Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1913-03-19
WOODROW |!
WILSON
The Story Of His Life.
From the Cradle to
the White House
By WILLIAM BAY HALE
Copyright. 1911. 1912, by Doubleday. Page

-. s.''E
state legislature. During bis absence
at Columbus his wife, with the. aid of
the sons, edited the paper and boarded
the hands 5. .:s . ss:;. s3. s.. .ssss#
Judge Wilson died in Pittsburgh dur
ing a cholera epidemic in 1887. He had
ten children, seven boys and three girls.
The daughters married well, and the
sons all attained considerable distinc-:
ton. .@ e.5, sss: z2 :S .-
Judge Wilson's youngest son was Jo-
seph Ruggles, through whom runs the
special current Of this story.
Joseph was born at Steubenville on
Feb. %. 1922 He got his first school
Ing in his fathers shop. Like all the.
other sons, he learned the printers
trade. Not one of them but could to
the day of his death 'stick type" with
any journeyman.
Joseph from the start was marked
for the scholar OF the family. There
was a good academy at Steubenville.:
and be attended 1t. at eighteen he
went to jefferson college. a Presbyte-
rian institution at Canonsburg, Pa,
where he was graduated in 1874 as
valedictorian. He engaged in teaching
for. year, taking charge Of an acad-
emy at Mercer, Pa. hut the call was
clear to higher life work. Before be
had left home for college he had made
public profession of bis faith in the
First Presbyterian church of his ma
tive town. Now he took his way to
the Western Theological seminary at
Allegheny. Pa remained year and
then went to spend another year at
Princeton seminary. He went home
and was licensed to preach. although
not yet ordained. He taught for two
years in the Steubenville male acad-
envy. %5as ~ :.: -. =.
To the fact that there was another
Steubenville academy is due the neces-
sity Of telling this story. There was
another, not for males, and to 1t there
came among other girls Of the Ohio
valley damsel from Chillicothe. the
pretty town which was Oh1o's first
capital. Janet Woodrow was her name,
though most people called her Jessie.
and she was the daughter of a great
and famous Presbyterian minister of
the day. One afternoon, the lessons at
DR.. Beattie's school being over. Janet
Woodrow took a walk. Passing by the
Wilson house she spied through the
pickets of the garden fence the young
theolog raking in pair Of kid gloves.
On the 7th day of June, :1S49. Joseph r.
Wilson and Janet Woodrow were le-
gally joined in marriage by Thomas
Woodrow, minister of the gospel.
We have another immigration to OBJ
serve The Woodrows are an ancient
family originally out of England. who
trace their Scottish history back 600
years. Among them 6ourished minis
tiers, scholars and men of substance,
with Presbyterian martyr or two
The Rev. DR.. Thomas Woodrow. born
at Paisley in 1893, graduate of Glas.
gov university. recrossed the Tweed to
become minister of the independent
Congregation at Carlisle, England
After having served there sixteen years
and begotten eight children he felt the
call to become missionary III the new
world. a5sz & 4 {: - za: 80 :, Z .s,.
Two weeks after his marriage with
Jessie Woodrow. Joseph Ruggles Will
son was ordained by the presbytery of
Ohio. 1t was several years, however,
before he undertook pastorate Of any
consequence. serving for. a year as
professor extraordinary" Of rhetoric in
Jefferson college and for four years as
professor of chemistry and natural
sciences In Hampden-Sydney college.
Virginia. in the meantime supplying
small neighboring churches. The Rev.
Mr.. Wilson had become the father OF
two daughters. Marion and Annie JO-
sephine, before he was called as pastor
to Staunton. Va, III 1876 Staunton,
/ where he remained for two years, was
a town OF 5000 popula ton. beautifully
situated In the famous valley of Vir.
ginia. s 81 *5=
Here 1t was that on Dec %, 1856.
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was born.
The infant Wilson ITO spend mo:
ment reviewing his pa rental history.
was born to an suspicious heritage.
His blood was Scotch-lrish strain
perhaps the most vigorous physically,
the most alert mentally. the most 70:
bust morally Of all those that have min.
gled in the shaping Of the American
character. His forbears were men and
women who had 1conspicuously dis.
played the qualities Of sturdy race
they were people ina inative, hopeful
]. yenturesome, stubborn, shrewd indus
trious, inclined to s. learning. strongly
tinctured with piety. yet practical and
4 thrifty. On one side they were an N.
cient family who had preserved the
memory OF a part In large a fairs, who
for 3enerat lions had carried the banner
4 OF ligion and learning the para
mount concerns of Scottish men. or
the other side they had had their share
I In the public affairs OF a more modern
] nation. The new born was descended
4 from clergymen and editors !; men 81
i. strong opinions, men: likewise accus
q toned to give free leave to their opin
ions They were Protestants In sreli
j gion and in politics rA di cals. spioneers,ss
stout hearted breed.
Such was the ancestral preparation
for life Of the lit e son Of the sPresby
& terianN pastor ho3 came into the world