Sallie Harrison Watkins

Sallie Harrison Watkins

• Father: Washington Lafayette Watkins b. 10 January 1824, d. 17 March 1892
• Mother: Maria Sophia Hall b. 4 June 1833, d. 21 September 1864

• Sallie Harrison Watkins was born on 7 August 1860 in Petersburg, Virginia.
• Washington Lafayette Watkins and Eliza Stringfellow appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1870 in Petersburg, Virginia. Other members of the household included Sallie Harrison Watkins, Thomas Gholson Watkins and John Dupuy Watkins. Also in the household were two female domestic servants.
• Washington Lafayette Watkins and Eliza Stringfellow appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1880 in Petersburg, Virginia. Other members of the household included Sallie Harrison Watkins, Thomas Gholson Watkins and John Dupuy Watkins. Also in the household two female domestic servants.
• She married Milton LeGrand Wood, son of Green Mark Wood and Mary Jane LeGrand, on 6 December 1881 in Petersburg, Virginia, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
• The following appeared on 8 December 1881 in The Richmond Dispatch: (Petersburg, Dec. 6) The most fashionable marriage of the season took place at St. Paul's Episcopal church in this city this afternoon, the contracting parties being Miss Sallie Watkins, daughter of Mr. W. L. Watkins, a prominent lawyer of the city, and Dr. Wood, a physician of some prominence from Alabama. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Dr. Hains, pastor of the church, at 1 o'clock. The bride entered the church on the arm of her father, dressed in a handsome white silk, covered with the usual bridal veil. The bridesmaids had assembled in the vestry-room (eight in number), and marched by pairs on either outer aisle of the church, and meeting in the middle aisle, proceeded by twos to the altar, where they were joined by the groomsmen, and gathered on either side. The bride followed on the arm of her father, and was met at the altar by the groom, or his best man, who came from the vestry-room. The bridesmaids were dressed in white, with white hats; the groomsmen in business-suits, with colored gloves. The whole affair is said to have been intensely English. After the usual congratulations, the bridal party repaired to the residence of the bride's father, where an old Virginia reception was held until a late hour in the afternoon.
• The following appeared on 11 September 1886 in The Richmond Dispatch: (Petersburg, Sept. 10) Mrs. Dr. Wood, of Montgomery, Ala., is visiting at the residence of her father, W. L. Watkins, Esq., in this city.
• 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.
• The following appeared on 13 December 1891 in The Richmond Dispatch: (Petersburg, Dec. 12) Mrs. W. L. Watkins has returned from a visit to her daughter in Montgomery, Ala.
• The following appeared on 9 September 1892 in The Richmond Dispatch: (Petersburg, Sept. 8) Mrs. Dr. Wood (nee Miss Sallie Watkins), of Montgomery, Ala., is visiting Mrs. W. L. Watkins.
• 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.
• A photographic portrait was made of Milton and Sallie Wood and their family about 1908.
• Milton LeGrand Wood and Sallie Harrison Watkins appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Montgomery, Alabama, at 301 Church Street and four lodgers.. Other members of the household included Sallie Watkins Wood, Milton LeGrand Wood Jr. and George Mark Wood.
• 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 Milton LeGrand Wood Jr., George Mark Wood and Elizabeth Leigh Wood.
• Sallie Harrison Watkins died on 20 June 1921 at age 60 in Montgomery, Alabama.
• Her husband Milton LeGrand Wood became a widower at her death.
• She was interred at Greenwood Cemetery, Montgomery, Alabama.
• The following appeared on 21 June 1921 in The Montgomery Advertiser: Mrs. M. L. Wood died Monday morning at her home at 301 Church Street after a protracted illness. Her death saddened a wide circle of friends and admirers, who looked upon it as the passing of one of the most beloved and useful women in the city.
       For many years, in the effective, if somewhat retired life of a Southern matron with her children, her friends and religious and charitable activities, Mrs. Wood was a greatly admired personality in the real life of Montgomery. Her home and the home of Dr. M. L. Wood her husband became an unobtrusive social center in which friends of theirs and their children were delighted to gather. She became a real force, not only in the life of the several children she reared, but in the lives of their friends and families. She was particularly admired by other matrons of Montgomery, who saw in her an ideal wife and mother, said one of them Saturday, "that she never suspected her own distinction."
       Hers, it was said was a deeply religious life, which found its best expression in generosity and charity. Her helpful faith was but one phase of a beautifully rounded character, which in the many years she spent in Montgomery, wrought its influence in many ways that could not be enumerated or analysed. The deep affection borne for her by other wives and mothers who had come or whose children had come under her influence was manifested Monday in a profound sorrow at her death.
       Mrs. Wood was born in Petersburg, Va., in 1860. Part of her girlhood and young ladyhood was spent in Montgomery where she was an inmate of the home of her uncle Rev. Horace Stringfellow, the beloved rector of other years of St. John's Episcopal church; she was married to Dr. M. L. Wood, then and now a prominent physician of Montgomery. Mrs. Wood is survived by her husband, her four children, all of whom grew up in Montgomery. They are George Mark Wood of Montgomery, M. L. Wood of Atmore, Mrs. Churchill Marks of Montgomery and Mrs. John C. James of Prattville. She is survived also by her mother, Mrs. W. L. Watkins of Petersburg, Va., and her brother John D. Watkins of the same place.
       The out of town relatives who were called here by her illness and death are, Robert Goree of Orange, Texas, Mrs. Douglas Campbell of Houston and George Wood of Navasota, Texas.
       The funeral services will be held at 11 o'clock Tuesday morning at the Wood home on Church Street and will be conducted by Rev. Richard Wilkinson, of St. John's Church.
• The following appeared on 22 June 1921 in The Montgomery Advertiser: Funeral services for Mrs. Sallie Watkins Wood took place from the residence, No. 301 Church Street Tuesday morning at eleven o'clock, Dr. Richard Wilkinson officiating. Pall bearers, J. C. Fischester, Hardie McGehee, Davis Stakley, Dr. Fred Wilkerson, John Durr, and Dr. W. B. Westcott. Interment in Greenwood.

• Last Edited: 10 Oct 2016

• Charts: Descendants of ABERCROMBIE Charles & Edwina Malinda "Dicey" Booth, Descendants of LeGRAND John & Margaret Chambers, Descendants of WOOD William & Lydia Ballentine