My Genealogy Hound

HENRY M. WOODS, a resident of Greenwich and prominent in town affairs, was born in Belchertown, Mass., January 19, 1828. His grandfather, John Woods, was a native of New Braintree, where his father, the great-grandfather of Mr. Woods, was a pioneer. John Woods, who was a farmer, was one of the brave patriots of the Revolution. At the first call to arms he left his plough and joined the Continental army, and did not return to his peaceful fields till the war was over. He had the honor of serving under the personal command of General Washington himself. His discharge, signed by General Washington, is still preserved by his grandson. Mr. Woods died on the farm at an advanced age. He was twice married, and reared four sons and several daughters, all of whom have passed away.

Zenas Woods, born in New Braintree, Mass., in 1798, who was the third son of his parents, left home at the age of sixteen to learn the clothier’s trade at North Brookfield, and served an apprenticeship of five years, remaining until he was twenty-one. For the greater part of his life he worked at his trade, but his last years were spent in the cultivation of his farm in Belchertown. He died at the age of seventy-two. His wife, who was a native of East Town (now Bridgewater), born in 1796, had passed away many years before, dying in her fifty-third year. Mr. Woods cast his first vote with the old Whig party, and his last with the Republicans. On religious matters he held liberal views, while his wife was a member of the Congregational church. They had three sons and one adopted daughter, namely: Joseph E., who died at the age of sixty-seven, July 3, 1891; Cyrus F., who is now living in Enfield, retired from active business; Henry M., the subject of this article; and Eliza J., widow of the late Mr. Wilson, of Madison, Wis.

Henry M. Woods grew to manhood in Belchertown, receiving his education in the district schools. He was reared to farm life, but spent some years in the woollen-mills. He worked three years in the mills of Enfield and one year in those of Granby, where he was eventually promoted to the position of overseer. On the death of his mother he returned to the home farm, where he remained until his fifty-fourth year, caring for his father and attending to the general work of the place. During this time he purchased other land, after which he owned in all about one hundred acres in Belchertown and Enfield. In 1882 he sold the home farm and moved to Enfield. Here he resided some four years, and then, in 1886, located in Greenwich on the estate which he now occupies.

April 27, 1848, Mr. Woods was married to Sarah F., daughter of Joel and Eunice Whipple, of Greenwich, where Mrs. Wood was born October 24, 1825. Two sons were born of this union: George E. and Charles M. The former, who was born December 26, 1853, is a resident of Guilford, Vt., and has a family of three children: Mattie A., Sadie J., and George N. Charles M. Woods, who was born January 6, 1855, died at the age of twenty-seven.

In political matters Mr. Woods favors the Republican party. Since taking up his residence in Greenwich he has given most of his time to public affairs, attending closely to the duties of his office as Selectman and as Overseer of the Poor, positions which he has held for many years. He is also a member of the Cemetery Commission. Mr. Woods was for over forty years a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which his wife still belongs; but he is now connected with the Congregational Society.