William Faris Woods (1840 - 1905)

Born 7 Jul 1840 in Princeton, Indiana

Ancestors

Husband of Frances Ellen (McDill) Woods — married 5 Dec 1867 in Henderson Co, Illinois

Descendants

Died 28 Nov 1905 at age 65 in Atlantic, Iowa

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Margaret Beaulac [send private message]

Biography

The only story I ever heard about Will was passed down through the family. When recruiters came to Young America, Illinois during the Civil War, Will hid in the family's well to avoid enlistment.

I have a letter written to Will by a friend whose initials were D.A.L. He wrote it from a Union encampment at Camp Rienzi Mississippi on Aug 6, 1862. At that time Will was living in Young America, Illinois.

"William F. Woods is Dead

Wm. F. Woods who has been confined to his bed with an attack of acute anaemia for the past eight months, died at his home on the east side early Tuesday morning.

Mr. Woods was born in Princeton, Ind., July 7, 1840. When a mere boy his parents moved to Warren County, Ill., where he grew to manhood and was married to Miss Fannie McDill. To this union six children were born, all sons, five whom are still living, as follows F.M. of Glennville, Ohio, B.M. of Lead, S. Dak., J.H. of Monmouth, Ill., J.L. of Nebr. City, Nebr., and W.F. of Emerson, Iowa. All were present at the funeral with the exception of the eldest, F.M.

Mr. Woods first came to Cass Co., in 1874, locating in Grant Township, where he resided some three or four years, when he went back to Warren Co., Ill. having lost his wife by death in the meantime.

On March 25, 1880, he was again married to Miss Mary Mundorf and to this union one child, Mrs. H.H. (Ruth) Van living over west of was born.

In 1891 Mr. Woods again returned to Iowa, this time taking his residence near Red Oak, Iowa, where he lived until 1901 when he purchased and moved on a farm some four miles west of Griswold. He sold his farm last spring and moved to Griswold.

Mr. Woods' life has been a very active one. He was a man of good education and spent a part of his younger days teaching school. He was a gentleman of most excellent parts, honest and straightforward in every act and deed, a devoted man to his family, a faithful attendant to religious duties, he being for many years an elder in the Presbyterian church. He goes to the grave mourned by a large circle of devoted and true friends.

The funeral services will be held in the Presbyterian church this city at 2 o'clock this afternoon and tomorrow morning his remains will be taken to Atlantic, Iowa and laid to rest in the Atlantic cemetery.

Taken from the Griswold, Iowa paper May 1905"

Sources

"The Woods Family Tree" published by Clara Woods Williams of Hays, KS, 1963.

• The Faris Family of Washington County, Indiana, author David Faris, published by Gateway Press, Baltimore, 1984.

• WPA Graves Survey[1]

• Find a Grave[2]

Source Citation The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: Tompkins, Warren, Illinois; Roll: M653_234; Page: 412; Family History Library Film: 803234