Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-01-02
HON. SAMUEL WOODS.
The New Supreme Judge of Vast
Virginia.
A Brief Sketch Of His Career-An lIIustr,.
Gus Example of What Talent, Indus
try, and a Christian Life
May Achieve.
A WORTHY SUCCESSOR TO RAYMOND

There is something really beautiful in
the sucCessfultriumph of perseverance and
well.directed etiort, over adverse and
! unkind circumstances, to comm auding DO.
Sitions in State and National afflirs. Such
examples furnish the most striking and
! forcible illustrations of the genius and
tendency OF our institutions to lead those
on to fame and fortune who most deserve
these objects. They awaken generous en-
ulation, and demonstrate the superiority OF
free iH' itgti9as iP 9GttSi5S latent powers
that otherwise would never have bene
fitted the world. The lives OF such
men represent the most essential fac.
| tors of both State and National
| prosperity, and show what may be accom-
| plished-eyen amid troubles and trials,
| poverty, and all else Oi diSheactenng
| Characler-by industry, indomitable COur
! age, and high moral conduct.
| Probably ninety in ever one hundred OF
| our really great men, who have reached
! enviable positions, have made them selves.
In other words: There is chance for
| every industrious, sensible man-regardleSS
/ Uf family name-whO has the will.pOwer
| TO husband his physical and mental re-
! sources, and the patience tOperSeycre until
! success has crowned his efforts. WUSt NIr.
| ginia does not furnish in the
! list Of her Self.made men more
| iilustrOus example oil what talent
! Industry and a Christian life may achieve,
! than in the successful career of tie Hon.
| SAMUEL Woops, OF fAilippi, Barbour COun-
! ~. Who has just asceuded TO the Supreme
a hIs ,l... Ion, ~
Grace of bis EXCellenCy, Governor Jackson.
Certainly the muntel OF Judge lIlymond
! cunld not have fallen more wOrthily; AMI,
| no doubt, tie appointment will give gen
| cral satisfaction throughout the State.
JUuGE WooDS was born September 2'th,
| lS22. in Beance county, East Canada, and
| is OF Irish descent. His father was plaS-
terer by trade, having come from county
Antrim. Ireland. From Canada, his par
| ent> removed 10 Meadville, Pa, where the
| family was reared. He was brought up To
the trade of his father, and
it was his habit thus to work in
summer, and in winter 20 to school. He
soon evinCed that his was no common mind;
and his excellent conduct marked him for
| Man, After working.hours. books were
his constant companions, and the study oi
mathematics was his passion. While la
boring industriOusly at his trade, his earn
ings were devoted, first, TO aid his parents,
and then to the purchase OF useful BOOKS,
which laid the foundation for his subse
4ueiit IAN i.' W. ". "a 80 nrac,;ra
Sc'enCeS' -! us !i,I - IL fm,;nI
ol s'lCt TCooiHy i'v az AIio,Lon,
niNVihe! " pay ~ ",S trn 10 ,,ra1mofsd IN
a,td very T;rb in bis class
especially in French and Mathematics.
Nr,,,,g his assn iutpg al college were sew
floi us ",>oO cSo 'H''' oi,orys7s became
';"t siii',,',.,, pa. GnrIon H,IttcIIe Cinv.
O M,u''' 'ni,'.o;, orl I{;,J,,n C,Ivir KINGS.
e. '-'' '''' P''''''
4S' ~, ,,.,,r-. ot C,Ilo,a Ea
Al't' n"'lI't"E W. It'll ,ha yasr
.auShl SChoUl III ~ ."e".,' nc w ~, 49,,
l2f' WEN ne 'e,iG'tn T ,n,, ~ rnss;,;n, aS
'io ,I ,aIsr,,. at tIIs, nIare with
p,,. ~ p,. ;fa,,Jor Pic II ID and continued
~. ,,ii tI,raa vear,
'"IS ~; '''S'l ~, ,,,c riUi SaHtUwm Ia,
read Law. probably under the guidance .!
Timothy FOX Alden, E>u., a distiDg uShcd
lawycr of that day, at MUrgantOwn. In
l-lS, lie removed to philippi and began the
practice of law, and soon thereafter was
married to Miss Belle NeeSOn, vi MeadEil!e
his old home.
some of the residents OF PhlIippi thirty
years ago who are still llvlnS, remember
no doubt, his energies IN lnPIoNI"E ms
nome tilal has Slutt NblAlA'l NVN Nt4N
of a large family. He was not ashamed OF
the trade at winch he had wo'Ec d. nor oil
soiling his hands in pisStering ms own
home, paper.hanging, and other Ike non
orable labor to which he had been accu>t'
Omed in earlier life. Indeed ne was III,
ways proud Of his h"'h ana t""''' ana
they are to day, a. IN years gnhe ny 'ht
chief ornaments upon his Once library
case. 90. ,..,
His first step in political lie was ms eIec'
ton 10 the Virginia Convention when pass
ed the Ordinance of Secession. In that me-
morable assembly, his superior endowments
were recognized, and he commanded the
highest respect. When all hope OF peace
had fled and Virginia resolved to cast ne'
fortunes with the Coniederacy, ne was VIII
ing to suffer the hardshipS OF war IN de,
fence of the principles which had dlrecte
and controlled his legislative course; ana
be did not lay down his arms until the sur
| render al AppOmattoN, But when he ma
brayeIy performed his last duty t. the
mother State, then his manhood ana MS pa
| trioriSm alike accepted the practical oehlal
Of the doctrine OI States Rights as turhlSl-
ed by the results OF the war; and with gen.
uine gallantry he transferred his love rom T.
| the mo'h"r to the daughter-We't Nr
| giuia' and has since been one oil hcr most
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