The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-10-10
AN EMINENT SON
OF EDGECOMBE
State Senator and Volunteer Sol
dier-Legacy to County
IRY CASTOR LICHTENSTEIN,
RICHMOND, VA

iBY CASTOR IdCHTENSTEIN,
RICHMOND, VA
How often does n hear It can't
remember the dates!' In most cases,
the person speaking has made little
effort toward this end. 1t is true that
. emorizing hundreds of dates would
be useless labor to those whose lives
are devoted to comm ,rcial prosperity.
Yet, these same busin ess men would
find their hours after work more en-
joyable il they possessed a sufficient
knowledge of the worlds history to
occupy themselves with a helpful di-
version, instead of wasting their time
in physical pleasures which are fire.
quently forced.
Certain years mean more than 9TH
ers to individuals. So do they to ma
tons. So, also, to the civilized world.
Let US take the year 1888. In Europe,
We can see the Bastille being demol-
shed and it's fragments being distrib-
uted far and wide as momentoes One
particular relic, saved by Lafayette
from the destruction wrought in this
opening act Of the mighty French
Revolution, finds its way to America.
Washington receives the key Of the
infamous prison and deposits it in his
home at Mount Vernon. Only two
months and a half before the fall of
the Bastille, he has become the first
President of a new nation. We now
recall the inauguration scene, on April
seth, 1889. New York is filled with
joyous patriots, who gaze with pride
upon a chief magistrate Of their own
choice.
Down in North Carolina the news
has hardly been disseminated when
an event ccurs that makes no i'm
preston, except in the immediate
neighborhood. A child is born in
Edgeoombe-a son destined to serve
as a shining example Of s~elf-sacrifice
for his country's honor. Without os-
tentation of any kind. Louis D. Will
son quietly makes his entry into the
world.
At this time Edgecombe County
possessed a population that laid more
stress upon acquiring wealth than
upon obtaining an education. There
were the cultured few, but the mass Of
the people apparently felt the need OF
money, SO that both h causes Of
learning and religion suffered. How
ever, the hearts and minds of the citi-
zens were sound, and their neglect
of spiritual and mental development
may be attributed largely to indiffer-
ence.
In 1887, the State Legislature had
met in Tarboro, which circumstance
speaks we'll for the town. Four years
later, Washington spent the night
XIX z LII ~ AA
diary arboro's reception Of his party.
He said hat he vas received by as
good a salute as could be given by
one piece Of artillery; also. on the
next day, that a number Of most re-
spectacle inhabitants accompanied
him part Of the way to G%reenville.
The Father of His Country noted that
the town was more lively and thriV-
ing than Halifax. He noted, too, the
exports: corn, pork, and tar. In 1903,
Bishop Francis Asbury complains Of
the worldliness of it's citizens, who had
more wealth than religion. Thus we
get an insight into the life of the
community.
AS the county seat reflected the do
ings Of the people in general, we may
assume Louis d. Wilson received only
the rudimentS Of an education and
then went to work. Wheeler's Remi-
niscences state he was rather a student
of men than Of books and add the
fact of his success in business.
The date of Louis D. Wilson's entry
into public life ought to be easily
remembered. He first served in the
lower branch of the General Assembly
of North Carolina, during the year
1c15. Students Of history will al
once think Of Andrew Jacksons vic
tory at New Orleans and Napoleon
~Eonaparte'S defeat at Waterloo. sum
GENTLY interesting were these events
to awaken in any ambitious breas'
an ardent desire to participate IL
larger affairs and help to shape tht
political future of ones own land. a
least.
Throughout lmo st an entire gen
GRAFTON E~dsecombe'S son served tn
State in some capacity. He remained
in the House of Commons (as th<
lower branch was called) for live sue
ceSsiNe terms. Then he was elected
to the Senate for a year. During tn,
next three elections, he gave way Il
Hardy Flowers, but returned to tn
upper house. in 1924, for a period o
nine years. When it is recalled tina
a term lasted for twelve months only
the popularity OF Louis d. Wilson cal
be readily imagined.
Hardy Flowers succeeded hin again