WOOD, William - Putnam

One of Putnam county's hardy pioneers who has long since joined 'the innumerable caravan that moves to the pale realms of shade,' but who left a rich inheritance behind him, not so much in worldly goods but in the remembrance of good deeds and a clean life, was William Wood, who was born in Botetourt county, Virginia, in 1780, where he grew to maturity and married Sarah, and it was in 1828 that they emigrated to Putnam county, Indiana, locating near the present Brick Chapel, Monroe township [sic], having made the long trip overland on horseback, bringing their first born four children. Entering land here, they began life in true pioneer fashion, spending the balance of their lives on this farm. Mr. Wood dying in 1843 and Mrs. Wood in 1846. They were Methodists and members of the first class organization of this denomination that met at Brick Chapel, and they are buried in the cemetery there. Their family consisted of seven children, named as follows: Susan married Edward Rogers and lived near Bainbridge until he died; she died in this county when past eighty years of age; William C.; Sarah married Willis Carter and lived near Rochester, Indiana, both dying at advanced ages; Polly, Mrs. Sam Parker, resided in Fulton county [sic], Indiana, and is buried there; Willis Wood died unmarried; Nelson Wood married first, Millie Vermillion and second, Catherine Leatherman; he had four children; she later married Mr. Rundel; Nancy Ann married William McCray and they both died in Monroe township [sic], the latter in 1909, at the advanced age of ninety-two years; Dolph Wood lived in this county, married Rachael Leatherman, sister of Catherine, and lived and died in Madison township [sic] when past seventy years of age. William Wood was born July 22, 1811, in Botetourt county [sic], Virginia, and died August 7, 1861. He married Lucinda Stark, who was born March 30, 1823, and who died May 11, 1885, February 14, 1839, being celebrated as their wedding day. She was the daughter of Thomas and Gatie Stark, and she was born in Bourbon county [sic], Kentucky, and when a child came to Indiana, locating near the Brick Chapel in Monroe township [sic]. Thomas Stark was born October 29, 1791, and died May 3, 1859. Under the old state militia order, Governor Combs appointed William Wood second lieutenant of a company in Col. James Fish’s regiment. Mrs. William Wood spent her life in Clinton township on the farm of which the present Nelson place is a part. He owned one hundred and sixty-nine acres and built a good house near a fine spring and there William Wood lived and died, being fairly successful as a farmer; his death occurred August 7, 1861, being survived by his wife until May 11, 1885. They were Methodists and are both buried in the cemetery at Brick Chapel in the same lot as their parents on both sides.  Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. William Wood, ten of whom reached maturity, namely: Sarah A. lives with Nelson Wood; Arthur lives in Champaign, Illinois; Nelson, whose sketch appears in another page of this work; Mary married Richard Fisk and lives in Wilson county [sic], Kansas; Jane married Miller Wilson and both died in Indianapolis; Andrew was killed when eighteen years of age by the accidental discharge of a gun; Hayden lives in Clinton township; Nancy Ann is the wife of William Shonkwiler, of Benton county [sic], Indiana; Susan G. married Harvey McDonald and died when a young woman; William C. died when sixteen years of age; Benjamin F. died in childhood; Lucinda also died in childhood.  It is a fact worth recording that in 1852 William Wood, then township supervisor and working the road on the township line between Monroe and Clinton townships [sic] when ex-county commissioner, Elisha Cowgill passed and suggested that Mr. Wood name the hill or the creek and that he would name the other, giving Mr. Wood his choice, and the latter gave the name of Big Owl to the creek, which it still bears. Mr. Cowgill named the place Bunker hill [sic]. William Wood was a Whig and later a Republican, being well posted on all public affairs, but would not accept office. He was a worthy Methodist, also a worthy member of the Masonic fraternity. He was charitable to the afflicted and needy, a good neighbor and friend. He was widely known and highly respected, his integrity and honor being above reproach. He was noted for his kindness in sickness and went far and near to wait on the afflicted.   ---Posted by Tamara Carney