The Freeman (Indianapolis, Ind.), 1 June 1906.
Ward
The family of Mary J. Baker Ward gives thanks.
Wilson Daily Times, 6 November 1997.
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In the 1900 census of Cokey township, Edgecombe County, N.C.: Jessee Baker, 25; wife Luvenia, 25; daughter Mary J., 8 months; and mother-in-law Charlet Lancaster, 50.
In the 1910 census of Cokey township, Edgecombe County, N.C.: Jessie Baker, 35; wife Venus, 34; and children Mary Jane, 10, Alice, 8, Maggie, 6, Addison, 4, and Authur L., 1.
On 23 November 1921, Hubert Ward, 25, of Wilson County, son of Jim and Lucinda Ward, married Mary Jane Baker, 22, of Edgecombe County, daughter of Jesse and Venus Baker, in Edgecombe County.
Lucinda Ward died 30 June 1923 in Stantonsburg township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was born 25 November 1922 to Hubert Ward and Mary J. Baker.
In the 1930 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County, N.C.: farmer Hubert Ward, 34; wife Mary J., 30; and children Lacy A., 5, Katherine, 3, and Louvenia, 1.
In the 1940 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County, N.C.: Hubert Ward, 43; wife Mary Jane, 40; and children Lacy, 15, Catherine, 12, Luvinia, 10, Suvada, 6, and Mary Lee, 4.
In the 1950 census of Bull Head township, Greene County, N.C.: Hubert Ward, 53; wife Mary, 49; and daughters Lacey, 24, and Mary Lee, 19.
112 North East Street.
The one hundred eighty-eighth in a series of posts highlighting buildings in East Wilson Historic District, a national historic district located in Wilson, North Carolina. As originally approved, the district encompasses 858 contributing buildings and two contributing structures in a historically African-American section of Wilson. (A significant number have since been lost.) The district was developed between about 1890 to 1940 and includes notable examples of Queen Anne, Bungalow/American Craftsman, and Shotgun-style architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
As described in the nomination form for the East Wilson Historic District: “ca. 1930; 1 story; saddlebag house with rear shed extension and hip-roofed porch; late example of the type.” The house was recently renovated.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 112 East, rented at $12/month, widow Addie Ward, 37, and children Alfonso, 22, Edgear, 17, Otheara, 16, Jasper, 14, and Thelma, 10.
In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Ward Addie (c) h 112 N East; also, Ward Alfonso (c) hlpr 112 N East
In the 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Dunn Annie (c) cook h 112 N East
Lillie B. Dunn died 10 April 1941 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 36 years old; was born in Kinston, N.C., to Richard Dunn of Snow Hill, N.C., and Annie Gardner of Kinston, N.C.; lived on Spruce Street; was the widow of Raymond Ried; and was buried in Rountree Cemetery [probably Vick]. Annie Dunn, 112 East Street, was informant.
In the 1947 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Dunn Annie (c) h 112 N East
Annie Dunn died 27 May 1948 at her home at 112 North East Street, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 25 June 1884 in Lenoir County, N.C., to Quincey Gardner and Mariah Bryant; was the widow of Richard Dunn; and was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery. Quincey Gardner, 708 Suggs Street, was informant.
Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, December 2023.
Studio shots, no. 231: Leon Ward.
Another fantastic photograph of young Leon Ward (1924-2007), perhaps taken at Baker’s Studio on East Nash Street.
My thanks to Anthony E. Reid Sr. for sharing this photo of his father.
We celebrate Dr. Joseph H. Ward this Veterans Day!
This past September, the Department of Veterans Affairs posthumously awarded an Exceptional Service Award to Wilson native Dr. Joseph H. Ward for his leadership of the V.A.’s first all-Black hospital “during an era of severe discrimination and racial hostility.”
To learn more about Dr. Ward and Tuskegee Veterans Administration Hospital, see this recent NPR piece, A Century Ago, Black WWI Vets Demanded Better Care. They Got Their Own Hospital, and this National Archives blogpost, The Trials and Triumphs of Dr. Joseph H. Ward.
Dr. Joseph H. Ward stands at center in the first row in the photograph taken of the V.A. Hospital’s ground-breaking all-Black medical staff.
Dr. Ward pays a visit.
News and Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), 21 July 1931.
I found this odd article while searching for a digital version of the article re Rev. J.P. Stanley’s funeral. It purports to highlight Col. Joseph H. Ward, but mangles the facts of his life — starting with his name, which was not John D.
As a reminder, Joseph H. Ward’s mother, Mittie R. Ward, was the daughter of Dr. David G.W. Ward and Sarah Ward, an enslaved woman. So, Mittie was born enslaved, but her son Joseph, who was not born until 1872, decidedly was not. And he didn’t “take” his own surname, it was given to him by his mother at birth. Misinformation aside, what caught my eye here was Dr. Ward’s visit to his half-uncle, Judge David L. Ward — who was an unvarnished white supremacist in the mold of Josephus Daniels, Charles B. Aycock, and Furnifold M. Simmons.
The funeral of Dr. J.P. Stanley of New Bern.
I came across this transcript of an article in the 14 July 1931 edition of The New Bernian in Afro-American Death Notices From Eastern North Carolina Newspapers 1859-1935, Berry Munson, editor:
An overwhelming crowd turned out Sunday to pay tribute of respect to the late Dr. Judge Pickett Stanley, whose funeral was conducted at St. Peters church on Sunday at 4 o’clock. Rev. H.R. Hawkins, pastor, officiated, assisted by the Rev. Maultsby, Branch, Sutton, Todd, Love, and Johnson. Resolutions from the church were read by Prof. W.S. Todd; there was a solo by Mrs. Ella Battle; statement from the family by Rev. W.F. Todd who also gave intimate remarks about the deceased. Rev. Hawkins preached from the text, “There is a time to die,” an eloquent discourse on the meaning of life and death. An impressive part of the service was the address by Col. J.H. Ward, commanding officer at U.S. Veterans hospital in Tuskegee where Dr. Stanley had worked for several years. He closed by reading resolutions from the staff of the hospital. The following members of the medical profession were present from out of the city. Drs. Bynum, Harrison and Wright of Kinston; Drs. Delaney, Sebastian, Winston, and Fleming of Raleigh; Drs. Dilliard and Williams of Goldsboro; Dr. Battle of Greenville; Dr. Dudley of Veterans Hospital, Tuskegee. These with our local staff, Drs. Mann, Fisher, Munford, Martin, Davies, Alston and Hill were honorary pall-bearers. The active pallbearers were I.H. Smith, Guy Howard, Jessie Pearson, W.S. Todd, W.T. Lewis, L.C. Starkey and Ambrose Harget. Other visitors were W.C. Redding of Kinston; Mr. and Mrs. E.W. Fisher and Camillus Darden of Wilson; Miss O.L. Bigsby of Tuskegee; Miss Jessie Williams and friends of Goldsboro and Dr. and Mrs. Bynum of Kinston. Interment was in the family plot in Greenwood cemetery.
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Friends with Wilson ties were:
- Ella Battle — probably, Ella Burston Battle.
- Col. J.H. Ward — Joseph H. Ward
- Dr. Bynum — Charles H. Bynum
- Dr. Battle — James A. Battle
- Mr. and Mrs. E.W. Fisher — Edwin and Nannie D. Fisher.
- Camillus Darden
The obituary of Ella Ward.
Wilson Daily Times, 3 June 1950.
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In the 1900 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Abraham Bynum, 47, a widower, and children Annie, 19, Addie, 18, Walter, 16, Oscar, 15, John, 12, Willie, 11, Hattie, 9, Ella, 7, Arthur, 1, and Harley, 5.
On 15 November 1913, Albert Ward, 26, of Saratoga, married Ella Bynum, 20, of Saratoga, in Stantonsburg, Wilson County.
In the 1920 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: cropper Albert Ward, 30; wife Ella, 25, and children Willie, 4, and Robert, 11 months.
In the 1940 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: Albert Ward, 48, hired laborer in ditching; wife Ella, 42; son Robert Lee, 21, saw mill worker; and daughter Naomi, 19.
In 1940, Robert Lee Ward registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 7 January 1919 in Greene County, N.C.; lived in Saratoga, Wilson County; his contact was mother Ella Ward; and he worked for M.A. Tyson, Stantonsburg.
Ella Ward died 1 June 1950 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was born 1 November 1893 in Wilson County to Abraham Bynum and Jane Atkinson; was a widow; lived near Saratoga, Wilson County; and had worked in farming. Columbus Ward was informant.
Naomi Artis died 3 November 1963 in Saratoga township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was born 9 May 1920 in Wilson County to Albert Ward and Ella Bynum; was married Frank Artis Jr.; and was a laborer. Martha Kay Artis was informant.
Columbus Ward died 2 April 1964 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 16 October 1916 in Wilson County to Albert Ward and Ella Bynum; was married to Helen Marie Ward; lived at 809 Mercer Street; and worked as a laborer.
Robert Lee Ward died 31 January 1971 in Stantonsburg, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 10 February 1919 to Albert Ward and Ella Bynum; was married to Florine Artis; lived in Stantonsburg; and worked as a farm and sawmill laborer.
The passing of Rev. Dr. Beauregard Ward, 102.
Rev. Dr. Beauregard “B.G.” Ward, 6 August 1920-11 June 2023.
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In the 1930 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer James Ward, 50; wife Addie, 39; children Maggie, 19, Oz, 17, Ida, 16, Joseph, 15, Ora, 12, Bourgard, 11, Charlie, 8, Leland, 5, Minnie L., 3, and Annie M., 0; and mother Sarah, 72, widow.
On 11 May 1939, Boiggard Ward, 21, of Wilson County, son of Jim and Annie Ward, married Bertha Dupree, 19, of Snow Hill, N.C., daughter Preston and Ada Dupree, in Snow Hill, Greene County.
In the 1940 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: on Highway No. 264, farmer James Ward, 58; wife Addie, 46; and children Ida, 24, Charles, 18, Leland, 14, Minnie, 13, Annie, 10, Molena, 5, and Beauregard, 20; daughter-in-law Bertha Lee, 20; and grandson James Lee Barnes, 9.
In the 1950 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: proceeding east on Stantonsburg Black Creek Rd., farmer Beauregard Ward, 26; wife Bertha Lee, 26; children Boyd Lee, 9, Milton, 7, Gene Aubry, 5, Earnest, 4, Elnora, 3, Willie Gray, 2, and Linda Fay, born in August [1949]; and hired hand John L. Williams, 15.
Wilson Daily Times, 16 February 2009.
The obituary of Pfc. James F. Ward.
Wilson Daily Times, 9 February 1949.
Pfc. James F. Ward died while on active duty in the Pacific in October 1945. Three-and-a-half years later, his body was brought home for burial in Bethel A.M.E. Zion’s cemetery just south of Stantonsburg.
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In the 1930 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Frank Ward, 46, lumber piler at lumber factory; wife Pearl, 40, washerwoman; and children Viola and Virginia, 14, James F., 10, Mandy, 8, and Tom P., 4.
In the 1940 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Frank Ward, 56, sawmill laborer; wife Dora, 39, washerwoman; and children Virginia, 24, James F., 10, Amanda, 18, Thomas P., 15, Arleine, 4, and Leaonia, 1.