From veterinarian Elijah L. Reid to Oliver N. Freeman and the Freeman-Harris extended family of carpenters, brickmasons, and stonemasons to Dr. Joseph H. Ward to numerous alumni, Wilson County’s historical links to Tuskegee University are strong. Today we celebrate its Independence Day founding 145 years ago!
Hat tip to Karen Stanley for the image.
Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 13 August 1938.
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While a student, Daniel E. Freeman designed a new scoreboard for Tuskegee Institute’s athletic stadium.
Montgomery Advertiser, 21 August 1926.
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In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: 56 year-old carpenter Julius Freeman, wife Eliza, 46, and children Elizabeth, 19, Nestus, 17, Junius, 11, Ernest, 9, Tom, 6, Daniel, 4, and Ruth, 4 months.
In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: house carpenter Julius Freeman, 65; wife Eliza, 54; and children Nestus, 28, bricklayer; Ollie, 18, Daniel, 14, John, 7, Junius, 22, Ernest, 20, and Thomas, 17.
On 28 May 1921, Dedquard [Daniel Edward] Freeman, 25, born in Wilson, N.C., to Julius Freeman and Eliza Daniel, sign painter, married Ellen D. Wilson, 22, born in Wilson, N.C., to William Wilson and Sarah Bullard, in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.
In the 1930 census of Tuskegee, Macon County, Alabama: Daniel A. Freeman, 32, private school drama teacher; wife Ellaine, 28; and daughter Elaine, 6, born in Ohio.
In the 1940 census of Greenwood, Macon County, Alabama: at Tuskegee Institute, Dequard Freeman, 43; wife Ellen, 35, laundry checker; and daughter Elaine, 16.
Montgomery Advertiser, 21 August 1946.
In the 1950 census of Greenwood, Macon County, Alabama: Daniel E. Freeman, 53; wife Ellen D., 47; and cousin Donald McLauren, 10, born in New York.
Daniel E. Freeman.
Dedquard E. Freeman died 27 January 1972 in Tuskegee, Alabama.
Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 25 October 1930.
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Washington Tribune, 29 January 1929.
Dr. Walter T. Darden, son of Charles H. and Dinah Scarborough Darden, served as acting director of Tuskegee Institute’s John A. Andrew Memorial Hospital during the absence of its regular director, who was at Johns Hopkins Hospital with Tuskegee Institute principal Dr. Robert R. Moton.
Wilson Daily Times, 17 April 1911.
Though this looks like a newspaper article, the code at the bottom of this piece indicates that it was essentially an advertisement touting a device invented by Tuskegee Institute-trained veterinarian Dr. Elijah L. Reid to control frightened horses. Reid was, perhaps, at the peak of his career around this time, having moved from his native Wayne County to Stantonsburg and then to Wilson around 1905.
Read more about Dr. Reid here and here and here.
Clipping courtesy of J. Robert Boykin III.
[Update, 4/16/2022: in veterinary medicine, to drench is to administer a draft of medicine to (an animal), especially by force, i.e. to drench a horse. Thanks, Briggs Sherwood.]
Alfred L. Moore is listed as a junior in the 1903-04 Tuskegee Institute Annual Catalogue.
Oliver N. Freeman is listed in the B Middle Class in the 1903-04 catalogue, A Middle Class in 1904-05, and a senior in 1905-06.
Artelia M. Darden is listed in A Preparatory Class in the 1905-06 catalogue.
Henry Howard is listed in B Preparatory Class in the 1905-06 catalogue. In the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer James Howard, 33, widower, and children Henry, 14, Mirantha, 9, Lela Ann, 7, Kinzey, 5, and Cleo, 4; plus boarders Mary Jane, 24, and David Battle, 2. In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Stantonsburg Road, Jeasee Howard, 45; wife Zillar, 40; and children Henry, 25, Marenda, 19, Lena, 17, Kensey, 15, Leaola, 13, and Jessee Jr., 16 months.
Booker T. Washington mentioned Mahala J. Williamson in this letter to Warren Logan, treasurer of Tuskegee Institute. Williamson, a Hampton Institute graduate, served in several positions at Tuskegee, including head of the laundry department, principal of the night school, and librarian.
Williamson, born in 1864, was the daughter of Patrick and Spicey Williamson. See here a letter Williamson wrote about her work at Tuskegee.
Excerpt from Harlan, Louis R., Booker T. Washington Papers, Volume 2: 1860-89 (1972).
New York Age, 11 July 1912.
Wilson Times, 11 August 1899.
In 1899, veterinary surgeon Dr. Elijah L. Reid moved his practice from Stantonsburg to the greener pastures of the town of Wilson, setting up at Jefferson D. Farrior‘s livery stable. He came with glowing references.