Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-07-18
VINO IS WOODROW WILSON.
BRIEF SKETCH Of THE DEMO.
CRATIC NOMINEE FOR
PREsiBkNr.

nareSlfas.,<.
q
Dr. woodrow Wilson was born
Staunton, Va, on pecember zS, 1885,
He IS the son Of DR. Joseph r. Wilsoi
. Pres bytefian minister and the grand
son OF Judge James Wilson, an Irish
man Of Scotch descent who migrate
! from County Down to PHILADELPHIA
i 70 1907 James Wilson prospered ant
i became manager of the Aurora,
leading Democratic journal, Rhiladel
phla then being the National capital
N was A. Ste1bens villes Ohio tina
Joseph Rsggles wilson. the FATHER q
W Qodrow Wilson. was born on Feb
Tuary q, 1871 Jefferson Collegi
/ graduated him as valedictorian in 1874
after which he taught school and pre-
pared forthe Presbyterian ministry a
| the Western theological Seminary
and Princeton Seminary. In 1S49
Joseph 4. Wilson married Janet
Woodrow, daughter OF DR.. Thomas
Woodrow, famous Presbyterian mfn-
lister of the day who was a descendant
From ancient English stock. The Rev
Mr.: Wilson became the father Of two
daughters before he was called as pas.
ter to staunton. Va, where a third
child. son, was born and christened
Thomas Woodrow,
When Thomas Woodrow was two
years old his father took pastorate
1T Augusta. Ga, and soon became one
of the most noted ministers of the
South,
Tommy Wilson, the Augusta school
hey, is described by Professor John
4: Derby. enc Of his teachers, as quiet
and exceptionally studious The most
Important Instructor of young Wilson,
however, was his father, man of
wide information on the affairs Of the
world.
The Wilson's moved from Augusta
to Columbia. S, c., In 1870. DR.. Viii
son fesigning his pastorate to take
the chair Of Pastoral and Evangelistic
/ Theology in the Southern Presbyter-
ian Theological Seminary. At Colum-
bia. Tommy attended Charles Barn
wells private school, At the age of
| III he entered Davidson College at
Davidson, N. C.
Living at the college was rather
primitive the boys kept their own
rooms, filled their own lamps, cut up
and brought in weed for their own
fires, and carried In water from the
pump.
He did not finish the year at Dav-
idson, for he fell i'll before examine
tiens came on and was taken to his
home, now at Wilmington, N. G..
where his father had taken pastor
ate.
|. Or. and Mrs. Wilson's popularity
had made the parsonage a social cen
ter in the city, SO the young Wilson's
associates, who were practically all
older than himself, were men and
women of culture and brilliancy. Be.
cause of these, associations it was ar
urbane and amply self confident young
man who left Wilmington one day ir
September, 1875, to enter Princetor
College. About this time he drop
ped his Christian name Thomas and
became known as Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson attained promin,
ence among his mates in the "famou.
class of ~" No less than AZ of the
1877 graduates of '79 were "honol
men" having an average of go pei
cent or better for the four years
course. Wilson barely got in among
them; he ranked fortyfirst.
Besides being a good student a
Princeton, Wilson became managing
editor of the college paper and wa
prominent in undergraduate activities
He spent great deaizof his time il
the College library, specializing o.
government. the theory of it, and tn
Iives of political leaders. To this h
| added assiduous practice in writini
and extemporaneous speaking. He be
longed to Wing Hall and the Libera
i Debating Club.
AT the age of n he signalized til
i closing of his undergraduate days a