University of Virginia Library

JORDAN WOODRUM

Jordan Woodrum was born in Mercer County, West
Virginia, April 1st, 1822, and died in Salem, Virginia,
March 20th, 1901, at the age of 79 years. He was
educated at Hollins Institute
in the early days
when coeducation existed
in that school. It
was there that he met
Margaret Tompkins, a
young lady student
from Pittsylvania
County, whom he afterwards
married and who
was the mother of his
several children; namely,
Byron Woodrum,
deceased; Colonel Robert
H. Woodrum, of
Roanoke; and John S.
and Jordan L. Woodrum,
of Bent Mountain;
Cleora married
Rev. Hines, of Highland
County, Virginia; Grace married first Ferdinand
Shilling and afterwards G. Light and resides
in Salem. Mrs. Hines died many years ago.

In his early manhood he studied law and located in
Fincastle, Botetourt County, where for some time he
was editor and proprietor of a newspaper, which was
later, and is now, published as the Fincastle Herald.
In 1854 he removed to Salem, Virginia, where he
founded the Salem Register, which he edited for three
years. When the Civil War broke out he offered his
service to the Confederacy, but was in the active field
service but a short time. He was detailed to furnish
supplies and feed the poor of Roanoke County. He
was made superintendent of the County Almshouse
and filled the position most satisfactorily during the
troublous war times.

Soon after the war he located in the Bent Mountain
section where he planted the first commercial apple
orchard of the pippin variety ever planted in this section
of Virginia, (see History of Bent Mountain).
He afterwards sold his pippin orchard and removed to
Air Point, on Bent Mountain, where he experimented
largely with the planting and cultivation of red apples,
and planted a second orchard, which is now owned by
Jordan L. Woodrum, his youngest son.

Mrs. Margaret (Tompkins) Woodrum died in 1872,
and eleven years afterwards he married Mrs.
Amanda Metz, who still survives him and who resides
in Roanoke.

John S. Woodrum, the present owner of the original
Woodrum pippin orchard is one of the county's most
progressive citizens, as well as one of the most successful
apple growers. He has made a life study of fruit
culture, and has employed the most modern means of
fruit protection, and has at all times been eminently
successful. He was for a number of years supervisor
from Cave Spring District, and also served as a member
of the board of school trustees.