R282
Husband: Alva Backus Wood
Father: Thomas Henry Wood [R281]
Mother: Sarah Ann (Anderson) Wood [R281]
Born: 8/25/1866
Died: 1/5/1942
Wife: Madora (Robinson) Wood
Father: David Ferguson Robinson, b. 1/16/1847, Botetourt Co., d.
2/26/1912 Botetourt Co.
Mother: Eliza Virginia (Davis) Robinson, b. 9/28/1851, d. 1/14/1918
Botetourt Co. David and Eliza are buried in the Godwin Cemetery,
Fincastle, Botetourt Co., Va.
Born: 3/19/1872
Died: 5/14/1951, Botetourt Co., buried in the Wood Cemetery, Glen
Wilton, Va.
Married: 11/10/1892, in Botetourt Co.
Children: (Fig. R282a)
Ruby Viola Wood b. 10/11/1893 Botetourt Co., d. 2/11/1975, never
married, buried in the Wood Cemetery, Glen Wilton, Va.
Harry St. ClairWood [R283] (1894-1952)
Guy Robinson Wood b. 10/8/1896 Botetourt Co., d. 11/8/1978, never
married, buried in the Wood Cemetery, Glen Wilton, Va.
Dennis Floyd Wood [R284] (1898-1981)
Nancy Virginia Wood, b. 8/5/1901, d. 10/1972 in Beckley, W.Va.
M. 7/9/1924 to Richard H. Roberts (6/18/1893-5/26/1985), both
buried in the Wood Cemetery, Glen Wilton, Va. Ch:
1. Richard H. Roberts, Jr. (4/19/1925-4/9/2002), m. in Huntington,
W.Va. Louise Varney, (5/21/1924-8/1973), ch. Carolyn Susie
Roberts (1948), Margaret Peggy Roberts (1951))
2. Edward Wood Roberts, (3/30/1928-3/23/1929), buried in
the Wood Cemetery, Glen Wilton, Va.
Edwin (Ned) Wood, b. 11/22/1903, Botetourt Co., Va, d. 2/20/1916,
buried in the Wood Cemetery, Glen Wilton, Va.
Mary Louise Wood [R285] (1905-2000)
(2012) Alva Backus Wood acquired and owned a considerable amount of land, including the "Island" in the "Woodtown" area of Glen Wilton, Botetourt County, Va. Until his later years he, with his three sons, farmed a large portion of his land. Wheat and corn were the primary crops, as well as vegetable garden foods. Thc "Island" (Fig. R002b), located in the James River, was considered prime farming land.
He was for years one of the leaders in Botetourt County political affairs. He was a lifelong resident of Botetourt County. Active as a farmer and interested in civic matters, he served many times as a spokesman for his community. He was an elder in the Glen Wilton Presbyterian Church for many years.
Alva was an avid deer hunter. He was asked later in life how many deer he had killed throughout his life. He responded he didn't know— that he stopped keeping count after he reached 200. Venison became one of the favorite foods in his household.
Alva Wood was one of the early owners of an automobile in Botetourt County. He acquired a 1914 Buick. Because there were only "dirt" roads at the time, he found it advisable from October to April to garage the car on blocks for the winters.
He frequently would talk about his sons. He said if you want a job done right, send one boy. If you sent two, the job was half done. If he sent all three, they usually didn't get much accomplished.
Alva and Madora Robinson Wood reared seven children, except for one, Edwin (Ned), who died at twelve years of age of diabetes complications. All of the children were taught to be able and honorable citizens. One son, Harry, enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War I.
About this time, many young adults began to leave their family farms. This was also true of Alva Backus's children. Two of them never married, and after working in other areas, one as a Registered Nurse and one employed by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, upon retirement they returned to the home place to live out their days.
Madora Robinson was from a prominent Robinson family of the Fincastle area in Botetourt Co. The Robinsons were known for their love of beautiful riding horses. Madora's father, David Robinson, was the son of .lohn Moffett Robinson and Mary Ferguson. Mary was the daughter of Joseph Ferguson and Jean (Jane) Kyle. Mary and her parents were born in County Tyrone, Ireland.
Alva Backus Wood and his wife and children represented a very respected and admired family in their community. Their memories will live for many years.
Source [S166]
