Original: Wilson was born in Staunton , Virginia on December 28 , 1856 as the third of four children of Reverend Dr. Joseph Ruggles Wilson ( 1822 -- 1903 ) and Jessie Janet Woodrow ( 1826 -- 1888 ) .
Simplified: Woodrow Wilson , son of Joseph Ruggles Wilson and Janet '' Jessie '' Woodrow Wilson , was born in Staunton , Virginia , United States .