Willie "Don" Barnhill , son of Robert Bizzell Barnhill and Katherine Sherman , was born on 4 Oct 1898 in Atkinson, Pender County, NC, died 8 Feb 1972 (Tuesday) in Pender Mem. Hosp., Burgaw, Pender County, NC, at age 73, and was buried 10 Feb 1972 (Thursday) in Woodcock Cem., Atkinson, Pender County, NC.

Don married Ella Lee Wallace , daughter of William "Bland" Wallace and Martha "Jane" Horrell , in Mar 1919 in NC. Ella was born on 16 Dec 1900 in Atkinson, Pender County, NC, died on 18 Jan 1985 in Pender County, NC, at age 84, and was buried in Jan 1985 in Woodcock Cem., Atkinson, Pender County, NC.

General Notes:
1918 World War I Draft Registration
Sept. 12, 1918
Willie Don Barnhill
Age 19
Atkinson, Pender County, NC
Laborer
Nearest Relative: Mrs. Kate Barnhill (mother)
Medium height, slender build
Brown eyes, Black hair

Willie Don and Ella Lee married in 1919. Willie Don was 20 years of age and Ella Lee was 17 years of age.

1919
See Don Barnhill in a Wallace article - Wilmington Morning Star, 3-4-1919
(This may have been a marriage announcement).

1919 Ella Lee gave birth to a son, S.L. (Essell) was born on the 28th of December.

1920 Federal Census Records - Caswell Township, Pender County, North Carolina
Willie Don Barnhill 21
Ella Lee 19
Essell 1 month
Willie Don's occupation: Sawmill worker
Willie Don and Ella Lee are renting the place where they live.

1921 Ella Lee gave birth to a son, Willie James, born on 1st September.

1923 Ella Lee gave birth to a son, who was stillborn,on the 12th of August.

1925 Ella Lee gave birth to a daughter, Lois, born on 1st of September.

1926 Land is deeded to W. D. Barnhill by his his wife's grandfather, W. G. Wallace.
April 21, 1921
Date of Filing for Record: May 20, 1921
Book 90 Page 488

1927 Ella Lee gave birth to a son, Carl Robert, born on the 23rd March.

1929 Ella Lee gave birth to a daughter, Doris, born on the 27th November.

1930 Federal Census Records - Caswell Township, Pender County, North Carolina
Willie Don Barnhill, 31
Ella Lee, 28
Essell, 10
Willie J., 8
Lois, 4 yrs, 8 mos.
Carl, 2 yrs. + mos.
Doris, 5 mos.

Willie Don's occupation: Farmer.
S.L. (Essell) and Willie J. are attending school. The family does not own a radio.

1932 Ella Lee gave birth to a daughter, Emily Rae, born on the 31st of January

1934 Ella Lee gave birth to a daughter, Gladys, born on the 15th of March.

1937 Ella Lee gave birth to a daughter, Grace, born on the 2nd April.

1940 Federal Census - Caswell Township, Pender County, NC
Enumerated on May 22,1940 by Pembrook Costin -- ED 71-6
Don Barnhill 43
Ella Lee 40
S.L. 19
Willie 17
Lois 14
Carl 12
Doris 10
Emily 8
Gladys 6
Grace 3

Don and Ella own their home, valued at $600.

Don is a farmer and his wife Eilla Lee and children, S.L., Willie, Lois are laborers.

Don completed up to 4th grade in school. Ella completed 1 yr of high school.
S.L. completed 1 yr high school
Willie completed 7th grade
Lois completed 7th grade
Carl completed 4th grade
Doris completed 5th grade
Emily completed 2nd grade
Gladys and Grace do not attend school at this time.

1942 Ella Lee gave birth to a son, Paul, born on the 26th of December.


1969 Willie Don and Ella Lee celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary at the home of their daughter Doris Evanovich.

50th Wedding Anniversary - Newspaper Article

Willie Don was a game warden, saw mill worker, farmer. During WWII he helped to build homes in Wilmington, NC (mostly for government and shipyard workers). Later, as he got older, he worked over at White Lake, NC for William "Bill" Corbett.

Pender County, NC Death Record
Name: Willie Barnhill
Death Date: 8 Feb 1972
Death County: Pender
Death State: North Carolina
Date Death Recorded: Feb 1972
Death Age: 73
Birth Date: abt. 1899
Residence County: Pender
Gender: Male
Race: White
Marital Status: Married
Autopsy: No
Institution: General Hospital
Attendant: Physician


North Carolina Death Certificates, 1909-1975
Name: Willie Don Barnhill
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 73
Birth Date: 4 Oct 1898
Birth Place: North Carolina, United States
Death Date: 8 Feb 1972
Death Location: Burgaw, Pender
Spouse's Name: Ella Lee Wallace
Father's Name: Robert Bizzell Barnhill
Mother's Name: Kate Sherman
RESIDENCE: Atkinson, Pender, North Carolina


Willie Don and Ella Lee owned their farm. The land (2 1/4 acres) on which they lived was purchased on Jan. 25, 1926 from Ella Lee's grandfather, William Glisson Wallace. Approximately 40 acres of farm land was purchased through the Federal Land Bank of Columbia.

Deed 1926 - William Glisson Wallace to Willie Don Barnhill

They raised their own chickens and hogs, which provided them with meat and eggs. They cured their own meat, such as sausage, bacon and hams. They had a cow for milk and several horses (Nellie, who was white and Charlie, who was reddish brown), both of which were used on the farm.

In the back yard, were chickens (white, brown), ducks, geese and Turkeys. There were regular size chickens and small ones (Bantams). The Bantam roosters were very colorful with their fancy tail feathers.

They also grew tobacco, corn, soybeans and other crops. Grandma had a large garden, located up on their farm. I remember as a child helping her dig up potatoes. As a child this was exciting stuff.

On the property where the house was located there were apple trees, both red and yellow. We use to sneak green (unripe) apples and place them in the hot coals of the tobacco barn and bake them.

There was a creek on the side of the house. We would go there and fish sometimes or just mess around in the water.

Children from this marriage were:

S.L. (Essell) Barnhill was born on 28 Dec 1919 in Atkinson, Pender County, NC, died on 12 Aug 1974 in Burgaw Hospital, Burgaw, NC, at age 54, and was buried on 14 Aug 1974 in Riley's Creek Baptist Church Cem., Pender County, NC.

Willie James Barnhill was born on 1 Sep 1921 in Atkinson, Pender County, NC, died on 13 Apr 1988 in Pender Mem. Hosp., Burgaw, Pender County, NC, at age 66, and was buried in Apr 1988 in Woodcock Cem., Atkinson, Pender County, NC.

Infant Son Barnhill was born on 12 Aug 1923 in Atkinson, Pender County, NC, died on 12 Aug 1923 in Atkinson, Pender County, NC, and was buried on 12 Aug 1923 in Woodcock Cem., Atkinson, Pender County, NC.

Lois Barnhill was born on 1 Sep 1925 in Atkinson, Pender County, NC, died on 6 Mar 1999 in New Hanover Memorial Hospital, Wilmington, NC, at age 73, and was buried in Mar 1999 in Woodcock Cem., Atkinson, Pender County, NC.

Robert "Carl" Barnhill was born on 23 Mar 1928 in Atkinson, Pender County, NC, died on 19 Jun 2001 at home, Atkinson, Pender County, NC, at age 74, and was buried in Jun 2001 in Woodcock Cem., Atkinson, Pender County, NC.

Doris Barnhill was born on 27 Nov 1929 in Atkinson, Pender County, NC, died on 31 Mar 1999 in Burgaw Hospital, Burgaw, NC, at age 69, and was buried in Apr 1999 in St. Helena, Burgaw, NC.

Emily Rae Barnhill was born on 31 Jan 1932 in Atkinson, Pender County, NC.

Gladys Barnhill was born on 15 Mar 1934 in Atkinson, Pender County, NC.

Grace Barnhill was born on 2 Apr 1937 in Atkinson, Pender County, NC, died on 9 Jan 2007 at home, St. Helena, Burgaw, NC, at age 69, and was buried on 13 Jan 2007 in Greenlawn Memorial Park, Wilmington, New Hanover County, NC.

Paul Barnhill was born on 26 Dec 1942 in Atkinson, Pender County, NC, died on 18 Sep 2002 in New Hanover County Mem. Hosp., Wilmington, NC, at age 59, and was buried in Sep 2002 in Atkinson Cem., Atkinson, NC.