U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Wooddell, Joseph Asbury (1867-1945) ------------------------------------------------------------------- History of Ritchie County by Minnie Kendall Lowther Wheeling News Litho. Co., Wheeling W.Va., 1911 Pages 530-531 J. A. Wooddell, though not one of the older citizens of the town, is one of the most essential to its well-being, since he wields the one Editorial pencil, and ably represents the interests of all. He was born in Pocahontas county, on July 23, 1867, and obtained his education in the rural schools, and afterward studied law, but entered the newspaper field in 1896. He was appointed as member of the Board of Directors for the Hospital for the Insane at Spencer, by Governor White and served until this board was abolished. He has, also, served as Mayor of Ripley and of Pennsboro; is a member of the Masonic order, the O. E. S., the Modern Maccabees and the W. O. W. On June 16, 1896, he was married to Miss Mary Prickett, daughter of C. F. Prickett, of Ravenswood, and they have one son, Brooks. Mrs. Wooddell is a direct descendant of Charity Prickett, the first white woman to cross the Allegheny Mountains; and of Morgan Morgan, the first settler in the State and of David Morgan the renowned Indian fighter. Mr. Wooddell comes of prominent Pocahontas and Harrison county pioneer families, and is of Revolutionary stock. His father, John Stewart Wooddell, was born in Pocahontas county in March, 1825, and died here on August 31, 1902; and his mother, Mary Sommerville Wooddell, who was born in Wood county, on January 31, 1834, was the daughter of James Sommerville, a member of one of the older families of Harrison county. The marriage took place on May 17. 1855, and they resided in Pocahontas, Jackson, Roane, and Wirt counties before removing to this place where both rest in the U. B. cemetery. She followed her husband to the grave, on April 30, 1906. Of their six children three died in childhood; J. K. P. who was long a merchant here is now in the lumber business in Virginia; and Marvin P., who is a traveling salesman, lives here. ------------------------------------------------------------------- From Death Certificate, Harrison County, WV #5236 FULL-NAME: Joseph Asbury Wooddell BIRTH-DATE: July 23, 1867 BIRTH-PLACE: Greenbank, Pocahontas Co., W.Va. DEATH-DATE: May 21, 1945 (at age 77y-9m-28d) DEATH-PLACE: St. Marys Hospital, Clarksburg, Harrison County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Married (Mary P. Wooddell) OCCUPATION: Editor of Pennsboro News FATHER: John Stewart Wooddell (born in Pocahontas Co., W.Va.) MOTHER: Mary Somerville (born in Jackson Co., W.Va.) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Cerebral vascular arteriosclerosis INFORMANT: Mary P. Wooddell (of Pennsboro, W.Va.) BURIAL: Pine Hill Cemetery, Ripley W.Va. ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Ritchie County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/ritchie/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------