The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-03-12
By WILLIAM BAYARD HAL


fairly on It's feet he left it in the i'm
mediate charge of his eldest son.
James Wilson was man of extraor-
dinarily positive opinions. Further
more, he was very outspoken IN them.
His paper was a very vigorous publ
cation indeed, discussing the questions
Of the day-and they had pretty big
questions In the first half of the nine
teenth century-with fearless convic-
ton and bluntnesS. The editor was
justice of the peace and was ordinarily
addressed as Judge" Wilson. He
was for term member Of the Ohio
state legislature. During his absence
at Columbus his wife, with the aid of
the sons, edited the paper and boarded
the hands
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-
tion
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 it. at eighteen he
went to Jefferson college. a Presbyte-
rian institution at Canonsburg, Pa,
where he was graduated in 1914 as
valedictorian. He engaged in teaching
for year. taking charge Of an acad-
envy at Mercer, Pa. But the call was
clear to a higher life work Before he
had left home for college he had made
a public profession of his 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 a year and
then went to spend another year at
Princeton seminary. He went home
and was licensed to preach, although
years in the Steubenville male acad-
envy.
To the fact that there was another
SteubenvilIe academy is due the neces-
sity Of telling this story. There was
another. not for males, and to it there
came among other girls Of the Ohio
valley a damsel from Chillicothe. the
10,
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 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, 1849, 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 fourished minis
tiers. scholars and men of substance
with a Presbyterian martyr or two.
The Rev. DR.. Thomas Woodrow, born
at Paisley in 1893. graduate of GIas-
Cow 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 a missionary in the new
world.
Two weeks after his marriage with
Jessie Woodrow, Joseph Ruggles VIII
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 Misunderstanding 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 StauntoE, Va, in 1855. Staunton.
where he remained for two years, was
town of 5000 population. beautifully
situated In the famous valley of vir-
ginia.
Here it was that on Dec. %. 1856,
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was born.
The infant Wilson ito spend a mo-
ment reviewing his parental history)
was born to an suspicious heritage.
His blood was Scotch-Irish. a strain
perhaps the most vigorous physically.
| the most alert mentally. the most ro-
| bust morally of all those that have min