Elizabeth Leigh Wood

b. 27 September 1882, d. January 1975

Elizabeth "Lizzie" Lee Wood Monette Caller, 1892-1975
  • Elizabeth Leigh Wood was born on 27 September 1882 in Virginia.
  • She was known as Lizzie Leigh.
  • Evelina Wood wrote from Willis to her grandson Wood Powell in Christian County, Illinois on 12 April 1887, " . . . Your aunt Mary Jane is going to Montgomery soon & from there to North Carolina to see Mrs. Brevard, the lady by whom she was raised. Dr. Legrand wrote Mary Jane he would foot all of her expenses - a dear good brother. Milton Wood is building a brick house with seven rooms. He is making money & saves it - he has only one child. George Wood & wife will begin keeping house now very soon. Green Aleck will remain with his father & mother. . . ."
         Letter in private collection of B. M. Henwood, descendant of Wm Wood Powell; original transcription by R. E. Reichardt.
  • Milton LeGrand Wood and Sallie Harrison Watkins appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Montgomery, Alabama, at 311 Church Street enumerated next to Milton's first cousin Eloise LeGrand Smith and her family ( Eloise's father and Milton's mother, Milton Paul LeGrand and Mary Jane LeGrand, were brother and sister).. Other members of the household included Elizabeth Leigh Wood, Sallie Watkins Wood, Milton LeGrand Wood Jr. and George Mark Wood. Names an ages recorded for the household were wildly inaccurate.
  • The following appeared on 28 April 1903 in The Montgomery Advertiser: A marriage of unusual importance will occur this morning at St. John's Church when at 7 o'clock Miss Elizabeth Leigh Wood, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Milton LeGrand Wood, and Dr. Fletcher Monette of Greensboro, will be married.
         The church will be decorated . . . and the ceremony will be performed by Rev. Edward Cobbs.
         The bride will enter with her father and the wedding party will be led by the ushers, who are Messers. Thomas B. Alexander, Josiah M. Billing?, and S. C. Starke and Robert Bartlette.
         Miss Elizabeth Andrews will be bridesmaid and will wear . . . . [Bridesmaids] are Miss Rebecca Pollard, Miss Mary Kirkpatrick, Miss Louise Marks, Miss Mary Arrington, Miss Annie Lou Chilton, and Miss Mary Seibels? Ball.
         The friends who will be groomsmen are Mr. Charles Pollnitz, Mr. Jeffries Blount and Mr. Young Stonnenwerck, all of Greensboro, and Mr. Robert Goree of Texas, cousin of the bride.
         The bridal party will be joined at the altar by the groom and his best man, Mr. Edward de Graffenreid of Greensboro.
         The bride will be accompanied by her father. . . .
         The young couple will leave at 8 o'clock for Savannah, to sail from there to New York.
  • She married Reuben Fletcher Monette, son of James Wilkins Monette and Mary Clifton Seay, on 28 April 1903 in Montgomery, Alabama, at St. John's Episcopal Church, with the Rev. Edward Cobbs officiating.
  • A photographic portrait was made of Milton and Sallie Wood and their family about 1908.
  • Reuben Fletcher Monette and Elizabeth Leigh Wood appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Greensboro, Hale County, Alabama, with one female domestic servant.
  • Adopted son Jack Cook, age 7, was living with them at the time of the 1910 census.
  • The following appeared on 5 March 1911 in The Montgomery Advertiser: Mrs. Monette has just returned to her home after a visit to her parents, Dr. and Mrs. M. L. Wood. As Miss Lizzie Leigh Wood, she was before her marriage one of the most popular girls of Montgomery, and her patrician beauty and her gracious and gentle manners, have made her as popular in Greensboro as she always was in Montgomery. During her visit here she was the honor guest at a large bridge party at the Gay-Teague Hotel, given by Mrs. Olin Kirkland.
  • Elizabeth Leigh Wood became a widow at the 15 March 1917 death of her husband Reuben Fletcher Monette.
  • The following appeared on 16 March 1917 in The Montgomery Advertiser: Information reached Montgomery late Thursday night that Dr. R. F. Monette, of Greensboro, dropped dead during the afternoon from an attack of acute indigestion while fishing with a friend on a lake near his home city. Being suddenly stricken, Dr. Monette fell into the arms of his friend and expired.
         Dr. M. L. Wood, father of Mrs. Monette, and his daughter, Mrs. H. D. Marks, went to Greensboro immediately, going by automobile as soon as the news came to the family of Dr. Wood. Dr. Monette's widow was Miss Lizzie D. Wood of this city, and they were married here some ten years ago.
         Dr. Monette was about 45 years of age, and was one of the most prominent physicians in Greensboro and that vicinity. He was a nephew of Governor Seay and a first cousin to Judge de Graffenreid.
  • The following appeared on 14 March 1918 in The Montgomery Advertiser: (Greensboro, March 13) Thomas Watkins, aged 65 years, a brother of Mrs. Legrande Wood of Montgomery, was stricken and died instantly here today at the home of his niece, Mrs. Fletcher Monette. Mr. Watkins' death was a great shock as he was in his usual health. Dr. and Mrs. Wood and Mrs. Churchill Marks motored from Montgomery today and will accompany the remains to Petersburg, Va., tonight.
         Deceased is survived by his mother and one brother of Petersburg, besides his sister, Mrs. Wood.
  • The following appeared on 9 February 1919 in The Montgomery Advertiser: Mrs. W. L. Watkins and Mr. John D. Watkins of Petersburg, Va., and Mrs. Fletcher Monette of Greensboro are the guests of Mrs. M. L. Wood on Church Street.
  • Milton LeGrand Wood and Sallie Harrison Watkins appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Montgomery, Alabama, at 301 Church Street and four roomers.. Other members of the household included Elizabeth Leigh Wood, Milton LeGrand Wood Jr. and George Mark Wood.
  • She married John Caller James, son of Joseph Hopkins James and Fredonia Winifred Callier, on 10 February 1920 in Montgomery, Alabama, at 301 Church Street, the home of the bride's parents.
  • The following appeared on 11 February 1920 in The Montgomery Advertiser: Mrs. Elisabeth Leigh Monette and the Reverend John C. James were married at the home of the bride's parents, Dr. and Mrs. Milton L. Wood, 301 Church Street, Tuesday. Only the members of the family were present at the wedding, it having been planned to be very quiet. After February 24, Mr. and Mrs. James will be at home in Prattville, Ala.
  • The following appeared on 9 September 1923 in The Montgomery Advertiser: Dr. and Mrs. John C. James, who have been spending several weeks on a vacation tour, at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, have returned to their home in Opelika. Dr. James is the popular pastor of the First Methodist Church. He entered upon the active discharge of his duties as minister of this church on his return home and conducted the prayer services Wednesday evening. Dr. James is an able, eloquent and learned divine and is beloved by everyone here, regardless of denominational lines.
  • John Caller James and Elizabeth Leigh Wood appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in Montgomery, Alabama.
  • Red Augustus Mitchell wrote to Elizabeth Leigh Wood:
                   Foley, Ala, Feb 6 – 1932
    Dear Mrs James
         I received your letter & just received part of the records you wanted. If ?it? this is not what you or I realy want I can’t get the old bible it seems unless I go to ?Green? South Carolina after it. Yet we will not give up I know we will find it all some time. So be like ?John Abram? & wait is all we can do now. I am sending you what my sister sent me. All this was written down by my grandmother. Mary Wood Mitchell a hundred+ years ago. Gen Solomon Wood’s daughter. I can’t see any other chance only for me and the ?cousin? you spoke of to come & spend the day with us & go over those old notes. will be glad to have you & your cousin any time. Now please excuse bad writing as I told you I never went to school. A little pride caused me to learn a little about b[usiness?].
                   Yours very sincerely, Red A Mitchell.
  • In a letter to her cousin Lizzie Leigh Wood James written about 1933, Margaret LeGrand Johnstone Philbrick wrote: "A letter from A. Lyttle of Wadesboro Oct 13, 1858, says that Wm C. LeGrand's father lived in the fork of the Rocky River and the Pedee, and that a Lyttle once owned part of the same land. John LeGrand the father of Wm C. had Edwin O., William C., James, and John, sons – Mrs. Hall & perhaps other daughters. Buck LeGrand (Homer), James L. & Hampton LeGrand were brothers of John. Mrs. Hall lived in Fayetteville N.C."
  • Elizabeth Leigh Wood became a widow at the 2 March 1948 death of her husband John Caller James.
  • Elizabeth Leigh Wood died in January 1975 at age 92 in Montgomery, Alabama.
  • She was interred at Greenwood Cemetery, Montgomery, Alabama.
  • Last Edited: 4 Aug 2013

Family 1: Reuben Fletcher Monette b. 29 March 1870, d. 15 March 1917

Family 2: John Caller James b. 13 January 1880, d. 2 March 1948