James
Ward Wood was born December 26, 1845 in rural Hardy County,
Va., (which is now in West Virginia). It was in part Lee's acceptance
of the presidency of Washington College, and a new job as head
master of the Ann Smith Academy for girls, that caused the Reverend
John A. Scott to move his family from Hardy County to Lexington.
The Scott and Wood families were friendly acquaintances, so
Wood's father sent his son to Washington College, not only to
study under Lee, but also to have him profit under the conservative
influence of Reverend Scott. The Reverend's influence must have
been strong as Wood soon became known as the 'College Bard'
on campus by reason of his poems and essays that appeared in
the campus paper and by the fact that he was known to enrich
his conversation with biblical quotations. An 1866 essay that
he wrote gives insight into his thoughts on the young K.A. fraternity.
"Let us be just, charitable and good; let us be great by the
prayers of widows and orphans rather than by their tears and
lamentations," he wrote. "Let us be of one mind and faith, let
us banish all that is evil and cling to all that is good. Let
us pull together and pull hard; but above all things let there
be no doubt that we are pulling right." In January, 1867, Wood
was sent home by President Lee for failing to keep up with his
studies. After a brief stint of traveling in the West, he returned
to Hardy County to farm, where he eventually became a notary,
magistrate, judge and representative in the West Virginia State
Assembly. He died January 7, 1926 and is buried in the Ivanhoe
Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Lost City, W. Va.
James
Ward Wood was born December 26, 1845 in rural Hardy County,
Va., (which is now in West Virginia). It was in part Lee's acceptance
of the presidency of Washington College, and a new job as head
master of the Ann Smith Academy for girls, that caused the Reverend
John A. Scott to move his family from Hardy County to Lexington.
The Scott and Wood families were friendly acquaintances, so
Wood's father sent his son to Washington College, not only to
study under Lee, but also to have him profit under the conservative
influence of Reverend Scott. The Reverend's influence must have
been strong as Wood soon became known as the 'College Bard'
on campus by reason of his poems and essays that appeared in
the campus paper and by the fact that he was known to enrich
his conversation with biblical quotations. An 1866 essay that
he wrote gives insight into his thoughts on the young K.A. fraternity.
"Let us be just, charitable and good; let us be great by the
prayers of widows and orphans rather than by their tears and
lamentations," he wrote. "Let us be of one mind and faith, let
us banish all that is evil and cling to all that is good. Let
us pull together and pull hard; but above all things let there
be no doubt that we are pulling right." In January, 1867, Wood
was sent home by President Lee for failing to keep up with his
studies. After a brief stint of traveling in the West, he returned
to Hardy County to farm, where he eventually became a notary,
magistrate, judge and representative in the West Virginia State
Assembly. He died January 7, 1926 and is buried in the Ivanhoe
Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Lost City, W. Va.