Presidential Ties and Tidewater Roots

   By Tiffany Amber Stockton

We made it! My daughter and I attended the 100th anniversary of the first official Pony Penning Day on Chincoteague Island the last week of July. Although I grew up about 2 hours from the island and attended this more than once, it's always a delight to watch, and especially fun seeing it through the eyes of my 16yo daughter. If you missed last month's post detailing the history of this event, you can view it here.

A fascinating encounter that took place that week was discovering a family connection to the captain of the boat we rode for our sunset cruise around Chincoteague and Assateague. Our grandmothers were both Jesters, and since we knew they weren't sisters, we figured they were cousins. I'll be adding that mention in my upcoming book series set on Chincoteague (release date TBD).

Speaking of family connections, I thought it might be fun to go back to the father-in-law of that grandmother, and his connection to "American Royalty."

Tracing Family Through Edith Bolling Galt Wilson

Family stories often start as whispers, passed down over supper tables, tucked between photo albums, or told with a wink before bedtime. In my case, one of those whispers involved a cousin who became First Lady of the United States. According to some, she also ran the country during a critical moment in history. Her name? Edith Bolling Galt Wilson.

It wasn’t until I began researching my family roots that the puzzle pieces began fitting together in surprising ways. One piece led me back to my great-grandfather, who once shipped clams and oysters from Chincoteague Island to the White House during Woodrow Wilson’s presidency. Another piece led to Edith.

A Cousin by Marriage—and a Quiet Leader in the White House

Edith Bolling was born in 1872 in Wytheville, Virginia, a descendant of colonial aristocracy with deep Southern roots. Her life entered our family history in 1895, when she visited her sister in Washington, D.C., and met Norman Galt. He's my great-grandfather’s first cousin, and he owned the prestigious Galt & Bro. Jewelers, established in 1802.

Their marriage in 1896 tied our family to elite Washington society, but after Norman’s sudden death in 1908, Edith showed remarkable fortitude. She personally selected a capable manager to continue the jewelry business. Thanks to that foresight, she helped sustain the Galt legacy and kept the doors open to Washington’s most influential clientele.

But Edith’s legacy was only beginning. In 1914, she met a widowed President Woodrow Wilson. They shared mutual intellect as well as grief in losing a spouse. As a result, their bond quickly deepened, and they married in 1915. Just four years later, when a stroke left the president partially paralyzed, Edith quietly stepped into the background of American history.

Driven by Devotion

Though some dubbed her “the secret president,” Edith rejected any titles. Instead, she described her role as “a stewardship,” overseeing routine duties, protecting her husband’s health, and determining which matters deserved his attention. She didn't make any attempt to assume power or rewrite policy. She simply stood by her husband’s side with unwavering love, and remarkable grit.

A 2013 commemorative $10 gold coin from the U.S. Mint beautifully captures that image. One side features a sculpted likeness of Edith. The other shows her hand resting atop her husband's, steadying his cane. Such a simple symbol of strength and shared burden. And it's one I’d love to add to our family’s keepsake collection.

From Tidewaters to Washington, D.C.

Growing up, I always loved hearing Edith's story. Digging deeper into my mother’s side of the family, though, led me to how that story also touched the small seaside town of Chincoteague, where hardworking folks like my great-grandfather once helped feed a president.

These days, Chincoteague Island remains a vivid part of my heritage. It’s where stories come alive in salty sea air and oyster beds. I still feel the pull of generations before me. Strong, resilient, and deeply rooted in both the soil and the soul of the Eastern Shore.

Why It Still Matters

In our world of shifting trends and fleeting fame, there’s something grounding about knowing where you come from and who your people were. Edith Bolling Galt Wilson wasn’t just a First Lady. She was family. Her story, along with the others I continue to uncover, reminds me that we all carry a bit of history within us.

So here’s to the cousins, the clams, the coins, and the quiet strength of those who came before us.

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN:

* Have you ever uncovered a surprising or notable figure in your own family tree? If so, what stories or legacies have you learned from them?

* What part of your family’s history feels most "alive" to you, whether through stories, heirlooms, or local ties?

* If you could sit down for coffee with one ancestor, who would it be, and what would you ask them?

Leave answers to these questions or any comments on the post below.

** This note is for our email readers. Please do not reply via email with any comments. View the blog online and scroll down to the comments section.

Come back on the 9th of each month for my next foray into historical tidbits to share.

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BIO

Tiffany Amber Stockton has embellished stories since childhood, thanks to a very active imagination and notations of talking entirely too much. Honing those skills led her to careers as an award-winning and best-selling author and speaker, while also working as a professional copywriter/copyeditor. She loves to share life-changing products and ideas with others to help them just get rooted and live a life of purpose.

Currently, she lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart Vaughn Stockton, along with their two children, two dogs, and three cats in southeastern Kentucky. In her 20+ years as a professional writer, she has sold twenty-six (26) books so far and has agent representation with Tamela Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. You can find her on Facebook and GoodReads.