Wilson County, NC - Wilson County named after Louis D. Wilson ~~~~~~~~~~ THE HISTORICAL NEWS State of North Carolina Duplin, Edgecombe, Lenoir, Nash, Wayne & Wilson Counties September 2001 Vol. 21 No.-59-NC Southern Historical News, Inc. Page 17 Written By David Witherspoon Reprinted Courtesy of THE WILSON DAILY TIMES CITY AND COUNTY ARE NAMESAKES OF WILSON – GENERAL/LEGISLATOR GENERAL LOUIS D. WILSON (Portrait Hangs In Wilson County Courthouse) A self-made man, a long-term legislator and an enthusiastic volunteer for military service at the age of 57 was the man for whom the city and county of Wilson were named. Some of his contemporaries also claimed that General Louis D. Wilson was something less than a saint, linking his name to “land-grabbing” activities and a more delicate romantic scandal. But the attacks of his enemies, which were denied by his friends and one of his alleged land-grab victims, were forgotten when the Edgecombe County native died in active military service in Mexico, leaving a $40,000 trust for the poor of his native county. Edgecombe Native Wilson was born in Edgecombe County on May 12, 1789, the son of Willian Wilson and Mrs. Elizabeth Dicken Wilson. His father left Wilson a modest estate at his death in 1807, but the 18-year old Wilson began an apprenticeship in a Washington, N. C., “counting house,” actually someone’s bookkeeping department. After completing his apprenticeship Wilson returned to his native Edgecombe County and became a Tarborough merchant. He also entered promptly into public life, getting a commission as a notary public on May 28, 1812. The 26-year old Wilson entered statewide politics when he ran and was elected to the lower house of the state legislature in 1815. He stayed in the House until 1819 and ran, successfully, for the Senate in 1820. Justice of Peace While in the legislature Wilson was named Justice of the Peace in 1817 and taxlister for Tarborough in 1819. The still youthful politician’s first success in seeking a Senatorial seat didn’t help him the next year when he was defeated by Hardy Flowers, but Wilson returned to the Senate in 1824 and remained there until 1846 with the exception of 1833, when Flowers again took the seat. As a legislator Wilson became known as a supporter of public education. He was later described, perhaps accurately, as 50 years ahead of his time on the issue. In one local election during his service in the legislature, 165 persons voted for a system of free public education and 1,075 voted against such a system. Academy Trustee Wilson was also listed as a trustee and incorporator of the private Hickory Grove Academy in Edgecombe County during his service as a legislator. During his early years as a State Senator Wilson must have cut a dashing figure. He was described, in 1852, by an anonymous political enemy as “of all men…probably the most graceful.” “He was a full six feet high,” the description said, “and his whole person was a reflex (reflection) of the model of Adonis.” The heroic figure was not matched by an equally heroic soul, the description, printed in a newspaper known as “The Atlas,” alleged. Describing incidents which were told him at a ball in 1827, the anonymous editorialist told of a young woman, married to a man ten or twelve years older, who exercised to the full the indulgence given her by her husband. Victim of Artifice The young matron, the editorialist said, “in the end became the victim of the artifice of Louis Wilson, the reckless destroyer of an entire family. Whatever the condition of his social life, Wilson’s political career apparently remained relatively quiet until he suddenly became the “man of the hour” in 1846. A charge during his early career by a political opponent that Wilson was engaged in grabbing land due to Revolutionary War veterans and veterans of the War of 1812 was promptly scotched by the only victim named in the charge. The charge said that Wilson had bought, under false pretense, the land allowance due the deceased father of a man named Brazzle for only five dollars. Brazzle, who was illiterate, promptly issued a statement saying that while it was possible that Wilson thought his father had been entitled to a land grant as a soldier, he didn’t believe that his father had been a soldier and considered his five dollars clear profit. Another Challenge Wilson faced another challenge in 1846 when he rose in the State Senate in support of the Mexican War, declared by President James K. Polk. Wilson, a Democrat, as was Polk, was heckled by a younger Senator who charged that the 55-year old Wilson supported the war only because he was too old to go himself. Judge George Howard and Henry T. Clark described the scene as Wilson heard the young man’s taunts. “It was an electric shock. The old man sprang to his feet, his face flushed, his features set, and every nerve in his body tingling. His voice was no longer feeble. It rang out like a trumpet’s call as he then and there announced his determination to resign his seat and hasten home, raise a company and go to the front.” Dare Hurled Wilson calmed after daring the young man to follow him, asked the Senate for leave of absence and left the Senate chambers for the last time. Whigs and Democrats in the State Senate joined in passing a resolution commending Wilson for his firm stand on the question and his courageous decision to join the United States’ forces in Mexico. Wilson returned to Edgecombe and began to raise two companies of volunteers, one of which he would lead to Mexico. In a speech at Tolsnot Depot (now Wilson) on January 6, 1846, he addressed a group of volunteers at a dinner. He again expressed determination to fight in the Mexican war. 150 Men The next morning 150 men, including Wilson, went to Wilmington for mobilization and training. On the 18th, Wilson was back in Edgecombe. The county’s ladies had made a banner for the Edgecombe Volunteers which they wished to present to Wilson as leader and representative of the group. Miss Sarah E. Howard, spokesman for the ladies, reminded the volunteers: “Your fathers waged war against the haughty Britons and the Lion of England has twice crouched before the Eagle of our county.” Flag of 48 Miss Howard challenged the Edgecombe men: “You are now engaged in a contest with the perfidious Mexicans and the flag of ’76 is the flag of “46.” Compassionately, Miss Howard begged the Edgecombe men to carry the war against the perfidious Mexican men only. “We implore you. In behalf of our sisters of Mexico, should the fortune of War place them in your power, recollect that a noble courtesy not less than a high courage characterizes the true soldier.” Inspired by the encouragement of their ladies, the volunteers went to Mexico carrying the eagle banner they had been given and singing a song whose words, sung to the tune of “Mary Blain” and written by one of the volunteers, included this verse. “With Wilson for our leader We’ll fight like heroes brave We’ll either conquer all our foes Or fill the soldier’s grave.” Title of General Wilson, who was entitled to the title of “General” through an 1826 commission as Brigadier General in the N.C. Militia, went to Mexico as a Captain, but on March 3, 1847, President Polk, also a North Carolinian, named Louis D. Wilson, Colonel of the 12th Regiment. The “perfidious Mexicans” were not to be the enemy which conquered Col. Wilson. The Edgecombe leader who was without previous military experience, directed training exercises and was concerned with logistics. He wrote a letter to friends in Edgecombe saying he expected to leave his post at Vera Cruz with a supply train for General Winfield Scott’s army in Mexico City. Fever Victim On the way to Mexico City, Wilson met the enemy, but it was not the guerrillas he had anticipated conflict with. The enemy he met was not to be conquered for decades. Wilson was stricken with yellow fever. Wilson died in Vera Cruz on August 12, 1847 & in Tarborough his friends searched among his papers and found no will and believed that he died intestate. Then in a bottom drawer of his desk was found a holograph will which left $40,000 to the chairman of the Edgecombe county court to be applied to the support of the poor of the county. The will caused great excitement, but lawyers pointed out that it was not legally binding on Wilson’s executors, since it had not been found among his valuable papers. Then Wilson’s nephew, whom he had supported, came forward and told that he found the will among Wilson’s papers and disgruntled because he was not named in the will, had thrown it back in another drawer, unaware that that might make the will invalid. Official Funeral Wilson’s body was brought to Edgecombe in February 1848 for an official funeral in Calvary Churchyard in Tarborough. A description of that funeral was written by Martha Williams, a 14-year old Tarborough girl, to her soldier brother in Mexico. “My Dear Brother: “I received your very kind and affectionate letter dated Jan. 24th yesterday and hasten to answer it today." “I am very glad to hear your company has been moved into Saltillo and have comfortable houses to stay in. I know it must be a great deal better than lying on the ground." “The remains of our late Colonel Wilson were deposited in the Court House for nearly three weeks before he was buried. Saturday before last was the day appointed for the burial but there was a large snow so it was postponed until last Saturday." Possession Formed “They all formed the procession at the resident of the Col. Mr. And Mrs. Owens and Mr. Brook’s scholars were dressed in white, a piece of black tied to their left arm. Mr. Brook’s were in their usual dress with a piece of crepe on their left arm." “I have never seen so long a procession in all my life as it was. When the first of the procession reached the churchyard the last was about Mr. McNair’s store. They had Frank Johnson’s band here to play as it marched. It was said there were the rise of four thousand people in town that day." Stopped By Rain “Mr. Owens did not deliver his discourse before it commenced raining and he stopped. Some of the girls did not go to the grave it was so wet and raining." “Mr. Nichels, a gentlemen who took likenesses, took the people as they stood around the grave. He went up to the Academy last Monday and took all the girls, we were out at play." “Mr. And Mrs. Owens have 58 scholars. Harriett I Lawrence is an assistant teacher. Your Sister, Martha” Body Moved Wilson’s body, according to Tarboro tradition, was moved from Calvary Church yard to the country and was brought back to Tarboro when the monument erected in 1850 on the courthouse lawn was moved to the Town Common. Wilson now lies under the monument. Mr. Owen’s discourse was not the last for Wilson. More praises were recited in the State Legislature and throughout his home country. Among the more permanent memorials of Wilson were Tarboro’s Wilson Street, named for him soon after his death, the City of Wilson, organized and named for Wilson in 1849, and Wilson County, organized and named in 1855. __________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Sarah P. Lynch ___________________________________________________________________