The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-07
Historical Association Or.
ganized in Wilson.
1T STARTS OUT WELL
Prof. R. D. w. Connor's Interesting
and Instructive Sketches of the
Distinguished Man For
Whom Wilson Was
Named.
Especial to News and Observer)


son Historical Association of Wilson
was organizaed here today by promi-
nent and influential citizens. Mr.. j.
w. Hays, County Superintendent OF
Schools, who had been the prime
mover in the organization, called the
meeting to order. After explaining
the objects of the meeting he called
upon Judge Connor to preside. The
Judge made a brief and wise address,
touching upon the duty of preserving
the honorable history of the county.
AS officers of the association the
following were elected:
President +. A. Woodard; Vice
presidents, I. j. Hadley, Jesse A.
Moore and r. d. w. Connor; Secre-
tary and Treasurer, James w. Hays.
Interesting and instructive addresses
were delivered by Hon. F. A. Wood
ard and DR.. Cobb. of Whitakers. 1t is
terial for a complete and accurate
history of Wilson county. 1t is one
of the younger counties having been
created only a few years before the
War Between the States, and the his
tory can be gathered from men now
living and records that are at hand.
honor of the late Hon. Louis ID. Will
son. Last spring Mr.. r. ID. w. Con-
nor contributed n newspaper article
on General Wilson that is now OF
special interest. 1t is as follows.
General Louis ID. Wilson.
one looking over the journals of our
ante -beIlum Legislatures, is forcibly
struck with the length of service most
of the members rendered their coun-
ties and their State. If a man showed
any special ability to be of service to
his people, he was returned to the
General Assembly for term after term.
We find for instance. that in the Sem
ate James Kenan represented Duplin
county for ten terms; Daniel Gibson
for six in the Senate and thirteen in
the House. Richard DobbS Speight
was in the Senate from Craven for
ten successive terms Chowan sent
James Iredell to the House for eleven
terms. Granville was representa- by
Thomas Person for eight terms i'll the
Senate and for fourteen in the House.
Greene county did not seem able to do
without the services of William V.
Spaight and called him to fifteen sue
cessive terms. Nash sent William
I.oddie for twelve terms and Hardy
Griffith for sixteen. From Mecklen-
burg Robert Irwin served twelve terms
III me Senate and Caleb Phifer thlr-
teen in the House. Northampton sent
John NJ. Benford for seventeen terms
to the Senate, and New Hanover was
represented for a like period in the
House by Joshua G. Wright. For
twenty-one terms Willis Reddick look
ed after the interests of Perquimans
in the Senate. These instances form
ed the rule and not the exceptions.
No wonder the State had leaders in
those days; No wonder laws were
wisely drawn and carefully consider
ed. The pernicious custom of rota-
ton in office had not.yet closed its de-
stroying fangs upon the interests of
the State and men were given chance
to be Of use to their people.
With such records as these before
us we are not surprised that the good
old county of Edgecombe found son
worthy to be called to represent her
for five terms in the House. and after
mat for fourteen in the Senate, or
that her people had the wisdom to
avail themselves of his ability and ex-
perlence. This man was Louis Dick
ems Wilson. General Wilson's life is
an interesting one. Starting as a clerk
in a counting g-house, he died a colonel
of the Twelfth Regiment OF Infantry
i'll the United States army, an appoint
ment which came to him unsought and
upon llle VI DOllllCeti
opponents.
The manner in which General Will
son-he was General in the militia
came to enter the United States army
was an honor to himself and a credit
to the State, and is one of the most
dramatic episodes in our civil history.
During his fourteenth term as State
Senator war with Mexico was de-
clared by the Congress of the United
States and the President called upon
the states for volunteers Parties
were sharply divided on the question
ana feeling ran high. AS Il conse-
quence volunteers were slow in re-
spending to the call General Wilson
was ardently in favor of the war and
used all his powerful influence and
experience in urging the State to- do
her duty He was at this time 81
wears of age, his hair was snow white
and his health delicate. After one Of
his fiery speeches calling upon the
State to do her duty. a young member
of the Senate is said to have risen to
his feet and tauntingly exclaimed:
"Mr President: It's all very we'll
for the honorable gentleman from
Edgecombe to be SO enthusiastic over
this contemplate war since he knows
that he is too old to be expected to
go"
1t was an electric shock. The old
man sprang to his feet. his face flush
ed, his features set, and every nerve