|
Julian Edward Wood
Julian Edward Wood (May 3, 1844 – June 2, 1911) was an American medical doctor, soldier, and a founder of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.[1][2] He was also a member of the Virginia Military Institute's cadet corp at the Battle of New Market.[2] Early lifeWood was born in 1844 in Currituck County, North Carolina.[3] His parents were Sophia Marchant (née Trotman) and William Edward Wood, a physician, and farmer.[3][4] When he was young, his father moved to Hampton, Virginia to a Hickory Grove, later the site of Hampton University.[5][2] He attended the Hampton Military Academy.[5] Wood entered Virginia Military Institute (V.M.I.) on January 16, 1862.[6] He served as a second cadet corporal in Company C in the V.M.I. Cadet Corps which helped secure a victory at the Battle of New Market.[6][2] In this battle, Wood was a member of the color guard.[3][2][4] On May 15, 1864; he was promoted to cadet sergeant of Company A with the Corps of Cadets.[6] In this capacity, he was stationed in the trenches of Richmond, Virginia from 1864 to early 1865.[6] He resigned from V.M.I. on January 21, 1865, and became a first lieutenant in First North Carolina Regiment under General James Green Martin.[4][6] He was a drill master and colonel of the First Division of the North Carolina Naval Reserves, until the end on the war.[2][4] After the war, he returned to V.M.I.; he was made an honorary graduate of the class of 1866 on July 2, 1869.[4][6] In the fall of 1867, Wood enrolled in the University of Virginia to study medicine.[4][7] On March 1, 1868, Wood and friends from V.Mi. who were also attending the university, founded of Pi Kappa Alpha.[1][8] After attending the University of Virginia for two years, he transferred to Washington College of Baltimore and graduated with an M.D. in 1869.[4] CareerWood received his medical license in 1869.[2] He established a medical practice in Elizabeth City, North Carolina where he worked for more than thirty years, becoming one of the leading physicians in Eastern North Carolina.[2][4][9][10] He was also a surgeon for the Norfolk and Southern Railway.[4] In 1889, he was selected as a delegate to the American Medical Association by the State Medical Society.[11] In May 1911, Wood was appointed county health official by the Board of County Commissioners.[12] However, he retired from private practice in 1911 because of his declining health.[4] Pasquotank RiflesIn October 1881, Wood was an organizer of the Pasquotank Rifles military corp of Elizabeth City and served as its captain.[4][13] In December 1881, Wood sent a telegram to North Carolina's Governor Thomas J. Jarvis, offering the assistance of the Pasquotank Rifles in the Plymouth race riot.[14] Wood and his Rifles were armed with 45 caliber rifles and became Company E First Regiment of the North Carolina State Guard.[15][16] In May 1888, the state provided uniforms for the Pasquotank Rifles, still under the leadership of Wood.[17] They participated in the inauguration of Governor Daniel Gould Fowle in 1889.[18] In January 1891, Wood was elected colonel (commander) of the First Regiment of the North Carolina State Guard.[19] He had a reputation as "a well informed and discreet officer."[20] One of his assignments was to protect the state's oyster interests from oyster pirates.[20] In late July 1892, Wood resigned from the First Regiment because it was conflicting with his responsibilities to his medical practice. The Sentinel of Winston-Salem wrote, "The loss of Col. Wood will be a heavy loss to the Guard, in which he has taken so much pride and used his energies for its success."[21] However, in December 1992, the First Regiment's field officers elected Wood as its colonel for a two-year term.[22] In April 1893, he was back patrolling for oyster pirates.[23] Personal lifeWood married Mary Jane Scott of Elizabeth City on February 17, 1874.[2][4] They had two children, a son William Edward Wood and a daughter Annie Mae Wood.[4][6] In April 1890, Wood was the Democratic nominee for the 5th ward of Elizabeth City's council and was elected to serve.[24] Although he was not a man of significant wealth, Wood donated the pedestal for the "Edenton Tea Pot", a memorialto the Edenton Tea Party in Edenton, North Carolina.[25][26][10] He was a member of the B.P. O. Elks and the Baptist church in Gatesville, North Carolina.[4] On November 2, 1910, Wood was stricken with a heart issue and slipped into unconsciousness.[27] When reporting on his illness,The News and Observer noted, "He is one of the State's most distinguished and beloved citizens..."[27] On June 3, 1911, Wood died at his home in Elizabeth City, at the corner of Church Street and Martin Street.[2][4][9] He was buried in the Hollywood Cemetery in Elizabeth City.[28] References
External links |
||||||||||||||||||
