Joseph Wilson

"Among the celebrated lawyers in western North Carolina of the olden time, the name of Joseph Wilson stands preeminent....William Wilson and Eunice Worth Wilson of the society of Friends were the parents of Joseph Wilson,..., who was born in 1782 in Randolph County. (1908. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina, Vol. VII, p.499.)

"In 1812 he was elected solicitor of the mountain district, then embracing nearly the entire western part of the State.  To the duties of this high office he devoted the remainder of his life, and won the soubriquet of "the great solicitor," an honor he justly merited....After his electrion to the office of solicitor, he removed to Charlotte, and that town remained his home. (1908. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina, Vol. VII, p. 500.)

"In the first quarter of the nineteenth century a carnival of crime swept over the western part of the State.  Conspiracies to rob, counterfeit and murder struck terror in all directions. Their main object was counterfeiting, leading ultimately to other high crimes.  In a region sparsely settled, where barter was more current than coin, counterfeiting did not demoralize commerce and ordinary business transactions...; and consequently such infractions of law aroused less antagonism than they would have done at a later period....Hence the difficulty of properly arousing public sentiment to a realization of the dangers that were sweeping through the moral structure of society.  The task undertaken by Solicitor Wilson was a gigantic one, for opposition to the counterfeiter's schemes meant the enmity of a formidable class, upheld by secret members and an invisible network that extended no one knew exactly where. (1908. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina, Vol. VII, p.500.)

Frankly and fearlessly he marked a path that was straight, and firmly trod therein.  Everywhere and on all occasions he heralded his mission: "To restore law and order." (1908. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina, Vol. VII, p. 500.)

"His life was frequently threatened and sometimes attempted.  The friends of a notorious criminal planned his murder.  On this occasion Mr. Wilson was accompanied by a friend and servant, all three on horseback.  The servant had dismounted to open a gate, when eight guns were fired at the same instant.  The servant and friend fell.  Mr. Wilson dismounted so hastily the assassins believed they had killed him.  He was not even touched, but the friend and servant were sorely wounded.  The ruse of a brother lawyer prevented another attempt.  Mr. Wilson always wore a white hat.  Friends of criminals lay in wait to kill him as he crossed the mountains. (1908. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina, Vol. VII, p.501.)

"While a relentless prosecutor, if he knew or could find men who habitually broke the law, he kindly admonished them: "I must prosecute you if you do not change your life."  (1908. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina, Vol. VII, p.501.)

"After an illness of but a few days, he died on August 27, 1829, aged forty-seven years....Through his matchless resource and undaunted courage, legal anarchy and contempt of law were succeeded by perfect obedience to the orders of the court and the laws of the country. (1908. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina, Vol. VII, pp. 501, 502.)