My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Putnam County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1888.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Joseph Wood was born March 1, 1821, in Cocke County, Tenn., and is the twelfth child of a family of fourteen born to David and Ruth (Fowler) Wood, natives of Pennsylvania and Cocke County, Tenn., respectively. Almost their entire lives were spent in Cocke County, Tenn. Mr. Wood was a son of Joseph Wood, a native of France, and his wife a native of Wales, and served sometime in the Revolutionary War. Mrs. Ruth Wood was a daughter of Thomas Fowler, a native of Ireland, and also a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He was a member of Gen. Washington’s staff, and heard him deliver his famous address to the army. Mr. Fowler lived to the advanced age of ninety-eight, and Mr. Joseph Wood to the age of ninety-six. The subject of this sketch when fourteen years old, went to the Unaka Mountains, where he herded and handled stock until arriving at his majority. He then immigrated to Linn (now Putnam) County, Mo., riding upon a pony the entire distance from Cocke County, Tenn., to the farm upon which he now resides. He attended school during his boyhood one or two months every winter after he was old enough to do so, until he reached the age of fourteen. His education was then suspended until he became of age, when he again attended school a few months. About that time he began life for himself, with no capital save energy, perseverance and business ability, to which qualities he is greatly indebted for his success in life. He is now one of the most respected and successful farmer citizens of the county, in which he is greatly interested. In the fall of 1846 he married Miss Elizabeth Johnson, a native of Moniteau County, Mo., by whom he has had nine children: Thomas N., two died unnamed, Julia A. (wife of Robert Moore), William J., Julia F. (wife of Elijah Gregory), John L., David R. and Franklin P. Mrs. Wood is a faithful member of the United Brethren Church. Mr. Wood is a Democrat in politics, and has filled several township offices, although he has never sought political honors.

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This family biography is one of 139 biographies included in the Putnam County, Missouri portion of the book,  The History of Adair, Sullivan, Putnam, and Schuyler Counties, Missouri published in 1888 by Goodspeed Publishing Co.  For the complete description, click here: Putnam County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Putnam County, Missouri family biographies here: Putnam County, Missouri Biographies

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