Martha Jane (Ireland) Woodyard - history

WOODYARD, IRELAND

Posted By: Eric S. Huffstutler (email)
Date: 4/21/2004 at 09:03:47

I was able to locate a history on Oliver Thomas Woodyard and his wife Martha Jane Ireland, daughter of William H. Ireland and Isabel Jameson (both also mentioned below) and sharing here.

Eric

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History of Crawford County, Iowa (1987); page 583
submitted by Velma Oakes

Velma Oakes' grandparents were Oliver Thomas Woodyard and Martha Jane (Ireland) Woodyard. Thomas was born in Athens, Ohio, August 29, 1851. When a small boy, his parents and one brother and sister located in Jones County, Iowa and grew up near Wyoming, Iowa. Martha Jane Ireland was born August 14, 1855 in Lafayette, Indiana. Her parents were W. H. Ireland and Isabel Jamesen. In 1855, they traveled by covered wagon crossing the Mississippi River at Davenport, Iowa by ferry and settled on a farm near Anamosa, Iowa then moving to Stanwood, Iowa. In 1872, they moved to Wyoming, Iowa.

Thomas Woodyard and Martha Ireland were married April 13, 1875. They were the parents of six children. They and four of their children, Cora, Frank, Maude and Eva, came to Crawford County and settled in the small town of Astor until the town of Manilla was incorporated. They and several other families moved their houses by oxen teams to Manilla. Their house is now owned by the Scot Bandow family. Here a daughter, Lottie Leila, and a son, Max, were born.

For many years, Tom worked hard as a carpenter and had a crew of workers. After quitting the building trade, he owned and operated a grocery store for a few years. Later he had a large truck garden supplying grocery stores and other customers with vegetables and generously giving to friends and neighbors. He passed away February 24, 1927 in Manilla.

His wife, Martha, was a member of the Methodist Church, a member of the Ladies Aid Society, and a very willing, helpful worker. She was very good at helping Dr. Gardner, one of Manilla's first doctors and uncle of Velma Oakes. She helped him care for the sick patients and deliver babies and was thought of as an "Angel of Mercy". After her husband, Thomas, passed away, she made her home with her daughter and husband, Maude and Orla Offineer, from 1930 until her death on March 28, 1948 at the age of 93. There were eight grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren at the time.

Through the early years they lost four children: Cora Woodyard Siples in September 1914; Lottie Woodyard Saiter in June 1920 (leaving her husband Edward and small son, Frank Saiter, who grew up in Manilla and graduated from the Manilla school in 1930); Frank Woodyard at age 10 years in January 1889; Baby Max at two years of age on December 20, 1888; and in later years; Eva Woodyard Tyler in 1967 leaving six children; and Maude Woodyard Offineer on March 1, 1969 leaving one daughter, Velma Oakes.

Martha Woodyards parents and Velma Oakes great grandparents were William H. Ireland, born June 22, 1830 and Isabele Jameson, born October 4, 1838 both from Lafayette, Indiana. Isabele was orphaned at an early age and made her home with a brother until she married William Ireland on November 2, 1854. The following year they and baby Martha came to Iowa by covered wagon, settling near Anamosa, Iowa on a farm. Later they moved to Stanwood, Iowa where they opened up a mercantile business and in 1872 they moved to Wyoming, Iowa still engaged in the same business. After 18 years he retired. he was kind, honest, and upright in all his dealings. He passed away July 12, 1908. His wife assisted those in need or trouble and had many friends. Her neighbors knew her as an "Angel of Mercy" in caring for the sick as was her daughter, Martha Woodyard, known later. It was truly said of her "none knew her but to love her, nor named her but to praise her". After her husband passed away, she made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Ida Pealer at Wyoming, Iowa until she died May 24, 1924 at the age of 85.