Woods, Samuel M.

Posted By: Jane Barr Torres
Date: 30 April 2002

Source: The History of Darke County, Ohio published by W. H. Beers & Co. in Chicago, 1880.

SAMUEL M. WOODS, retired farmer; Sec. 21; P. O. Versailles. Henry Woods, the father of Samuel M., was born in Virginia in the year 1789; Jane, his wife, was born in Virginia in the year 1790; Mr. Woods emigrated to Hamilton Co., Ohio, in the year 1814, remaining there but three years, after which he moved to Preble Co., only remaining there a short time, moving to Darke Co., Harrison Township, in the year 1825, remained there eight years, after which he came to Wayne Township, where he remained till his death, which occurred on the 3d day of December, 1853; Jane, his wife, departed this life on the 13th day of May, 1841. Samuel M. Woods, the subject of this sketch, was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, on the 9th day of June, 1817; lived with his parents and attended the district school till he was about 12 years old, after which he went with his parents to Darke Co., Wayne Township, on the banks of Stillwater, where he only attended the district school about six months, there being no public schools in reach, and not a sufficient number of pupils in the settlement to support a subscription school, and a hard difficulty to obtain a building suitable for the purpose; but by his own exertions has obtained a fair education. Wayne Township, at this time, being almost an entire wilderness; lived there with his parents, helping to clear and open up a farm till the year 1846, after which he moved northwest of Webster, on the Hubble tract, in the same township, living there for about two years; moving on the Mio farm in the same township, remaining there about three years, and in the fall of 1851, he moved on a tract of land containing 95 acres, which he bought the year previous, where he has continued to reside ever since; there was only about 2 acres cleared, but by his strict temperate habits and hard labor, connected with the help of his good and amiable wife, he now has under a good state of cultivation about 80 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Woods, having passed through the many struggles, dangers and incidents so common to the pioneer of the West, but with an iron will, and unflinching nerve, have gained the victory, and are now reaping the reward of a hard-earned fortune; Mr. Woods has had his full share of township offices, viz. Trustee for a period of about fifteen years; Supervisor, School Director, and served a term of six years as one of the Directors of the County Infirmary; is a firm Democrat. Was united in marriage to Miss Harriet Harrison, on the 10th day of September, 1824, twelve children were the fruits of this union, nine of whom are living, viz.: Lewis, born Oct. 1, 1848; James, Dec. 26, 1849; Julia A., Jan. 10, 1852; Franklin, March 2, 1854; Mary, April 10, 1855; Richard, Feb. 15, 1857; Hannah, Nov. 21, 1858; Martha, Nov. 13, 1860; William, Jan. 12, 1863; Clara, May 4, 1865; Henry J. and Sarah J., deceased.

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