ROBERT N WOODS, b 14 Jan 1842

WOODS, SELLS, BAUM, BALLOU, SADDLER, SHANER, PALMER, ROACH, BAGLEY, FRAZIER, NICHOLS, ANDERSON, MCLONEY, HILL, WADE, MCCLONEY, LARKEY, KEENE, DONALDSON, HAMILTON, BUCHANAN, WILSON, SAUNDERS, RITCHEY, MILLER

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 2/28/2005 at 18:19:09

Until somewhat recently only the most intelligent class of people has seemed to fully realize the desirability and importance of perpetuating family history, which comparatively few have preserved in regular form. On account of this neglect, property has frequently been diverted from its rightful owners, estates have been confiscated, and many matters of family history have sunk in oblivion, which, had they been duly recorded and preserved, would now be a source of gratitude and pride to the present generation. Mr. Woods, one of the leading residents of Farmers' Creek Township, with more than ordinary forethought and care, is enabled to furnish the biographer facts in reference to his ancestral history, which should be a matter of pride to himself, and will no doubt be so to his posterity.

Beginning with John Woods, the father of our subject, we find that he was born in Clermont County, Ohio, Feb. 24, 1812, where he was reared to man's estate. He was married, Oct. 12, 1833, to Miss Susan, daughter of Benjamin and Catherine (Baum) Sells, and soon afterward they took up their residence on a farm in Rush County, Ind. The country was then wild and new, and they endured the hardships and privations incident to frontier life. The father battled with the elements of the primitive soil, built up a comfortable homestead, and in time the household circle was enlarged by the birth of nine children.

Of the above mentioned children the record is as follows: Nackey E. became the wife of Lewis A. Ballou, and the mother of two children; Mr. Ballou died while a young man; his widow was married to Joseph Saddler, and to them there were born seven children. Benjamin S. Woods married Miss Elizabeth Shaner, and they became the parents of five children. His second wife was Mrs. Margaret Palmer, by whom he has four children. Maria, Mrs. Jeremiah Roach, had a family of six children; Allen, during the late Civil War, enlisted as a Union soldier in Company F, 31st Iowa Infantry, was severely wounded at Vicksburg, but possessing great courage and resolution, soon joined his regiment at Chattanooga, and later fought at Mission Ridge, and Resaca. His strength finally gave way, and he was taken back to Nashville, Tenn., where he died on the 28th of July 1864, leaving a widow, Mrs. Jane (Bagley) Woods, and one child; Robert N., our subject, was the next in order of birth; John S. is at home with his father, in South Fork Township, this county; Joseph married Miss Philena Frazier, and became the father of five children; Joseph died Feb. 27, 1886. To Mary, Mrs. George Nichols, there were born four children. The aforementioned children were all natives of Indiana, with the exception of Columbus, the youngest of the family who was born in this county, and married Miss Emma Anderson; they have two children.

Mrs. Susan (Sells) Woods, the mother of our subject, departed this life at her home in South Fork Township, Feb. 12, 1864, at the age of fifty-two years. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Woods later married Mrs. Louisa McLoney, who died Feb. 20, 1879. His third, and present wife, was formerly Mrs. Susannah (Baum) Hill. (The second wife had been previously married to Jacob Wade, by whom she had four sons and one daughter.) One of these, Dewitt Clinton, was mortally wounded in the battle of Corinth, having been a member of Company I, 12th Iowa Infantry, and his remains now fill a Southern grave. T. Benton, a member of the same company and regiment, held the rank of First Lieutenant, was captured at the battle of Shiloh, spent nine months in Andersonville prison, and later died of consumption, which he had contracted in consequence thereof; William F. served in Company F, 31st Iowa Infantry, and lived to return home; he is now Clerk of the Court in Chautauqua County, Kan. His younger brother, Milton, also served in the same company, came home sick and died soon after. The father of our subject is still living, maintaining his residence on the same farm in South Fork Township, where he settled in October, 1850; he has been a Class-Leader in the Methodist Episcopal Church for over fifty years.

The subject of this sketch was born Jan. 14, 1842, in Rush County, Ind., and came with his parents to Iowa, in October, 1850. Soon after the outbreak of the Rebellion, he proffered his services to assist in the preservation of the Union, enlisting in September, 1861, in Company M, 2nd Iowa Cavalry, and served as a private three years. He participated in many of the important battles of the war, being at New Madrid, the first and second battles of Corinth, Island No. 10, Farmington, Booneville, and Iuka, Miss. At the expiration of his term of enlistment he received an honorable discharge in October, 1864.

Returning now to his home, Mr. Woods was united in marriage March 22, 1868, with Miss Belinda J., daughter of Jacob and Louisa (McCloney) Wade, of South Fork Township, this county. she became the mother of four sons - Frank A., Clinton C., Robert B., and Fred W. The latter died April 7, 1879. Mrs. Belinda J. Woods died at her home in Farmers' Creek, Feb. 23, 1879, at the early age of thirty-two years. She was a lady of excellent qualities, and a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The present wife of our subject, to whom he was married Oct. 17, 1886, in South Fork, was formerly Miss Eliza P. Larkey. This lady was born April 8, 1853, in Iowa, and is the daughter of Edward and Nancy (Keene) Larkey, who were natives of Pennsylvania and New York, and are now deceased. Their family consisted of sixteen children, nine of whom are living. Mrs. Eliza P. Woods belongs to the Church of the Latter Day Saints. Mr. Woods, politically, supports the principles of the Republican party, and socially belongs to A.W. Dripps Post No. 74, G.A.R. of Maquoketa, and is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The farm of our subject embraces 178 acres of thoroughly cultivated land, pleasantly located on sections 35 and 36, the residence being on the former. Mr. Woods is in all respects a representative citizen of this county, occupying a good position socially and financially. He has been content to make very little stir in the world, pursuing the even tenor of his way, conscientiously performing every duty, and building up for himself the record of an honest man and a good citizen.

We take pleasure in being able to append the following very interesting account of the ancestors of Mr. Woods, who it will be found performed no unimportant part upon the world's stage in their time. The earliest records in possession of the family indicates them to have been at that time residents of Ireland, although they were undoubtedly of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is not known positively at what date they settled in Ireland. The ancestors of our subject were on the field at Londonderry during the famous siege of that place in 1688, the most noted conflict that ever took place in the British Isles.

At this time the adherents of James II, in Ireland, nearly all of whom were of the Irish race, and of the Catholic faith, aided by the French troops, had overrun and taken possession of all the country, with the exception of Enniskillen and Londonderry. These places were defended by the adherents of William of Orange, who were nearly all Anglo-Saxons, and of the Protestant faith. When the first regiment of Catholic soldiers approached Londonderry, the Bishop and other authorities were in favor of surrendering the town to the, but thirteen young apprentices closed the ferry gate in the faces of the officers, armed themselves, called in all the aid they could secure, and thus proceeded to defend the city. The regular siege began in 1689, and ended the last night of July, that year. The brave defenders suffered from pestilence and hunger, and fed on horses, dogs, rats, salted hides, etc., until receiving a ship-load of provisions sent to their relief.

On the 1st of August, the siege of Londonberry was abandoned. The garrison had been reduced from 7,000 to 3,000 men, and 8,000 of the Catholic army had been killed or disabled. The victory of William over James at the Boyne, virtually ended the contest in Ireland, and the Protestants were thus released from the persecutions and tyranny of the Catholics.

Five or six generations have since passed away, and still the wall of Londonderry is to the Protestants of Ulster, what the trophy of Marathon was to the Athenians. A lofty pillar rising from a bastion which bore during many weeks, the heaviest fire of the enemy, is to this day seen far up and down the Boyne, and on its summit is the statue of Walker, whose eloquence during the last and most terrible conflict, aroused the failing courage of his brethren, but who finally fell a martyr to the cause. One hand grasps a Bible, while the other is extended toward the river, seeming direct the eyes of his famished and exhausted countrymen to the English topmasts in the distant bay. Although nearly 200 years have passed the animosities of that period still live, and it is almost impossible for Orangemen to celebrate that victory in any place where Catholics are numerous, without being attacked, with occasional bloodshed and murder.

In the year 1773, James Woods, the great-grandfather of our subject, set out with his family and other relatives from Ireland, to the United States. They landed in New York city, and thence made their way to Pennsylvania, settling about six miles north of the town of Washington. The eldest daughter, Sarah, who afterward married William Donaldson, did not accompany her family to America, but came later with her grandfather, William Woods. Allen Woods, the eldest son, and the great-uncle of our subject, was a lad of six years when he came with the family to America. Samuel was born the year his parents came to this country, and later two more children were added to the home circle, Nathaniel and Anne. The latter married James Hamilton, and they became the parents of a large family. They finally removed to Indiana. To the Donaldsons there were also born a number of sons and daughters, and one of these latter intermarried with a Hamilton.

Allen Woods became the father of four sons: James had a numerous family, who are now scattered indifferent parts of the country; John left one son, who, during the late war was a member of the 47th Illinois Infantry, and died in the service; Milton married, became the father of a large family, and until recently was a resident of West Virginia. During the Rebellion some of his sons served in the Union army, and some of them with the Confederate forces. After one of the battles in West Virginia, one of those who had served in the Rebel army, found a brother who had fought in the Union army dead upon the battle-field. Some of the sons of Milton emigrated to Minnesota; Dr. Allen Woods died in Chilo, Clermont Co., Ohio, Oct. 23, 1885, at the age of eighty years, three weeks and one day. His eldest son, Frank H., was an officer in the 59th Ohio Infantry, and was killed at Chickamauga. He was a young man of brilliant intellect and great promise. There are yet nine children of this family, living. The eldest daughter married a Mr. Buchanan, and lives in Butler County, Kan. Another daughter of Dr. Allen Woods, was married to Mr. Peter Wilson, who lives on Straight Creek, Brown Co., Ohio. they have a large family, mostly daughters.

Another great-uncle of our subject, Nathaniel Woods, became the father of twelve children, six of whom lived to mature years, and four were married. They are all now deceased, and there are but five living grandchildren, three sons and one daughter, the latter married late in life. One granddaughter, Mrs. Saunders, is now a resident of Labette County, Kan. During the Revolutionary War, the great-grandfather of our subject, and one of his cousins were engaged two years in delivering supplies to the army.

The original settlement of the Woods Colony in Washington County, Pa., in due time began to send out representatives to different parts of the State, some going into Allegheny County, and some further south. A large number, however, remained upon the original spot where they settled until about the beginning of the present century, when many of them went into Kentucky. Among them were the grandfather of our subject, and his eldest brother, Allen, who settled near Maysville. The eldest daughter, Sarah, finally returned to Pennsylvania, was married, became the mother of a family, and when last heard from was in good circumstances. The great-grandparents with their youngest son, then unmarried, settled on Straight Creek, Brown co., Ohio, about four miles from the present site of Georgetown, the county seat. this was laid off by Allen Woods, who had emigrated thither from Kentucky.

Mr. Donaldson, already spoken of, also removed to Ohio, and settled on Eagle Creek. Grandfather Woods, after the death of his first wife, joined his parents and brother on Straight Creek, and there the parents, both of whom had reached an advanced age, died within a few weeks of each other, in the early part of 1823. The Hamiltons also removed to Ohio, and thence to Indiana. About the year 1790, George Ritchey, the father of grandmother Woods, emigrated from County Donegal, Ireland, to Northumberland County, Pa., and settled near Jacks Mountain, a spur of the Alleghenies. He became the father of three children - William, Elizabeth, and Ailsa, who all lived to mature years. The latter became the wife of Samuel Woods, the grandfather of our subject. They were all born in Ireland, and all married about the year 1804. William took to wife Miss Sophia Miller, who was of Holland-Dutch descent, and they became the parents of thirteen children. One of these, David, served in the Confederate Army during the late war, being in sympathy with the rebels. A great-aunt of our subject, Elizabeth Ritchey, married Michael Baum, who was the great-uncle of our subject on his mother's side, and doubled the relation by his marriage. To them were born two sons and several daughters, all of whom lived to mature years, and of whom Miss Susanah, who became the stepmother of our subject, was the youngest.

Grandfather Woods was married in 1804, and became the father of twelve children, nine sons and three daughters. The two youngest, Holly, a son, and Isabel, a daughter, died in early childhood. The others all lived to be middle aged and beyond. These two were born in Brown County, Ohio, and five of the remaining children were born in Clermont County. The maiden name of great-grandmother Woods, was Allen, a family which produced a number of men noted for more than ordinary ability. Two were graduated from West Point; James in 1829, and Robert in 1836. James became a Lieutenant Colonel, and during the Mexican War commanded a Normon Battalion; Robert performed numerous and valuable services as Quartermaster of the Western Army during the late Rebellion; he is yet living, and is on the retired list of army veterans.

B.S. Allen is one of the wealthiest men in the State of Iowa, and the son of John Allen. Grandfather Woods, when in his prime, was a man of fine business capacities, and a thorough and skillful farmer, endowed by nature with a remarkable memory. Later in life, he suffered for a number of years from paralysis. His death took place March 28, 1841, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. His wife died July 19, 1862, aged seventy-seven years, four months and two days. Ten children had been born to them, viz.: William, James, George, John, Samuel, Catherine, Nathaniel, Andrew, Joseph, and Elizabeth. Their oldest son, William, was born in 1806 and died in 1876. He had been three times married, his first wife being Miss Polly Jackson, by whom he had one child, the mother and infant dying about the same time. His second wife was Miss Amelia Yates, who bore him three sons and three daughters, who, with one exception, lived to mature years. The third wife was a widow, Mrs. Martin, by whom he became the father of one daughter, who married her second cousin, a Mr. Fenton. The three sons - Thomas, William and Andrew Jackson - served in the Union Army during the rebellion, and are all living, as are two of the daughters by the second wife.

James Woods, another of the paternal uncles of our subject, was born March 11, 1808, and died in Pike County, Ill., March 9, 1884, lacking just two days of being seventy-six years old. He married Miss Rachel Jackson, and seven of their children lived to be men and women. The three sons - John, William and James - were all in the Union Army during the late war, and William died in the service. Another uncle, George Woods, was born in 1809, and is still living. He moved from Ohio to Kentucky, thence to Iowa, later to Missouri and is now a resident of Pike County, Ill. He married Miss Julia Bolender, and fourteen of their nineteen children lived to mature years. Several of his sons served as soldiers during the late war.

John Woods, the father of our subject, was the fourth son of his parents. He was a bright and intelligent boy, a ready pupil, and early in life was a teacher. Samuel Woods, the fifth son of Grandfather Woods was born March 28, 1814. He married Miss Mary A. Hunnewell, and afterward removed from Ohio to Jackson County, Iowa, thence to Taylor County in the same State. After the death of his first wife he married a widow. There were born to them seventeen children. Three of his sons - Allen, Joseph and Benjamin - were in the Union Army. Samuel Woods died in September, 1878, aged sixty-five years.

Catherine Woods was born March 17, 1816. She married Mr. Thomas Yates by whom she had two sons, James and Nathaniel, who were both in the Union army, and four daughters who lived to mature years. She died in Ohio in 1877, at the age of sixty-two years.

Nathaniel Woods, the sixth son and seventh child, was born in June, 1818. His wife was Miss Margaret Bolender, by whom he had six children, who lived to be men and women. One son, Joel, was in the war, and was severely wounded at the battle of Corinth, returning home to die soon after the close of the war. The second wife of Nathaniel Woods was Miss Melissa Slater, by whom he had two sons and one daughter. At present he resides in Kansas. Andrew A. Woods, who was the eighth in order of birth, was born June 13, 1820. He was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Brown in this county, from which he moved to Kansas, where he died in 1858, at the age of thirty-eight. He left three orphan children, all girls.

Joseph J. Woods, the youngest son in this large family, was born Jan. 11, 1823. For a time he attended Augusta College, and from that place went to West Point, where he was graduated third in the class of 1847. He was ordered to Mexido, but during the voyage the ship was wrecked near the Bahama Island, and it was only after great hardships and much suffering that the crew and passengers were enabled to reach Mexido. After his return to New York he sailed to Oregon. He resigned his commission in 1853, after which he settled in Jackson County. During the Civil War he was captain of the companies of the 12th Iowa Infantry, and was twice wounded at Shiloh. His wife was Miss Kesie Hight, who was the mother of five children, one son and four daughters. In 1869 he removed from Jackson County to Kansas. He has held several offices of prominence and responsibility, among them those of a member of the State Legislature, and Regent of the State University.

The youngest of this family was Elizabeth, who was born on the 22d of April, in the year 1825. Her husband was Isaac Hight, who went to into the army from this county, and died in active service. Of their children three sons and two daughters lived to maturity. She married a second time, her husband being John Thomas, now deceased, by whom she had one daughter.

The ancestors of our subject, so far as known, are believed to have been Protestants, and the paternal great-grandparents were Seceders, or off-shoots of the Presbyterian Church, which was merged into the United Presbyterian, in the old country, and was somewhat different from the present church of that name. The Ritcheys were Episcopalians in Ireland, but after coming to America united with the Presbyterians. Some of the Woods family later identified themselves with the Methodists and became prominent in that church. The record of the Woods family is one creditable in the extreme, and the inference is that they have from one generation to another, almost uninterruptedly, been people thrifty and well-to-do, praiseworthy citizens and useful members of the communities of which they have composed a part. The indications are that the family is to be perpetuated in the same worthy manner which characterized its origin.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois.)