Our Ancestors of Adams County

This week we continue our story concerning William Anderson Glasgow, son of Robert Glasgow of Buena Vista, Virginia. After the death of William’s first wife Lizzie, William married again in 1862, to Grace Ellen (Shanks) Woodson. Grace was the widow of Dr. Thomas Woodson, who had died in 1857. When William and Grace married, she had just lost her only son to the terrible disease of diphtheria. William had four small children ages eleven, eight, five and three. She took on the task of raising William’s children and then had three more of her own.

On the back of an old picture I found of Grace was written the following note: Grace Ellen (Shanks) Woodson Glasgow - The dear Grandmother (W.A.G’s 2nd wife)for whom I am (Grace Ellen Glasgow Landis)am named, who taught much of the Shorter Catechism (she was raised Episcopalian) & oh so many things about the conduct & deportment of a “lady.” A dear dignified reserved precious grandmother. She was my father’s “stepmother & my mother’s own “aunt” for whom my mother was named (Grace Woodson (McPheeters) Glasgow. A woman of high character and firm will who made a large contribution to the Big Montrose household.

Margaret “Maggie”, was William and Lizzie’s oldest child. She was eleven years old when Grace became her stepmother. She was born in 1851. She married in 1872 to William Armstrong. William was born in 1844. In May 1862, he enlisted in the Confederate Army as part of the 1st Virginia Partisan Rangers, Co. D as a Private and later transferred to Co. I, 18th Va. Calvary and was elected 2nd Lieutenant in 1863. He later took over the command of Company I after the capture of their Commanding Officer. He remained in this position until the end of the war.

William owned 250 acres of land but had it confiscated during the war. Not having any home to which to return, he relocated to Salem, Virginia, and became a physician. William and Maggie later moved to Lexington and had three children, two sons and a daughter. Their daughter died at age three. Their oldest son became a physician and married but died of intestinal TB before having any children. Their youngest son became a newspaper reporter and died in 1942 of a cerebral embolism. Maggie died in 1915 of a cerebral hemorrhage, she was 64. William died in 1918.

William and Lizzie’s next child was Francis “Frank” Thomas Glasgow. He was born in 1854 and was eight years old when Grace became his stepmother. Frank received his preliminary education at the Male Academy of Fincastle and from there obtained a B.A. degree from Washington and Lee University. He next attended the University of Virginia and obtained his degree in law. Frank was successful in winning the orator’s medal in the Jefferson Literary Society. This highly coveted honor was won in successive sessions by rather distinguished men, including President Wilson in 1880. He married in 1879, to Grace McPheeters, daughter of Rev. Samuel and Elizabeth (Shanks) McPheeters, DD. Note - Grace was the daughter of William’s stepmother’s sister. Grace was born in 1856, in Missouri. In 1885, they moved to Lexington where Frank had a thriving law practice. Frank entrenched himself in the confidence of his clients and subsequently increased his practice at the same time.

By earnings and investments, Frank was a man of substantial fortune. He served on the Board of State Bar Examiners, charged with examining all applicants who desire to practice law before the courts of Virginia. Frank and Grace had five children. Grace died in 1921, at the age of 64. Frank died in 1927, due to cardiac and renal disease.