Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-08-10
WOOD COUNTY.
A Sketch of the Man for Whom 1t Was
Named.
PdrksrsbVrg Journal


PdrksrsbVrg Journal.
Wood county, West Virginia, shire
town Parkersburg, was named in honor
of James Wood, Governor of Virginia,
successor Of Patrick Henry, in 1899.
Governor Wood was the oldest son OF
James Wood, ST., retired Lieutenant
of the British navy, who accompanied
Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Spots
wood Justly eminent alike as soldier.
scholar and statesman), when the latter
came over to Virginia, and was tnaugu-
rated as the Royal Colonial Governor in
June, 171O, by appointment OF her gra-
cious majesty Queen Anne. After Old
Orange, in the part lying west OF the
Blue Ridge, was divided into two new
counties Of Frederick and Augusta, in
1894, named in honor OF the Prince
and Princess of Wales, James Wood,
ST., became proprietor OF an estate,
upon which the present town OF Win
chester, Va, stands, and was appoint
ed by Royal Grant to the clerkship OF
Frederick county, an Office held by
him until his death. James, his oldest
son, early became solder, the comrade
and beloved companion OF Washington
from the time Of, or even before Brad
docks defeat. He entered the Revo-
lutionary army as colonel and rose to
the rank of general. During the war OF
1912, General and Ex-Governor Wood
was called from his retirement on his
estate near Richmond. into public SER
vice as a member Of the Executive
Council OF Virginia, an eminent COM
pliment to his merits, as he was in poll
tics Federalist, and opposed to the
Democratic ad ninistratlOn in power.
There are no lIneal heirs OF General
Wood now living. His brother, Robert,
who occupied the old family homestead,
''Glen Burnie," adjacent to Winchester,
Va, has surviving heirs-grandchil-
dren, DIR. Robert Wood Daley, OF Rom
ney, w. Va; the surviving children Of
DIR. Dailey's sister, Mrs. Chas. Lobb, Of
Moorefeld, w. Va; VIM. Wood Glass,
a grandson, owning and residing at
"Glen Burnie," the old homestead, and
surviving heirs of another grandson,
Lawrence Washington, who removed
many years ago from Kanawha county
where he married Miss Shrewsbury to
Texas, and l believe afterwards to Cali
fornia. The other brother, DR.. John
Wood, resided and died near Buchanan
and Pattonburg, Bottetourt county,
Va, leaving two sons, whose surviving
heirs are DR.. James Wood, Of Bottle
tourt, and Mrs. Blake, widow OF Gen
eral Blake Of the Federal army, the
daughter Of Colonel Wood, deceased, OF
the U. S. army.
Governor Wood had two sisters, the
elder of whom married Hon. Alexander
White, a prominent Representative OF
Virginia in the Continental and Federal
Congress successfully, and died without
heirs, and a younger, who married Mat
thew Harrison, Esq, whose direct de-
scendents are Andrew w. Kereheval,
Esq, and his sister, Miss Mary s., Of
Romney, w. Va. Matthew Harrison
was clerk Of the old District Court at
Dumfries, Prince William County, Va,
and father, by subsequent marriage,
Of the late Hon. Judge William A. Har-
rison, Of the Court Of Appeals Of West
Virginia, who ranked among the dis
tinguished jurists and advocates Of his
day. This hasty but accurate sketch
should interest your readers, and all
who understand Alright the method Of
learning and preserving State history.
Governor Wood was the first white man
of British origin who ever set foot
where Memphis, Tenn, now stands.
HISTORIAN.