HON. WILLIAM A. GLASGOW
Was born at Green Forrest, Rockbridge county, Virginia, on February
9, 1825. He was educated in the schools of his native county, at J. H.
Paxton's high school, and at Washington College; then studied law
with Judge Lucas P. Thompson, of Staunton, Virginia. He settled at
Fincastle, Virginia, where he was in practice of law, partner of Judge F. T.
Anderson; in December, 1887, he removed to Lexington, Virginia,
where he is now living and engaged in practice. Since 1865 he has been
one of the trustees of Washington College and Washington and Lee
University; was a member of the Virginia Senate two terms, 1881-4.
Robert Glasgow, father of William A., was born at Green Forrest,
where he lived until his death in 1862, his wife, mother of
William A., being Catherine T. Anderson, who died in 187-.
The father of Robert Glasgow was Arthur Glasgow, who came
from the province of Ulster, Ireland, to Virginia about 176-, was
a Revolutionary soldier, and soon after that war intermarried with
Rebekah, a daughter of John McNutt, and the widow of Lieut. John
McCorkle, who fell at battle of Cowpens. John McNutt, also from
Ulster, was among the first British settlers on the right bank of North
River, seven miles below Lexington, where he died about 1803. Mr.
Glasgow's mother was the eldest daughter of Col. William Anderson,
of Botetourt county, who entered the Continental army at the age of
sixteen years, was in battles of Cowpens and Guilford, and who, in the
war of 1812, commanded a regiment at Norfolk. He was for fifty
years surveyor of Botetourt county, was a member of the Virginia Assembly,
was a Justice under the old constitution, the eldest but one in
commission at his death, in 1839; was commissioner appointed by the
State for James River improvements, and of the connection of the Eastern
and Western waters by the Covington and Ohio turnpike, leading
from Covington, Virginia, via Lewisburg, Charlestown, to Guyandotte.
The ancestors of Mr. Glasgow were of the Presbyterian faith, in which
church relation he continues.
The first wife of Mr. Glasgow, whom he married June 16, 1847, was
Elizabeth, daughter of Charles Chrisman Spears, farmer of Rockingham
county, Justice of the county, who died in 1856. Her mother was
Margaret, daughter of John Chrisman, of the same county, and sister
of George H. Chrisman, a well-known business man of the same county.
Mrs. Elizabeth Spears Glasgow died in February, 1862, aged thirty-five
years, leaving issue. Margaret, now the wife of Dr. W. D. Armstrong,
of Salem, Virginia. Frank Thomas, Dr. Robert, Elizabeth
Spears.
Secondly Mr. Glasgow married Grace Ellen, eldest daughter of Col.
Thomas Shanks, of Botetourt county, and their children are three sons:
William Anderson, Joseph Anderson, Samuel McPheeters. Mrs. Grace
Ellen Glasgow was at her marriage the widow of Dr. William Moncure
Woodson. Her mother was the daughter of Col. John Thomas, of
"Maryland Tract," Frederic county, Maryland, and his wife, Ellen
McGill, daughter of Bishop McGill, of Maryland, of the Episcopal
church. Mrs. Glasgow was reared in that faith, but is now a member
with her husband of the Presbyterian church.
