Biographical sketches of the Wood families

Dedication

As the only living member of my father’s family, and as the last tribute of my love and affection, in my eighty-thirdlyear, I now dedi¬ cate this little booh to the memory of my dear parents who passed to their u House not made ivitli hands, eternal in the heavens ” fifty-five years ago; and to my dear wife who has been my faithful companion fifty-five years; to William J. Wood, my only living child and to my dear kindred to whom my heart ever clings.

—J. 8. F. WOOD

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Preface

After repeated requests from my kindred, I have consented to put into convenient form some items which may interest those of the Wood family who would like to know more about their ancestors.

This, however, is not intended for a gen¬ eral history of the Wood family, either in England or America. It is a brief sketch of that branch of the family of which I happen to be a member.

For the benefit of those who wish a more

general knowledge of the family in America,

I would refer them to a history of the Wood family bv James W. Wood of Lurav, Va., to whom I am indebted for some of the informa¬ tion given in the first part of this book.

Chapter I. Things In General

Probably about A. D. 1750, William Wood and three sons came from England and settled in Virginia.

The names of the sons were Nehemiah, Asa and James.

Asa settled in Stafford County, James in Frederick County. James laid out the town of Winchester, and at one time was governer of Va. His grandson, John Wood was the first governer of Ill. A fine monument marks his resting place at Quincy, Ill.

Nehemiah settled in the beautiful and fertile Shenandoah Valley in what is now Page County, of which Luray is county seat.

The three brothers contributed much in building up and peopling that part of the state, and now we find their descendants almost every where we go. They have occupied many positions of trust and honor from governor down.

In the Civil War, they like many other families were divided. Probably a majority of those remaining in Va. supported the Southern cause, and many fell in its defence.

On the other side many were just as zealous for the union and just as ready to die in its defence. Many of them were officers in different ranks.

James W. Wood, in his history of the Wood families, re¬ lates an incident of the Civil War which thru his kindness, I am permitted to copy. He says, “Vincent Wood, brother of Jesse, married Polly Thorpe. By this union there was a large family of children. His sons John and William were living in West Va. when the war broke out, and they entered the Union army, while their father and another son (James) were in the Confederate army.

“The family lived in Rileyville during the war, and one night while the federal army was passing thru this valley they all met under the old family roof. After discussing the war and its probable result, they all returned to their several commands. In the battle of McDowell West Va., they were all engaged.”

About thirty years ago, I met an old man in Maryville, Mo. who said he was a grandson of one of the three brothers who came from England. I cannot recall which.

He said his father left Va. and moved north, and while there their buildings were all destroyed by fire, and all the old family records were lost. If we now had those records to refer to, we would probably know much more of our ancestry.

I have not been able to make connection with any of the family in England. Tradition says the family was numer¬ ous, influential and very wealthy: that there is a large estate in England for the Wood heirs, but we were never able to trace connections.

Chapter II. The Shenandoah Valley

Before taking up the lineal descendants of our family, I think it will be in order here to say a few words about the Shenandoah Valley.

This is the place where Nehemiah Wood located on com¬ ing from England.

Here he raised his family, and here he was buried. He displayed judgment in selecting a location for his home and a home for his children.

The Shenandoah is one of the most beautiful and inviting valleys in Va. Nestled down among the mountains, at the base of the picturesque Blue Ridge, its rich soil and pure waters makes it a place in which to enjoy life. Here our fathers and mothers raised their families, bearing the burdens and inconveniences of pioneer life.

The beautiful Shenandoah River flows thru this valley. The early settlers used its waters for transporting their farm products to market. For this purpose they built large flat boats capable of carrying several tons. These boats had a large oar at each end, by which they were guided.

In most places the current carried the boat as fast as they desired to go, and some places faster, where there was danger of striking rocks or sand banks.

There were places however where the boats would scarce¬ ly move. To remedy this, they used side oars and long poles —the poles were for shallow waters. They were made with an iron spike at one end, and to fit the shoulder at the other end. It took two men to run a boat. When necessary to use the poles, each man would go to the front end of the boat and put the spike end of his pole on the ground, and the other against his shoulder, with his face toward the stern and begin to push. This would send the boat forward, and was repeated till better water was reached.

I remember a story told of one of the Wood boys who was pushing with his pole when it slipped, and he went head first into the water. As soon as his head popped up, he said,

“By jinks I missed him”. He wanted his companion to be¬ lieve he had jumped after a big fish.

Some boatmen would carry bugles and French horns and at night while the boats were floating on the still waters they would furnish entertainment for those living near the river.

As my father’s house stood on a rise overlooking the river, I saw much of the boating business. These are some of a boys recollections for I was but a boy when we left Va. I was old enough, however to gather chestnuts, chinkapins. In the abandoned fields we gathered blackberries, huckle berries, dew berries and sweet cherries. From the rivers we took fish and ells. 0 my; surely this is a boys heaven. Turn him loose and let him grow.

At first all the territory now occupied by Shenandoah and Page Counties was in one county, called Shenandoah and later was divided into two counties.

Chapter III. Nehemiah And His Sons

Nehemiah, the ancestor of our branch of the Wood family located near where Rileyville now stands,—possibly eight or ten miles from Luray, the county seat of Page Coun¬ ty.

He had four sons,—Benjamin, John, Joshua and David. David never married. He died at the age of 60 and was buried on his father’s estate.

The other three brothers owned large bodies of land in the Shenandoah valley.

James W. Wood, in his history says, “Benjamin, Joshua and John Wood owned almost the entire northern end of the county”. There are 97 deeds conveying land to and from the Wood family on the records at Woodstock, Shenandoah county, and 235 on record at Luray, Page county.

In 1818 Joshua built the first brick house in that part of the county, and probably the first one in the county. It contained much carved work, all done by hand. The roof was shingled with the best yellowpine shaved shingles which were still doing good service 85 years later. In those days they were considered wealthy.

Here they lived and died, and from them sprang a great multitude, scattered possibly in every state of the union.

Chapter IV. Benjamin Wood And His Family

Benjamin, son of Nehemiah Wood had a magnificent home near where Rileyville now stands. Following the old English custom of giving names to their homes, he called his home Cedar Point. This place was honored by the first post office in that locality being named Cedar Point.

Later a village called Rileyville was established there and the name of the post office changed to Rileyville.

Benjamin was a devoted member of the Old School Baptist faith, and when a church was organized at Big Springs in that locality, he and his wife Sarah (Sallie) were charter members. He was chosen clerk and acted in that capacity until his death.

Many of his descendants followed his example, and are devoted Christians and many of them are Missionary Baptists. However, the name “Missionary” is now left off and this large and influential body is known as “Baptist”.

Many of the Wood family have been preachers, two of which are of my father’s family.

I should say the old church at Big Springs organized in 1824 is still at work.

I am indebted to Mrs. Mildred Schlosser for the informa¬ tion that Benjamin Wood my grandfather, served faithfully and honorably, three years in the revolutionary war. His army papers are on record at Richmond Va. After a long and useful life, he passed to his Heavenly Home A. D. 1829.

He was twice married. His first wife was Sarah Fallis, married February 12, 1791 (I notice in James W. Wood’s history her name is spelled “Follice”, and in the “Brumback Families” by G. M. Brumback “Follis”. The name has come down in our branch of the families—Fallis. My father was named for his mother’s people, William Fallis, and I have the same name. Also several persons, but I do not know how the original name was spelled).

Since writing the above I have had the Page County Va. record examined and find my grandmother’s name was spelled Fallis.

To this union five children were born, Hadad, Harrison, David, William F. and Nancy. Of these five I shall trace the lineal descendants of but one, William F., who is my father.

For the benefit of those who want to follow the other families, I refer them to James W. Wood’s book which can be had for twenty five cents per copy, Luray, Va. He had lost track of William F., who had left that country and moved west.

I have just received a letter from C. M. Keyser, who lived there all his life, and is now about ninety years old. He says he was well acquainted with my father and his brothers and sister, and they were prominent citizens in that country.

Chapter V. Biography Of William Fallis Wood

WILLIAM FALLIS AND BARBARA (BRUMBACH) WOOD

William Follis Wood was born August 14th, 1802, in the Shenandoah Valley, Page County, Va., near Rileyville. He was the son of Benjamin and Sarah Wood, whose biographical sketch is in Chapter IV. December 27th, 1821 he was married to Miss Barbara Brumbach. They located north of Rileyville, near the Shenandoah river where they lived about twenty-two years. Here all their children were born, a family of five girls and three boys. Of these I shall speak personally later. He then moved to the opposite side of the river and built a large frame house on a rise overlooking the river. In 1848 he sold his farms and personal property and moved to Missouri.

The traveling outfit for this journey consisted of a large two horse carriage and one big wagon with five horses.

The carriage was inclosed and had one seat out in front for the driver and one in the rear for the footman.

The driver of the wagon rode the left wheelhorse and drove with a single line to the fifth or lead horse. In this wagon were the tents, beds, provisions, darkies and some of the children.

We started from Va. September 23rd and stopped in Cooper County Mo. Nov. 19th, having been on the road nearly two months. Sister Mary, her husband and little girl (Em¬ ma) came with us in a two horse wagon.

Two or three other families were with us, making in all quite a train. We all camped out, sleeping in tents. We traveled thru all sorts of country—mountains, valleys and uninhabited swamps.

If you have never travelled thru the desert swamps in an early day, it would be useless to try to describe it to you. If you have you will need no description. It has left an impression in my memory that will never fade.

We remained in Cooper county about sixteen months. While there Sallie (Sarah) and Susanah were married. Sallie to Alfred Carey, and Susanah to Samuel K. Bear. Both couples married the same evening. They walked out on the floor at the same time. Mr. Carey and Sallie were married by Rev. Mr. Nevins. Mr. Bear and Susanah, by Rev. Mr. Douglas. This was April 3rd 1849. In March 1850 all except the two girls recently married, moved to northwest Mo. and settled in what was known as Platte purchase,— a fine body of land recently bought of the Indians. A man was privileged to buy all of this land he could pay for, at one and a quarter dollars per acre.

Our father bought a fine body of this land, with some improvements at six dollars per acre. It was located in An¬ drew county about six miles Northeast of Savannah, the county seat. Here we were subject to the hardships and in¬ convenience of frontier life, with the chills and fever added. Here the ground produced abundant crops, but there was no market for them. What one could not use went to waste.

When in the spring of 1852 it became necessary for our father to return to Va. he rigged up a traveling outfit con¬ sisting of a two-horse wagon, team and camping equipment and with his wife, youngest daugter (Bettie) and myself, started on the long and tedious journey.

When within about 20 miles of St. Louis, mother took sick and we laid over a week. Including this week, we were just 2 months on the road.

We were detained in Virginia about 18 months, and in the fall of 1853 we started for home. This time we had three horses. The third horse was hitched to the end of the tongue. I rode the left wheel horse, and with a single line to the front horse drove the team. We were just seven weeks on the road. We sometimes traveled new roads—seeing new countries. This made three times we had traveled the distance between Virginia and Missouri, camping out all the time.

You may wonder why we would choose this slow way of traveling, or why we did not do business thru the bank by mail. At that time there were no railroads thru the country, the banks were not reliable—they had no backing and were liable to close doors any day. Silver and gold was the only reliable money. This was too heavy and unsafe to be carried thru the mail, which was carried by stage or horseback. It was not uncommon for the mail to be robbed and the carrier killed. It cost 25c to send a letter from Va. to Mo.

When father went to pay for the land he had bought, (I do not know how much he had paid on it before) he brot in a sack of money—nearly all, possibly all silver and poured it out on the bed. I had never seen much money and it made an impression on my mind that has never faded. I thot it would be an endless job to count it.

Our father William F. was well formed, about 6 ft. high and straight, weighing probably about 170 pounds, fair complextion, hazel eyes, with heavy overhanging brows. He was affectionate, genial and I think I might say playful. He would often go out with the boys and teach them how to play. He had many friends. His children loved and obeyed him.

He was honest and upright in his dealing and loyal to his

country. If I remember correctly, he was an officer in somekind of an organization. I don’t know what it was called— probably state militia or home guards. They had stated times for drilling, and he seemed to think it very necessary for him to be there. This was in Va. He owned slaves

there I don’t know how many. I remember a very fine young colored woman who was burned to death. Her clothes caught fire one night after the white people were in bed. She could not put it out and ran thru two or three rooms to where father was sleeping. He put the fire out, burning his hands badly. She lived several days. She was the first person I ever saw buried. One colored woman and her son was brot to Missouri with us.

When the civil war broke out, father opposed the division of the states, believing it would be a source of endless trouble, and possibly destroy the government. His three boys enter¬ tained the same views-opposing the secession of the states.

I can now look back upon my father with admiration, as I recall these days of trouble, when the dark war-clouds hung over the land.

When neighbors in our neighborhood were killing each other, calling them from their beds and shooting them down, or shooting them in the roads, or in the fields, and destroying each others property. Amid it all, father and his home and his family, remained undisturbed. He seemed to retain the same respect and friendship of his neighbors, he had before. And when they came to his house, they were received with the same welcome and cordial greeting as be¬ fore. He loved the southern people but believed they were making a mistake, and he could not endorse what they were doing. He was for the government but opposed to outlaws on either side.

When I consider where he stood and how he stood, I am reminded of a lofty peak with a storm raging at its base, while its summit bathes in the calm sunlight of heaven. He lived above hatred and revenge.

He loved his country and his people. He loved his neigh¬ bors, and they felt the warming influences of his love.

He lived to see the war closed, and peace restored.

On the 6th of May 1865, leaning on the promises of God, he passed on from his home below, to his home in heaven.

About A. D. 1857, he and his devoted wife Barbara Wood were baptised into the fellowship of the Union Grove Baptist Church. They were buried side by side in the cemetery of this church, where their Earthly remains will rest till im¬ mortalized by Him who is the Resurrection and the Life.

Chapter VI. Our Mother And Her People

Barbara (Brumbach) Wood, daughter of Henry and Mary Brumach, and wife of William F. Wood was born May 15th, 1800, in Page County Virginia, near Luray, where she grew to womanhood.

She always looked beautiful to me. She was medium height, above average in size and well formed. She had deep blue eyes, dark hair—but not black—and fair complexion.

As I remember her she was dignified and womanly. Her language was refined (chaste) and free from slang or vulgar jesting. Her manners were pleasant and homelike She could give you a welcome and make you feel at home She was a kind loving wife and mother. She was even tempered and selfcontrolled. To say she was industrious, hardly expresses it. She was strong and healthful. She belonged to that sturdy German stock which came to this country in an early day, and was noted for its industry, economy and thirft.

In those days when the clothing and food was all taken from the farm, the people had something to do—they were not running over the country hunting work. I well remember my mother, evenings, at her little wheel till bed-time spinning flax or hemp into thread for our clothing.

Our mother had been raised by religious parents and was religiously inclined but was not a church-member till late in life. On Sundays after getting the children cleaned up for the Sabbath, she would get the big family Bible and her old-fashioned split-bottomed chair, lean the back against the wall, put her feet on the front round, the Bible on her lap and sit there and read. I wondered then what there was in that old book that interested her so much. I have that same old Bible now and prize it very highly.

There was no Sunday School then, so the children were allowed to play on Sundays.

There was a preaching point five or six miles away. Father and mother sometimes attended. I think they assisted in the singing—they were both good singers and practiced at home.

Mother’s parents were Baptists. When she was about 57 years of age, she with her husband was baptised into the fellowship of the Union Grove Baptist Church in Andrew County Mo. She was ever faithful to this covenant.

Mother was robust and bid fair to live to a ripe old age, but the death of her husband, and accumulated cares seemed to break her constitution. She carried her loved ones in her great loving heart, and her dear old hands were never too tired to minister to their needs.

I have ever felt that it was this self-forgetfulness and untiring devotion that hastened her death.

On Thursday evening as she was walking thru the room, she suddenly dropped into a chair. I hastened to her. She was paralized. On the following Sunday night—Jan. 21, 1866, the struggle ended, and she passed on to the Mansions above to meet her Redeemer and see Him face to face, and be like Him.

DEAR MOTHER

Yet again we hope to meet thee When the day of life is fled,

Then in Heaven with joy to greet thee Where no farewell tear is shed.

It is not the purpose of the writer of these sketches to make long geneological publications, but it would not be justice to our mother if we failed to make our readers, to some extent, acquainted with her noble ancestry.

For the benefit of those who desire a more extended knowledge of our people, I would refer them to an elaborate history of the “Brumbach Families” compiled by Gains Marcus Brumbach, M. D. of Washington, D. C. who has spared neither labor nor money in his researches. He has searched the archieves of different countries, tracing our maternal family lineage back thru many generations to the banks of the river Rhine in northern Germany, to about A. D. 700 where there was a valley and a town named Brumbach. When Martin Luther came out and boldly exposed the trickery and shameful deeds of many of the Roman priests and laid bare the wicked devices of the Catholic church, many of the German people followed him and became ardent supporters of the reformation. The bitter persecution of the Catholic church drove many of the reformers to other countries for shelter.

Among those who came to America were some of the brumbach families who settled in Penn, and Virginia. From these sturdy pioneers came our maternal relations.

Certain distinguishing charastics, such as industry, economy, honesty, love of home and kindred, have ever follow¬ ed this people. They have been home-builders, and where ever located, have been active in developing the country.

Many of them have been classed with the nobility, having titles of distinction, holding offices of honor and responsibility.

Some branches of the family had their distinguishing “Coat of Arms” (See foot note at end of chapter)

I do not know whether our Brumbach grand parents were born in Va. or Penn. They often talked to each other in their native tongue. They spoke English fairly w T ell. I think our mother had none of the German brogue.

For the benefit of those who may travel extensively, or study the history of the Brumbauch family. I will say— You will find variations in the spelling of Brumbach. In some instances it is Brom—and occasionally we find it Bram— The last part of the name is sometimes found spelled—back, but oftener—baugh.

Dr. Brumbaugh says, “The English equivalent of the ending “—back” is “—baugh”. He says the Virginia re¬ cords show the name to be Brumbach.

There is a bit of early history which touches slightly the Brumbach family, which may interest some of my readers.

A family by the name of Rhoades settled on the west side of the Shenandoah river, north of where Luray, Page County now is. Hostile Indians made a raid on them, killed the parents, burned the house and carried away with them two boys and one girl. One girl with her baby sister in her arms escaped thru a hemp field. The girl with the Indians could not keep up in the rapid march, so they killed her. One of the boys tried to escape and they killed him. The other boy, after being with them three years, returned home.

The two escaped girls grew to womanhood and married two brothers by the name of Grove. One of the brothers— Marcus Grove had children born to them, but I do not know their names. The wife died and he married again and had five children—one was named Mary. Mary Grove married Henry Brumbach. To this union twelve children were born. The fourth one was named Barbara. This Barbara Brumbach married William Follis Wood. To this union eight children were born, of which the writer of these sketches is the young¬ est, and the only one now living.

Paul said boldly amidst bitter persecutions “I am the stock of Abraham”. He was stimulated to noble deeds, as he felt the blood of Abraham and prophets and kings cours¬ ing thru his veins.

So may we be stimulated to noble deeds when we realize that the blood of true men and women, who dared to stand for the right amidst bitter persecutions when men were dying as martyrs, is coursing thru our veins.

SOME MILITARY RECORDS

In Dr. Brumbaugh’s history of Brumbach families, on page 92 he says— “Benjamin Brumbach, son of Gerhard Brumbach was born 1731. As a Revolutionary soldier he was commissioned 1st Lieut, of Capt. Edward Parker’s Co. of 2nd batallion of Chester county militia, August 5th, 1776. Later Capt. of 8th batallion of Chester County Militia, 1779. militia.

On page 95 the same writer says.— Henry Brumbach, son of Gerhard Brumbach was born February 18, 1733— Served in the revolutionary war, was commissioned ensign of Capt. Edward Parker’s batallion Chester county militia August 5th 1776.

On page 89 the same writer tells us that many from the Brumbach families served their country in the civil war.

Foot note— I find that grandfather Brumbach was born in Virginia March 5th, 1769. That he married Mary Grove May 27th 1794 near Luray Page County Virginia. Mary Grove was born Oct. 1772. Day of month not given.

Chapter VII. Sarah Ann Wood

Sarah Ann Wood (Family name Sallie) daughter of William F. and Barbara Wood was born November 7th, 1822 in Page county, Va.

She was tall, straight, fair complexion, hazle eyes and black hair. She was very dignified, self composed under all circumstances—never allowing herself to speak harshly or rudely to any one. When she corrected her children it was with the same even tenor of action and voice. She would sometimes weep while correcting them, but she made it effect¬ ual and her children loved and respected her.

I think I might safely say that she had an ideal home. If she had suffering, disappointment or sorrow, she bore it uncomplainingly. I some times wondered how one so delicate could possess such fortitude.

When her husband met with financial disaster (of which I will speak later) she accepted it bravely and gave up her lovely home in Rockport Mo., and moved into a very humble cottage in Whitesville, where she with her children could be near her parents and kindred while her husband went out to make another start in the world.

Whether her clothes were fine or plain, they always looked neat and clean, and if the table was spread with plain food, it always looked inviting. She was never robust, but reserving her strength, she lived to the good old age of 69 years.

April 3rd 1849 she was married to Alfred Carey in Cooper county Mo. He was a good man, loving and lovable, and was an admirable husband and father. He was indus¬ trious, honest and upright in all his dealings.

In 1853 they moved from Cooper county to Northwest Mo. and engaged in the mercantile business. After trying two or three other places they finally located in Rockport, Mo. in 1855. Here they did a thriving business for several years, but desiring to enlarge his business, he formed a partnership with a big firm in Savannah Mo. This firm failed and dragged him down with it. He came out with nothing, and heavily in debt to a wholesale firm in St. Louis.

He then rigged out a freighting outfit and began freight¬ ing from the Missouri River to the western mountains. This proved to be a success. Soon he was able to make the whole¬ sale firm in St. Louis the proposition that if they would give him a clear receipt, he would pay his part of the firms indebt¬ edness. This they accepted and he was once more free.

When he had made money enough to start in business again, he moved the family back to Atchison county and went into the stock business A. D. 1869.