Robert Meek Woods

WOODS, MEEK, DEHART, MORRIS, LEFFLER

Posted By: Jean Wenke
Date: 1/25/2009 at 20:17:49

Robert Meek Woods was born November 18, 1887, in a log cabin on the farm where he passed away on Feb. 28, 1924 at the age of 86 years, 3 months and 10 days.

He was third in the family of eleven children of Alexander and Elizabeth Meek Woods. He lived at home until 1860 when he crossed the plains to California in a stagecoach. There he was engaged for 5 years on his Uncle Wm. Meek's ranch as foreman of the wheat trains, hauling the grain with mule team to Oakland and San Fransisco. He returned to Iowa in 1865 coming by steamboat to Panama, across the isthmus and again by water to New York and by railroad to Iowa.

On Dec. 31, 1867 he was united in marriage with Mary DeHart, they making their home for a year within sight of the old home and then moving to Vernon township where he lived for 35 years. To this union were born six children, who are: Mrs. Alice Morris, of Colby, Kan.; Eugenia, at home; Otto, who resides on the home farm in Vernon township; Albert of near Bonaparte, Iowa; John H. of Lepanto, Arkansas; and Robert Paul of Bonaparte. The wife and mother died in 1883, leaving the infant Paul to be taken and cared for by his aunt, Henrietta Leffler.