SUBMITTED BY: JC Knowles; vetted and edited by Cheri Todd Molter
WILLIAM TURNER FAIRCLOTH was born on January 8, 1829 in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. Faircloth graduated at the top of his class at Wake Forest College in 1854. He studied law under Richmond Pearson and was licensed to practice law on January 1, 1856. Afterward, Faircloth moved to Snow Hill in Greene County, and served as county solicitor for a short while. Then, he moved to Goldsboro, where he practiced law until 1861. [Click on image to enlarge.]
When the Civil War broke out, Faircloth was appointed first lieutenant, and he helped organize the Rip Van Winkle Company (Company C of the 2nd Regiment, N.C. Infantry) in Wayne County. In March 1862, Faircloth was promoted to captain and assistant quartermaster and served in that capacity for the duration of the war. Faircloth’s unit fought in the battles of South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Winchester, and Petersburg. He was present when the surrender took place at Appomattox Court House.
Returning to Goldsboro after the war, he took up his practice of law. He served as a delegate to the North Carolina Constitutional Convention in 1865 and 1866. A few years later, Faircloth married Eveline Eliza Wooten. In 1894, Faircloth won his bid for chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. Before finishing his eight-year term, on Dec. 29, 1900, Faircloth died. He was buried at the Fairview Cemetery, LaGrange, North Carolina.
