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]

Julian Edward Wood
Julian Edward Wood, VMI cadet, 1864
BornMay 3, 1844
DiedJune 2, 1921(1921-06-02) (aged 77)
Burial placeHollywood Cemetery, Elizabeth City, North Carolina
EducationVirginia Military Institute

University of Virginia

Washington College of Baltimore
OccupationPhysician
Known forFounder of Pi Kappa Alpha
Political partyDemocratic

Early life

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Wood 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]

Career

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Wood 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 Rifles

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In 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 life

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Wood 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

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  1. ^ a b Baird, Wm. Raimond (1912). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (7th ed.). New York: The College Publishing Fraternity Co. p. 263 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Julian Edward Wood | Under Both Flags". North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  3. ^ a b c Couper, William (2005). The Corps Forward: The Biographical Sketches of the VMI Cadets who Fought in the Battle of New Market. Mariner Companies, Inc. p. 242. ISBN 978-0-9768238-2-7 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "In Memorium Julian Edward Wood, M.D.; a Founder" (PDF). The Shield and Diamond. 21 (2): 77–79. December 1911 – via PIKE Archive.
  5. ^ a b "Old Book Found in Philadelphia". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. 1905-07-27. p. 6. Retrieved 2023-07-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "Julian Edward Wood | Historical Rosters Database". Virginia Military Institute. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  7. ^ "The University of Virginia". The Norfolk Virginian. 1868-05-27. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Pi Kappa Alpha". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. 1904-03-29. p. 5. Retrieved 2023-07-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b "Death of Dr. Julian E. Wood". The News and Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. 1911-06-04. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b "Dr. Julian E. Wood Dead". The Charlotte Observer. Charlottes, North Carolina. 1911-06-04. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-07-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "The State Medical Society". The Virginian-Pilot. Norfolk, Virginia. 1889-04-20. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-07-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Brief News of Elizabeth City". Ledger-Star. Norfolk, Virginia. 1911-05-10. p. 13. Retrieved 2023-07-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "The Adjutant General". The Weekly Star. Wilmington, North Carolina. 1881-10-14. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Rioting at Plymouth". The News and Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. 1881-12-30. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-07-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "The Pasquotank Rifles". The Wilmington Morning Star. Wilmington, North Carolina. 1884-01-01. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "State Guard Notes". The News and Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. 1884-02-16. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-07-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Raleigh Letter". The Norfolk Virginian. 1888-05-04. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "News from the State Capital". The Tobacco Plant. Durham, North Carolina. 1889-02-18. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-07-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "There was ordered early in December an election". The Wilmington Messenger. Wilmington, North Carolina. 1891-01-08. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ a b "Dr. J. L. M. Curry Delivers an Interesting Address Before the Legislature". The Wilmington Messenger. Wilmington, North Carolina. 1891-01-22. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Wrightsville Notes, Col. Julian E. Wood, of the First Regiment Resigns". The Sentinel. Winston-Salem, North Carolina. 1892-07-28. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "The Line Officers of the First Regiment". The Charlotte Observer. Charlottes, North Carolina. 1892-12-02. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "To Enforce the Law". The Wilmington Messenger. Wilmington, North Carolina. 1893-04-23. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "The Town Election". The Falcon. Elizabeth City, North Carolina. 1890-04-11. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-07-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "The presentation and unveiling of the bronze tablet". The Semi-Weekly Messenger. Wilmington, North Carolina. 1907-09-10. p. 6. Retrieved 2023-07-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "The Edenton Tea Pot, Edenton". Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina. UNC Libraries. 2010-03-19. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  27. ^ a b "Dr. Wood Stricken". The News and Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. 1910-11-03. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "Venerable Citizen Passes". News and Record. Greensboro, North Carolina. 1911-06-04. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-07-29 – via Newspapers.com.
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