William T. Faircloth

William Turner Faircloth (died 1900) was the chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court from 1895 until his death on December 29, 1900.

According to his New York Times obituary, Faircloth had become one of the wealthiest men in his hometown, Goldsboro, North Carolina, where he served on the board of directors of the Bank of Wayne. He was also described as "one of the most prominent Republicans in Eastern North Carolina."

Faircloth was born in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. He practiced law before serving in the Second North Carolina Infantry during the American Civil War. In 1867, he married Eviline Wooten. [ [http://digital.lib.ecu.edu/special/ead/findingaids/0045/ Guide to the Council Wooten Papers] ]

Faircloth was elected to represent Wayne County in the North Carolina House of Commons and at a state constitutional convention, both in 1865. As of 1867, he was solicitor (district attorney) for the state's Second Circuit. [ [http://www.archive.org/stream/bransonsnorthcar1867rale/bransonsnorthcar1867rale_djvu.txt Branson's North Carolina business directory ] ] He was appointed to the state Supreme Court in 1875 by Gov. Curtis Hooks Brogden, and served until 1879. He was the Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina in 1884, losing to Charles M. Stedman. He was nominated by the Republicans for the state Supreme Court in 1890, but lost. [ [http://books.google.com/books?id=aYoEAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA625&lpg=PA625&dq=%22w.+t.+faircloth%22&source=web&ots=xPGYTTuVRE&sig=AVYebHLR35rFeo880L0xCvKeZgk&hl=en#PPA625,M1 Appletons' Annual Cyclopaedia and Register of Important Events] ] In the 1894 election, as the "fusion" nominee of Republicans and Populists, Faircloth defeated incumbent Chief Justice James E. Shepherd.

References

* [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9400EFDD143FE433A25753C3A9649D946197D6CF "Chief Justice W.T. Faircloth Dead," New York Times, December 30, 1900]
* [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=71245 OurCampaigns.com]
* [http://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/manual/manual.html North Carolina Manual of 1913]