Charles Erskine Scott Wood | |
|---|---|
 Woodc. 1910 | |
| Born | (1852-02-20)February 20, 1852 |
| Died | January 22, 1944(1944-01-22) (aged 91) |
| Other names | C.E.S. Wood |
| Alma mater | United States Military Academy |
| Occupation(s) | Author, attorney, soldier, lawyer, satirist |
| Known for | Heavenly Discourse |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Nanny Moale Smith,Sara Bard Field |
| Children | Nan Wood Honeyman, Erskine Wood I |
Charles Erskine Scott Wood (February 20, 1852 – January 22, 1944), also known asC. E. S. Wood, was an American author,civil liberties advocate, artist, soldier, attorney, andGeorgist.[1] He is best known as the author of the 1927 satirical bestseller,Heavenly Discourse.
Born inErie, Pennsylvania, Wood graduated fromWest Point in 1874.[2] He served as a lieutenant with the21st Infantry Regiment and fought in theNez Perce War in 1877. He was present at the surrender ofChief Joseph of the Nez Perce. It was Wood who transcribed, and perhaps embellished, Chief Joseph's famous speech, which ended with: "My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever."[3] The two men became close friends.
He raised his family in Portland at a house on King's Hill near the northeast corner of today'sVista Bridge. The site is now occupied by thePortland Garden Club in theGoose Hollow neighborhood.John Reed grew up a few blocks away and was greatly influenced by Wood.[4]
Following his service he became a prominent attorney inPortland, Oregon, where he often defended labor unions and "radicals" includingbirth control activistMargaret Sanger.[5] He began to write, became a frequent contributor toThe Pacific Monthly magazine, and was a leader of Portland's literary community.
In 1896, Wood was Oregon's sole representative on the national committee of theNational Democratic Party, known as the Gold Democrats. The party, which had the blessing ofGrover Cleveland, championed defense of thegold standard andfree trade.
Like many Cleveland Democrats, including his long-time friendMark Twain, Wood joined theAmerican Anti-Imperialist League. The League called for the United States to grant immediate independence to thePhilippines and other territories conquered in theSpanish–American War.
As a lawyer during the early twentieth century, Wood represented dissidents such asEmma Goldman.[6] He wrote articles for radical journals such asLiberty,The Masses, andMother Earth.[6] He was aphilosophical anarchist[7] and declared himself as such before anIndustrial Workers of the World audience.[8]
Wood was unflagging in his opposition to state power. He advocated such causes as civil liberties for anti-war protesters, birth control, and anti-imperialism.[6] In 1927, he wrote inHeavenly Discourse that the "city of George Washington is blossoming into quite a nice little seat of empire and centralized bureaucracy. The people have a passion to 'let Uncle Sam do it.' The federal courts are police courts. An entire system with an army of officials has risen on the income tax; another on prohibition. The freedom of the common man, more vital to progress than income or alcohol, has vanished."[9]
Wood advocated for the native peoples, but he also painted them. His love of painting generated numerous studies of landscapes and points of interest along the Oregon and California coastline. He also memorialized some of his favorite places in watercolor includingKeats' grave and vistas from his home inLos Gatos, California.
His primary medium was watercolor and graphite. TheHuntington Library has a good sampling of his artwork online.[10]
From 1925 until his death in 1944, Wood lived with his second wife,Sara Bard Field, in Los Gatos in a house named "The Cats" or the "Cats Estate" located on the hill on southboundHighway 17.[11] The house was built in 1925 on a 34-acre property, with an entry way featuring a wrought iron gate flanked by two large white cat sculptures, named Leo and Leona.[11] The sculptures were made by sculptorRobert Paine, and an image of them is featured on the seal of the town ofLos Gatos. Many famous people visited this home, includingCharlie Chaplin,Eleanor Roosevelt, andJohn Steinbeck.[11]
His friends includedAnsel Adams,Albert M. Bender,Clarence Darrow,Eugene Debs,[12]Emma Goldman,Chief Joseph,Childe Hassam,Robinson Jeffers,Margaret Sanger, andJohn Steinbeck.
At the time of his death, Wood was West Point's oldest living graduate.[12] He was the father ofNan Wood Honeyman, Oregon's firstU. S. congresswoman.[13]
Wood was portrayed bySam Elliott in theTV movieI Will Fight No More Forever. In the film, he is aUnited Statescaptain who fights in theNez Perce War.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
