Names

Submitted to Gov. Thomas W. Bickett around July 1920 a note congratulating him on his anti-lynching efforts. 

Statesville, NC, resident in 1920

Resident and commissioner of Pembroke NC in 1920

The R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company was a tobacco manufacturing operation in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It was chartered in 1890 and for a period of time (1899 to 1912) was part of the American Tobacco Company trust owned by James B. Duke. The company has undergone many changes through the years but can still be found today under the name of Reynolds American, Inc.

Statesville, NC, resident in 1920

Born October 10, 1864, near Wadesboro, North Carolina. Beverly was a prominent African American farmer and land owner in Anson County, North Carolina.

Richard Edward Williams, born in Kenansville, North Carolina, on April 30, 1874. Williams was a Biddle University graduate and a clerk for the United States Postal Service. During World War I, Williams volunteered for the YMCA and provided canteen services in France.

Born in Lexington, North Carolina, on November 21, 1860. A Lincoln University graduate, McRary was an educator, lawyer, and real estate agent in Lexington. During World War I, he served as chairman of the War Saving Stamp Committee (Colored). In 1920, McRary was unlawfully run out of Lexington under threat of death after white citizens accused him of having an affair with Florence C. Varner, the wife of Henry B. Varner. Varner was a prominent and politically powerful white citizen of Lexington, serving as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the state prison system during the administration of Gov. Thomas W. Bickett at the time of the allegations. Varner sought to destroy his wife and McRary through his newspaper, the Lexington Dispatch, and through the court system, bringing suits against both parties. For their part, Mrs. Varner and McRary both flatly denied the allegations, stating that McRary had been in the habit of visiting the Varner home but only with the motive of seeing the Varner's servant, Anna Miller. Despite the testimonies of Mrs. Varner, McRary, and Miller to the effect that there was no affair, juries sided with Mr. Varner. McRary never returned to Lexington, living out the remainder of his life in Baltimore, Maryland.

Robert D'Arcy, Earl of Holderness (also called Holdernesse in documents)

Born October 27, 1873, in Robeson County, North Carolina. Lewis was a farmer who served as sheriff of Robeson County from 1912 to 1924.

Most likely Robert Joe Frederick, born in Sampson County, North Carolina, on August 2, 1886. In various census records, his occupation is listed as farmer.

Born March 2, 1872, in Catawba County, North Carolina. Abernethy was a farmer in the town of Hickory, North Carolina.

Robert L. Campbell. Born March 28, 1881, in Athens, GA. Served overseas during war. Was a lieutenant in 368th Infantry. Honorably discharged Oct. 24, 1919. At A & T---Instructor in Machine Shop Practice and in charge of heating system, 1913.

Born July 14, 1873, in Orange County, North Carolina. In addition to serving as mayor of Graham, North Carolina, in the early 1920s, Holmes was also bookkeeper for the Oneida Cotton Mills and president of the Alamance Motor Company.

Attended Plattsburgh training camp in August/ September 1918. Commissioned a 2nd lieutenant Sept 16. Taught military instruction at New Hampshire College in Durham, N.H. Discharged from service December 18, 1918. Later, pastor of Lakewood Methodist Episcopal Church. A sergeant in the Durham Machine Gun Company in July 1920.

Born at Page's Station (now Cary), North Carolina, on October 26, 1859.

Born January 1870 in Georgia. Robinson was the proprietor of a boarding house in Albemarle, North Carolina. In 1919, he provided testimony during an investigation into the alleged abuse of Tallassee Power Company employees by management.

Mayor of Winston-Salem in Nov 1918

Born on July 3, 1896, in North Carolina. Rogers was the wife of Leonidas S. Rogers, of Rolesville in Wake County, North Carolina. On the afternoon of Wednesday, October 30, 1918, Rogers was assaulted by an unknown assailant she described as being African American. Local white citizens retaliated by lynching a man named George Taylor.

Rufus Sigmond Hairston, born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on August 7, 1894. Following graduation from Shaw in May 1917, Hairston became the first African American pharmacist in Winston-Salem. Though he registered for the draft, he was exempted from military service in World War I due to having a dependent mother.