John Howland Wood (1816 - 1904)

Born 16 Sep 1816 in Dutchess, New York, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Nancy (Clark) Wood — married 1 Feb 1842 in Victoria, Texas, United States

Descendants

Died 16 Jan 1904 at age 87 in Rockport, Aransas, Texas, United States

Biography

John was the second of two sons of Humphrey Wood and Maria DeCantillon. He learned the merchant trade in New York City. "On November 21, 1835, John and other volunteers sailed for Texas. They landed at Velasco about March 1, 1836, having been held by as pirates by the British for fifty days.

Wood served under Col. Edwin Morehouse until the battle of San Jacinto and was then one of the mounted force of Thomas J. Rusk's army that followed Vicente Filisola's retreat and buried James W. Fannin's men. Wood remained in the Texas army after the war and was quarter master at Victoria. Being required to accept livestock and cattle as part pay, he accumulated a herd of his own and embarked in the ranching business, first in Jackson County at the site of present Edna and later in Refugio County. On February 1, 1842, at Victoria, Wood and Nancy Clark were married. In 1845, Wood contracted with the United States Army, then at Corpus Christi, to supply beef. Gen. Zachary Taylor agreed to furnish protection against the Indians if Wood would move his herds to the Nueces River, at that time the western boundary of Refugio County. Wood accordingly moved to the Nueces early in 1846 and fulfilled his contract. In August 1849, he bought a tract at Black Point on Copano Bay and moved his family and cattle there. Wood immediately became a strong political and civic leader. He participated in many Indian fights, including the rescue of Jacob Kring, and expeditions as far as the Rio Grande against Mexican outlaws. He served many terms, beginning in 1852, as member of the commissioners' court. During the Civil War, he was patrol captain, a member of home guard companies, and Major of coast defense. He established a large mercantile store at St. Mary's and owned and operated the St. Mary's wharf. Wood built a magnificent home in Bayside in Refugio County in 1875. In 1983, the house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and became a Texas Historic Landmark in 1998. After the storm of 1886, Wood retired from the mercantile business and turned his entire attention to ranching. He was noted for his philanthropies. He died at Rockport, Texas, on January 16, 1904."^[1]

John married Nancy Clark in Victoria County, Texas 1 Feb 1842.

In 1850 John and Nancy and their children were living in Refugio, Texas. John was age 35 b NY. Nancy was age 30, b. NY. Daughter Sarah Wood was age 7 b Texas. Daughter Catharine Wood was age 6 b Texas. Son Richard Wood was age 4 b Texas. Daughter Agness Wood was age 2 b Texas. Son James Wood was age 1 b Texas. William Clark was age 28 b Texas. Peter Caivan was age 28 b Virginia. John Drumond was age 40 b Virginia.^[2]

In 1860 the following children were added: Tobias Wood age 10 b TX; Cora Wood age 8 b TX; John Wood age 6 b TX; Ida Wood age 3 b TX and Julia Wood age 1 b TX.^[3]

In 1870 Henry Clark age 52 b NY and William Clark age 45 b NY were living with the family in Refugio, Texas.^[4]

In 1880 John was a stock raiser in St. Mary's, Refugio, Texas.^[5]

His great-great grandson was John H. Wood, a federal judge who was assassinated by Charles Harrelson, father of Woody Harrelson.

Sources

1. ↑ Hobart Huson. "WOOD, JOHN HOWLAND," Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fwo09) accessed March 10, 2014. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXLG-ZJY : 23 December 2020), John H Wood, Refugio, Refugio, Texas, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXFP-WC5 : 18 February 2021), John H Woods, 1860.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXGC-ZDL : 2 January 2021), J H Wood, 1870.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFJ4-B44 : 20 February 2021), John H Wood, Saint Marys, Refugio, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district ED 127, sheet 341B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,255,324.

• *https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/53150154/john-howland-wood