthews registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 16 September 1922 in Harnett County, N.C.; lived at 602 West Spruce Street, Wilson; his contact was father Columbus Stewart; and he worked for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, South Tarboro Street, Wilson.

In 1942, Samuel Hyman registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 25 December 1901 in Edgecombe County, N.C.; lived at 610 East Green Street, Wilson; his contact was Columbus Stewart, 600 block of Spruce Street; and he worked for Fred Flowers, 310 Sunset Drive, Wilson.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 211 Stantonsburg Street, manager/owner of grocery store Columbus Stewart, 54; wife Pearl, 39, grocery saleslady; daughter Eva E., 14; and niece Barbara Simmons, 8.

Columbus Stewart died 6 June 1961 in Durham, N.C., at the Veterans Administration hospital. Per his death certificate, he was born 15 September 1891 in Wake County, N.C., to Lewis Stewart and Ellen McCoy; was married to Pearl Stewart; was a retired grocer/merchant; and was buried in Rest Haven [sic] cemetery.

  • Clifton Hardy

In the 1900 census of Bull Head township, Greene County, N.C.: farmer William Hardie, 36; wife Carolin, 40; and children Devrow, 15, Bill, 11, Louisa, 9, Ardelia S., 7, Lee C., 6, Fenel F., 4, and James C., 3.

In the 1910 census of Speights Bridge township, Greene County, N.C.: farmer William Hardy, 51; wife Caroline, 49; Arrobella, 18, Cliff, 16, Finner, 14, James, 12, Carrie, 9, and Daniel, 8.

In 1917, Clifton Hardy registered for the World War I draft in Greene County. Per his registration card, he was born February 1893 in Greene County; lived in Walstonburg, Greene County; and worked as a tenant farmer for William Hardy.

In the 1920 census of Speights Bridge township, Greene County: W.M. Hardy, 59; wife Carolina, 59; and children Arbear, 26, Clifton, 26, Finnel, 24, James, 22, Daniel, 18, Hurman, 13, and Fannie May, 11.

On 14 March 1928, Clifton Hardy, 33, of New Bern, N.C., married Della Griswold, 32, of Wilson, in Wilson. Presbyterian minister A.H. George performed the ceremony in the presence of Jas. T. Parker, Mrs. Ashley Hines, and M.B. George.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: owned and valued at $2000, barber Clifton Hardy, 36; wife Della, 33, private cook; and Caroline Hardy, 65, widow.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: barber Clifton Hardy, 54; wife Della, 54, house cleaner; and Lucille Joyner, 24, teacher, grammar department, rural schools.

Clifton Hardy died 1 January 1968 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Durham, N.C. Per his death certificate, he was born 22 February 1893 in Greene County, N.C., to Bill Hardy and Carolina Hardy; worked as a barber; and was buried in the Masonic cemetery.

U.S. Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1970, http://www.ancestry.com.

Best and Marjorie Fulcher Stewart.

“Best Stewart was born into the household of Ellen McCoy and Louis Stewart in Wake County, North Carolina, on December 24, 1912. He was the youngest of fourteen children …. As a young man in the Wilson area, Best started his career in real estate and super market business.

“Marjorie Fulcher was born into the household of Barthena Best and George Fulcher on October 26, 1917, in Wilson, North Carolina. She was the second of five daughters: Hancey Lee, the oldest, and Ernestine, the youngest. She was raised in the area called ‘Grab-Neck’ on the east side of town adjacent to the area known as ‘Daniel Hill.’ Her mother was a holiness preacher.

“Best Stewart started his supermarket business as a very young man. He was a successful businessman with the assistance of his wife, Marjorie, at his side. He can be described as a brick-mason, community leader, gardener, fisher, and hunter and electrician. Even though he never completed his secondary education, he was a self-educated success.

“Marjorie was nicknamed ‘Dorgie’ by her family. … She was a warm, loving, easy-going, quiet and caring sweet wife and mother. She was also a business partner with her husband.

“In 1960 the family moved from the area known as ‘Daniel Hill’ because of the urban renewal project in the Wilson, N.C. area. Even though Best moved his family to the east side of town, he was determined to come back to his home area. In 1970 Best moved his family back to the area which was once known as ‘Daniel Hill’ where new brick homes were built. In 1974 they retired from the supermarket business.

…

“In August, 1977, Marjorie F. Stewart departed her life. In November 1980 Best Stewart departed his life. Even though these two wonderful people are gone, the memories of what they stood for will never be forgotten.”

Best and Marjorie Fulcher Stewart.

——

On 11 June 1913, George Fulcher and Barthena Best, both 22, were married by A.M.E. Zion minister B.P. Coward in Grabneck. Ernest Allen, Jesse Barnes and James Daniel were witnesses.

Marjorie Bethena Fulcher was born in 1917 to George and Bathena Best Fulcher in Wilson.

Geo. Fulcher registered for the World War I draft in Wilson in 1917. Per his registration card, he was born 14 September 1891 in New Bern, North Carolina; resided on Nash Street in Wilson; worked as a delivery boy for Patterson Drug; and was married with one child.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 605 Spruce Street, barber Sam Right, 25; wife Bula, 20; mother-in-law Ellen Stewart, 50, widowed laundress; brothers-in-law Lewis, 18, and Bess, 16; and daughters Myrtle E., 4, and Ready G. Wright, 2.

On July 6, 1937, Best Stewart, 25, of Wilson County, son of Louis and Ellen Stewart, married Marjorie Fulcher, 19, of Wilson County, daughter of Bathena Fulcher Lassiter. Bathena Lassiter applied for the license, and A.M.E. Zion minister B.P. Coward performed the ceremony in Grabneck in the presence of Ernestine Fulcher, Bathena Lassiter and Wms. Bunn.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 409 Spruce Street, retail salesman Best Stewart, 38; wife Marjorie, 27; and children Best Jr., 2, James A., a newborn, and Ellen, 70, mother.

In 1940, Best Stewart registered for the World War II draft. Per his registration card, he was born 24 December 1912 in Fuquay Springs, North Carolina; resided at 409 West Spruce Street, Wilson; was self-employed at Best Stewart’s Place; and his contact was Mrs. Marjorie Fulghum Stewart. Best’s brother Louis Stewart also registered. His card notes that he was born 22 April 1909 in Libby Springs, North Carolina; resided at 409 West Spruce; worked at Export Tobacco Company; and his contact was his mother Ellen Stewart.

Ellen Stewart died 6 April 1960 at 409 West Spruce Street, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 2 October 1881 in Harnett County to John and Neily McCoy. Informant was Best Stewart.

Wilson Daily Times, 27 August 1977. 

Wilson Daily Times, 17 November 1980.

Text and photo courtesy of History of Wilson County, North Carolina (1985).