A HISTORY OF THE NAME "WOODY"

 Taken from the William H. Woody Record

      The name originated in Scotland. There were some of them who emigrated to Ireland. There was one Joseph Woody who emigrated to America from Ireland with his family, consisting of his wife and three sons, and settled in North Carolina. He was a weaver by trade. The sons names were James, John and William. They came to this country before the Revolutionary War. They lived on farms mostly. Their religious views was of the Quaker faith and continued to be until the third generation. They were opposed to slavery and war. They only gave their children one name, as they thought it too much style to give them a double name. They wanted everything plain and common. They did not believe in water baptism, but in the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. I will give the names of the generation from the time they emigrated to America.

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      One Joseph Woody came to America with his family, and will commence by calling him the first generation from that on until the present time. The three sons the second generation, and so on. Joseph, the son of John, and the grandson of Joseph the first, was born in North Carolina in 1780. He grew up to manhood and in the process of time married Sarah Thompson. I will give the names of the wives, as I go along so as to keep the record of our family train. To this union were born six sons, James, John, Joseph, Samuel, Levi and Thompson. These were of the fourth generation. The family moved to Indiana in 1813 and settled on a tract of land, in Lawrence County. The land had not come into market, as it was still a Territory. The land was covered with heavy timber and they had to clear it off in order to get it into cultivation, so as to raise something to live on. Some of the poplar trees were one hundred (100) feet to the first limb and from seven to nine feet across the stump. One tree would make lumber enough to build a good sized house.

      John, the second son of Joseph and Sarah was born in North Carolina in 1806, he being seven years old when he moved with his parents to Indiana. He grew up to manhood and at the age of twenty-three married Mary Horton. The Hortons were of the Baptist faith, so the religious views from that time until the present were of the Baptist faith. John and Mary became the owners of 60 acres of land, settled on it, and cleared most of it. They got it into cultivation and made a good living and had quite a good start in life. Then in 1849 sold their home in Lawrence County, Indiana, came to Iowa and settled in Marion county, two and one-half miles southeast of where Monroe now stands. He had two teams and he bought two land warrants of 160 acres each. He also bought a man out and got 120 acres of deeded land with a quit claim deed, this making him 440 acres all told. He was not long in getting the farm into cultivation.

      As the boys grew up and became of age he gave them each 40 acres of land. They all settled in this part of the country, but later scattered, some to one place and some to another, as they thought they could do better. Some to California, some to Oregon.

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Hannah Woody and her husband Samuel Woody immigrated from Roan Co., TN to TX. in 1850. Maybe of interest to others is there route. From the booklet “The Manns From Tennesse To Texas“ Samuel (Sr.) Woody and wife Hannah and some of their family left for Texas with John Mann and his wife Delilah (Woody) and family in 1848 but stopped off at Cairo. Illinois for 2 years. John Mann and Delilah went from TN. down the Mississippi River, up the Red River by river boat to Shreveport, Louisiana and then by ox drawn wagons to Upshur Co. Texas and were located there in the 1850 census. The Woodys and Manns moved father west to near Fort Worth. In the fall of 1853 Samual (Jr) Woody, James Mann and Benjamin Crews explored up the West Fork of the Trinity River into what is now Wise Co,. Texas. At the same time Samuel (Sr) Woody and others of the party explored into what is now Parker Co. Next spring James Mann went with Samual (Sr) Woody to Deep Creek, Wise Co. and helped him build his cabin which in 1977 was still standing and still ouned by a Woody decendent, Marion Acola

William Woody of Roan County, Tennessee Migrated to Texas 1824-1915

Just a little story that tells a little about travel patterns and the desire for cheap land.

William Woody and his wife were said to have started out from Tennessee for Texas six weeks after their first son was born, on foot with home made high top boots, a gun, quilt and a skillet. Six months later they were in Fannin Co. Texas.

Tough people, man and woman !

William, Woody, B 12-15-1824 at Roane TN. D 7-31-1915 at Veal Station Park TX, Father/ Mother Samuel Woody Hannah Woody, Married 1st Elizabeth Lyndia Farmer B 9-13-1822 at Roane Co. TN. D 2-10-1879 at Veal Station Parker TX. dau of Eluah Ward Farmer and Martha Jane Preston, Married on 1-15-1846, Maried; 2nd Biddy Stewart in 1880 3rd Dorah Nix B 4-21-1883, D 9-24-1895 married on 4-21-1838, Lived; TN. & TX., William and Elizabeth had 7 children; 1. Joseph Looney 2. George Preston 3. Martha 4. Sallie 5. Samuel 6. Mary and 7. Millie,

William Woody's sister Jane (Woody) Farmer;

Mrs. Jane Farmer, widow of the late George P. Farmer, was the first white woman of Fort Worth, Texas, and her children were the first white children born here.
Mr. and Mrs. Farmer were married in 1844, and three years later, in 1847, emigrated from their native state (Tennessee) to Texas, first settling in Fannin County, where they remained two years and whence the came, in 1849, to Fort Worth. They reached here three weeks before the arrival of the soldiers. At that time a furrow had not been plowed nor had an ax or hoe been used in the vicinity. Nature was undisturbed, and not a sign of habitation was here. They camped on the present site of Fort Worth. After the arrival of the troops Mr. Farmer was employed by the government to attend the sutler's store, and he continued thus employed for four years. He then took a homestead claim of 320 acres and devoted his energies to the development of a farm, soon bringing a hundred acres of this tract under cultivation. He also engaged in the cattle business, which he carried on until the opening of the late war, when he sent his cattle west with one of his sons, who continued the business there. About 1862 Mr. Farmer sold his homestead, taking in payment therefor negroes and Confederate money, both of which proved worthless. Later he purchased the farm where his widow now lives. This tract comprises 240 acres, 135 of which are under cultivation, being rented on the shares, and wheat, oats, and corn being the chief products.
Although she endured many privations and hardships, Mrs. Farmer has many pleasant reminiscences of her pioneer life. At the time they settled here game of all kinds and honey and wild grapes were plentiful. Grapes, however, were the only fruit they had, and there were no vegetables here whatever. Ten years elapsed before she had a mess of Irish potatoes. Groceries and provisions of all kinds had to be hauled from Houston, and some times during the rainy season it took two to three months to make the trip.
Mr. Farmer was a man of many sterling qualities. In his makeup were found the elements of a true pioneer. He was a veteran of the Seminole war in Alabama an Florida, and his widow is a pensioner of that war. While he never aspired to official position, he took a laudable interest in public affairs, and was well known and highly respected all over the pioneer settlement, retaining the confidence and good will of all who knew him, up to the time of his death, which occurred January 14, 1892. He was especially notes for his hospitality, his good wife sharing with him in this. The latch-string of their cabin door always hung on the outside, both friend and stranger were given a hearty welcome, and the needy were never turned away empty handed. The name of "Press" Farmer is dear to all of the early settlers.
Mrs. Farmer was born and reared in east Tennessee, tha date of her birth being March 15, 1827. Her father, Samuel Woody, was among the first settlers of Parker County, Texas, He having come here a few years after the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Farmer, and he remained in the county until his death, about 1877. He was a farmer and blacksmith, and was prominent in his day.
This worthy pioneer couple were the parents of fourteen children, five of whom died in infancy. A record of the others is as follows: Susan is the wife of Thomas Young, a native of Virginia and a druggist of Lewisville, Denton County, Texas; Jacob is engaged in the cattle business in Montana; Molly is the wife of Eugene Small, of Velasco; Josephine is the wife of Dr. Higgins, of Cooke County, this state; Emma is a member of the home circle; Florence, wife of Alexander Henderson, resides on a farm in Tarrant county, Texas; Alexander died at the age of twenty-one years; William died and left a widow and eight children; and Hannah, wife of James Sutter, is deceased.
Mrs. Farmer was present at the organization of the Baptist Church of Fort Worth, and also at that of Enon. Of this church she has been a consistent member for many years.

I hope some will enjoy these family stories.

Michael in CA.

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