Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1916-06-23
WILSON KNOWN
AS EDUCATOR
Held Many High Positions Before
Becoming Head Of Prince
ton University.
HIS POLITICAL LIFE SHORT
Was Elected Governor Of New Jer.
sey In 1910 and President Of the
United States In 19t2-of
seoteh-Irlsh Descent and
Born In Virginia.

Born In Virginia.
DR.. Woodrow Wilson was born at
Staunton, Va, on December %, 1856.
He Is the son Of DR.. Joseph Il. Wilson,
a Presbyterian minister, and the grand
sol Of Judge James Wilson, an Irish
man OF Scotch descent. who migrated
from County Down to Philadelphia In
1907. james Wilson ~prOspered and be-
came manager OF the Aurora, a lead
ing Democratic journal, Philadelphia
then being the national capital.
About two years after Woodrow VIII
sons birth his father accepted a call
to the pastOrate Of the Presbyterian
church of Augusta, Ga. This was az
that time one of the most influential
| congregations In the South. and the
elder Wilson remained as its pastor
throughout the Civil war. He was rec
Ognized as one Of the leading divines
of the South.
Woodrow was only Ave years old
when the wal broke out, and as Au-
gusta was not the scene Of any actual
conflict. the boy knew little about what
was going on. He was also shielded
from the stormy passions and violent
prejudices of the war. and grew up
into manhood unwarped by sectional
hate.
1t was at Steubenville, Ohio, that
Joseph Ruggles Wilson, the father Of
Woodrow Wilson, was born on Febru-
AIRY %, 1892. He was the scholar Of
James Wilson's family. Jefferson col
lege graduated him as valedictOrian In
1914, after which he taught school and
prepared for the Presbyterian minis
try at the Western Theological semi
nary and Princeton seminary. In 1S49
Joseph r. Wilson married Janet Wood
row, daughter Of DIR. Thomas Wood
row, a famous Presbyterian minister
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
tor to S%taunton. Va, where a third
child, a son. was born. and christened
Thomas Woodrow.
The early years Of the presidents
life were spent in the interesting
though inconspicuous pursuit Of knOwl
edge. He specialized In the law. lT
American history, and in pOlitica
economy. With this foundation laid
he burst upon the political world II
1910 when he was elected governor o.
New Jersey on the Democratic ticket
In the second year of his governor
ship his boom for president was start
ed under the management of William
r. McCOmbs. one of his former stu
dents at Princeton. During the pre-
convention months no less than half
dozen other entrants for %presidentia
hOnOrs made their appearance.
At the subsequent Democratic ma
tiOnal convention at Baltimore, Jun,
2S-July 2, Mr.. Wilson beat out all en-
tries with a vote that Increased a
each roll call till his victory was re
corded on the forty-siXth ballot. Il
the election that followed he was al
easy victor over the Taft and ROOse
welt tickets. though his entire pOpula
vote did nOt reach that accorded WI
liam Jennings Bryan in 1908.
OF seoteh-Irish Descent.
President Wilson is the son Of JC
, seph II. and Jessie Woodrow Wilson
disciples of the Scotch P~resbyteria
faith. lie was born In the manse Of
small church In Staunton, Va, wher
his father was curate.
From Virginia the Wilson's moved t
Georgia, when Woodrow was abOU
two years old. There the presider
3 spent his early bOyhood sin the hear
l Of the most terrible tempest hat eve
a swept over the Countrywide Civ
i war.
From Georgia the family moved I
South Carolina. In the Old Palmett
State the future president budded int
9 youth and began to think upon a CT
reer. lie first attended Davidson ca
n lege. where he put in one year Of har
study.
g After this one year at college, Woo
row remained at home during the mel
9 twelve months. transferring to h
Q younger brothers a part Of the lear
ing he had brought with him from d
n wilson.
a This brings his biography up to Il
. year 1874 mOmentOus year Il
\ Woodrow Wilson and for PrincetC
. university. II was the year he e
tered Princeton.
He had not been at Princeton lOT
. before he found out just what he wan
L ed to do. And that thing was to