
Wilson Daily Times, 1 April 1920.
Wilson Daily Times, 1 April 1920.
Wilson Daily Times, 21 April 1924.
Clipping courtesy of J. Robert Boykin III.
Wilson Daily Times, 24 May 1940.
The former Vick School today.
In 1920, a public health officer resorted to shaming to appeal to Wilson’s African-American community to (trust the white medical establishment enough to) be vaccinated against smallpox.
Wilson Daily Times, 29 January 1920.
Also, “Norfolk and Southern station”? This was not the iconic railroad station still standing at Nash Street and the Atlantic Coast Line railroad. Rather, it was a small depot at the corner of Barnes and Douglas (then Spring) Streets.
Sanborn fire insurance map of Wilson, N.C. (1922).
Long abandoned as a railroad station, here is the building now.
[Sidenote: I and my cohort were among the last children in Wilson to receive smallpox vaccinations. Since 1969, I have worn the “badge of honor” at the top of my left shoulder blade.]
Streetview photo courtesy of Google Maps.
In the winter of 1902, doctors in Wilson County commenced a vaccination campaign to counter the spread of smallpox across North Carolina. Physicians in the county were paid ten cents per resident inoculated and sent in lists of patients to justify their fees. Dr. T.L. Brooks, who operated Brooks & Whitley, Druggists, with W.R. Whitley, practiced in Black Creek and surrounds. In February 1902, the County paid him $13.70 for fees and expenses related to 136 vaccinations.
The following list of African-American patients is abstracted from the roll Dr. Brooks submitted to the County:
Earnest Parker, 17
Fred Dawson, 19
Francis Farmer, 22
Nettie Atkinson, 22
Nellie Atkinson, 19
Julia Fields, 18
Naomy Atkinson, 15
Sallie Jordan, 16
Lucy Atkinson, 14
Jane Jordan, 13
Cresy Whitaker, 12
Charity Fields, 8
Rosa Jordan, 13
Nettie Newsome, 10
Lewis H. Newsome, 7
Alford Jordan, 9
George Jordan, 11
Patsy Whitaker, 19
Mary Jordan, 9
Matthew Whitley, 16
Clara Crumidee, 13
Orangy Barnes, 23
Geo. Dew, 26
Bud Crawford, 26
Frank Tomlin, 30
Bud Tomlin, 18
John Whitley, 56
Richard Whitley, 19
In the winter of 1902, doctors in Wilson County commenced a vaccination campaign to counter the spread of smallpox across North Carolina. Physicians in the county were paid ten cents per resident inoculated and sent in lists of patients to justify their fees. Dr. Edwin G. Moore practiced in Elm City and surrounds. On 3 February 1902, the County paid him $52.70 for fees and expenses related to 164 vaccinations (including ten pounds of sulphur used to treat three houses.)
The following list of African-American patients is abstracted from the roll Dr. Moore submitted to the County:
Sidney Harriss, 8 January 1902, age 18
Clarence Drake, 8 January 1902, age 14
Fred Gaston, “, age 12
Ivy Barnes, “, age 15
Nellie Ellis, “, age 17
Blanche Barnes, “, age 12
Haywood Ellis, “, age 13
Martha Ellis, 9 January 1902, age 20
Haywood Ellis, “, age 10
Lily Hall, “, age 18
Cora Gaston, “, age 16
Violet Bullock, “, age 16
Lena Armstrong, “, age 18
Wm. Armstrong, “, age 7
Ricks Whitaker, “, age 14
Ben Whitehead, 10 January 1902, age 19
Jennie Bunn, “, age 16
Ivrah Farmer, “, age 23
Almeta Williams, “, age 14
Mag Bullock, “, age 12
Elmer Gaston, 11 January 1902, age 9
Alma Gaston, “, age 7
Tom Coggins, “, age 16
Mag Armstrong, “, age 14
Etta Kelly, “, age 14
Pearly Mitchell, “, age 11
Viola Kelly, “, age 8
Flossie Gaston, “, age 7
Ada Gaston, “, age 15
Georgia Gaston, “, age 17
Serena Hunter, “, age 12
Julius Mitchell, 13 January 1902, age 10
Nina Gaston, “, age 13
Walter Locus, “, age 11
James Rosser, “, age 9
Maggie Ricks, “, age 16
Mancy Gaston, “, 9
Gus Gaston, “, 7
Malvina Johnson, 14 January 1902, age 16
Arie Williams, “, age 15
Catherine Hall, “, age 6
Anna Belle Hall, 15 January 1902, age 12
Minerva Anderson, 16 January 1902, age 15
James Anderson, “, age 9
Jno. Red Barnes, “, age 18
Redmond Barnes, “, age 66
Kinny Ellis, ” , age 17
Will Barnes, 17 January 1902, age 26
Scilla Parker, “, age 40
Nathan Williams, 18 January 1902, age 60
Alice Williams, “, age 40
Emma Williams, “, age 14
Melvina Whitehead, “, age 42
Wily Bynum, “, age 38
John Ellis Sr., “, age 46
Ed Barnes, “, age 27
Caroline Reid, 20 January 1902, age 21
Farro Sanders, 21 January 1902, age 13
George Sanders, “, age 13
Wily Barnes, 30 January 1902, age 30
Jno. Ellis Jr., “, age 19
Nan Williams, “, age 13
Miscellaneous Records, Wilson County Records, North Carolina State Archives.
In the winter of 1902, doctors in Wilson County commenced a vaccination campaign to counter the spread of smallpox across North Carolina. Physicians in the county were paid ten cents per resident inoculated and sent in lists of patients to justify their fees. Dr. S.H. Crocker practiced in the Stantonsburg area. What follows is a list abstracting all patients he described as “colored.”
Moyton, N.C., _________190_
Jan. 10
…
Ann Mercer, female, age 60
Henrette Applewhite, female, age 31
Annie        “  , female, age 4
Marvin      “  , male, age 2
Jane Ellis, female, age 60
Henretta Ellis, female, age 18
Jemima  “    , female, age 16
Chery    “    , female, age 15
Norfleet  “     , male, age 10
Hardie    “    , male, age 9
Ed          “     , male, age 8
Kansas   “    , female age 22
Jan 11 1902
Jennett Barnes, female age 6
…
Amos Ellis, male, age 42
Cherry  “  , female, age 40
Lena    “   , female, age 8
Lizzie  “    , female, age 15
Mack  “     , male, age 6
Sam    “     , male, age 17
James  “     , male, age 9
…
Dick Hall, male, age 21
George Wynn, male, age 19
Jim Hall, male, age 19
…
Louis Barnes, male, age 16
Robt Barnes, male, age 13
Fannie McCowen, female, age 21
…
Elizo Barnes, male, age 18
Ivey    “    , male, age 14
Nora  “     , female, 8
Ed      “    , male, age 10
Mamie  “      , female, age 9
John    “     , male, age 19
Sarah  “      , female, age 42
Jan 12 190_
…
Emma Artis, female, 15
Hallie Artis, female, 11
Lillie Artis, female, 8
Marcellus Artis, male, 6
Ed Artis, male, 10
…
Jan 14 1902
…
Sherard Ellis, male, 29
…
Henry Falk , male, 35
…
Willie Ellis, male, 8
Robt    “   , male, 6
Lizzie “     , female, 4
Maggie   ”  , female, 3
John Mayo, male, 38
…
Jan 18 190_
…
Emma Sauls, female, 16
…
1/19 1902
…
Connie Artis, male, 5
Amond  “   , female, 30
Lucy Batts, female, 8
John Applewhite, male, 22
Henry Burnie, male, 40
…
1/25 1902
…
Charlie Ruffin, male, 23
…
Alma Lucas, female, 20
Ralf    “    , male, 5
Ed      “     , male, 1
Joe    “    , male, 25
Florance  “    , female, 20
Columbus  “    , male, 14
Elvin  “    , male, 1
Hannah Burrus, female, 48
Lillie Applewhite, female, 23
Robt. Farmer, male, 7
Ida      “   , female, age 13
Kattie   “  , female, age 11
Harriette  “  , female, age 9
Jan 28 [illegible] to Date
William Hall, male, age 51
…
1/31 1902
John Sherrod, male, age 26
Zillie Howard, female, age 9
…
Mary Jane Lane, female, age 24
Charlie      “    , male, age 6
Leoroy      “     , male, age 4
…