Friday, January 25, 2013

A Little History About Jerred T. Strong

I have faint recollections of Jerred T. Strong.   He died in 1949 and I was born in 1944, so I remember him only as a very kindly, old, man with a white mustache.   He was the fourth husband of my maternal great grandmother, Lucy Mae (Lemon) McCauley-Banta-Strong.

Several people have asked about his family history, and I'll share what I know.

He was born in February 1866 into a farm family living in Meriden Township, McPherson County, Kansas.   The 1870 Kansas Census shows that the family was living in Red Vermilion Township, Nemaha County, Kansas and that John's father was a farmer.

Parents and siblings of Jerred T. Strong:
Father:   John D. Strong - age 29 - Born in Ohio
Mother:  Charilla Julia (Midkelf) Strong - age 29 - Born in Ohio
Step-Daughter - Francina Kirkpatrick - (a child of Charilla's first marriage)
Son:  Jerrod T. - age 11 - Born Kansas
Son:  William - age 6 - born Kansas
Daughter:   Kate - age 2 - born Kansas
Daughter:  Eva - age 3/12

Through genealogical research, I learned that Jerred's grandparents, the parents of John D. Strong were living in Knox County, Illinois when the 1850 US Census was taken.  

Grandparents and aunts and uncles of Jerrod T. Strong:
Head of Family:  Jared Strong - age 37 - born Ohio - Occupation: Farmer
Wife:  Jane Strong - age 38 - born Ohio
Daughter:  Elizabeth
Daughter:  Nancy
Daughter:  Ann
Son:  John
Son:  Henry
Daughter:   Emma
Daughter:   Samantha

Jerrod T. Strong's first wife was Effie Harriet Randel.   They are shown on the 1900 US Census as follows:

First Wife and children of Jerred T. Strong:
Head of Family:  Jerred T. Strong - 34 - born February 1866 - Kansas.
Wife:   Effie H. Strong - age 27 - born January 1873 - Kansas
Daughter:  Odessa Maude Strong - born January 1891 - Kansas
Daughter:  Jessie Strong - born August 1893 - Kansas
Daughter:  Hazel Strong - born January 1898 - Kansas

Effie H. Randel was born January 26, 1873 and died at Hoyt, Jackson County, Kansas on November 28, 1934.   She and Jerred T. Strong are buried side by side in the Hoyt Cemetery, Hoyt, Jackson County, Kansas.

Census records show that Jerred and Effie farmed in Nemaha County, Kansas until about 1925 when they moved to Hoyt, Kansas.    Jerred is shown as a poultry producer on the 1930 Census.

I haven't found a marriage date for Lucy Mae (Lemon) McCauley-Banta-Strong.   I believe that Lucy and Jerred (who our family called J.T.) were married about ten years.   Jerred died in 1947, so that would mean they were married din about 1937 or 1938.    I don't ever remember hearing an unkind word about J. T. Strong.   With the exception of Joan (Corbin) Andrews-Frazier, all of those who could say more are now deceased.

 
This photograph of Jerred T. Strong was taken in 1944, because I was born in 1944 and I am the baby being held by my mother, Lucille (Corbin) Clark.   L-R in the photograph are:  Vivian Mae (Corbin) Wild, Lucy Mae (Lemon) McCauley-Banta-Strong, Lucille (Corbin) Clark holding Nicholas L. Clark, Jerred T. Strong, Sarah Emma (Corbin) Justice, Margaret (Lemon) Miller, Joan (Corbin) Andrews-Frazier, and Mildred Mae (McCauley) Corbin-Clark.
 
I hope this is helpful.    Happy Trails!!
 
 

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Third Child of Robert and Mildred Mae (McCauley) Corbin: Joan (Corbin) Andrews Frazier

Joan (Corbin) Andrews-Frazier was born on January 15, 1925 at Maple Hill, Wabaunsee County, Kansas and is the only surviving child of Robert and Mildred Mae (McCauley) Corbin.   Joan's paternal grandparents were George Washington and Sarah Ann "Sadie" (Todd) Corbin and her maternal grandparents were Samuel and Lucy Mae (Lemon) McCauley-Banta-Strong.  Aunt Joan just celebrated her 88th birthday.   She lives in a retirement complex in Topeka, Kansas and is thankfully in wonderful health.

 
Joan (Corbin) Andrews-Frazier's 88th Birthday Photograph
January 15, 2013

Joan lived with the family for a short time in Eskridge, Kansas but spent the majority of her youth in Maple Hill, Kansas.   She attended Maple Hill Grade School and moved with her family to Topeka, Kansas where they lived for a short period of time allowing Joan to graduation from Topeka High School.


This may well be the first photograph of Joan Andrews.   The picture was taken in front of the Frank and Amy Penrice home in Eskridge, Kansas.   L-R are:  Fred Banta, second husband of Lucy Mae (Lemon) Mccauley, holding Joan Corbin, Mildred Corbin, Lucille Corbin, George Corbin and Lucy Mae (Lemon) McCauley-Banta-Strong.   The Corbins rented a farm east of Eskridge, near present day Lake Wabaunsee.   While in Eskridge, the Penrice family were their good friends.



This is a 1944 photograph of the Corbin Sisters.   Left to Right are Vivian, Lucille, Joan and Sarah.   The photo was taken on the south side of the stone house owned by the Franklin Adams Estate, three miles east of Maple Hill, Kansas.   Their father, Robert Corbin, was employed by the Adams Estate as a tenant farmer.  This photo was taken shortly after Lucille (Corbin) Clark gave birth to Nicholas L. Clark on November 16, 1944.

Joan was a member of Maple Hill Community Congregational Church in Maple Hill, Kansas and was active in the community.  She took a few piano lessons but mainly taught herself to play the piano very well.   As a child, I remember many wonderful Sunday afternoons spent in the home of my grandparents, Robert and Mildred (McCauley) Corbin, with Aunt Joan at the piano and all of my aunts, uncles and cousins gathered around singing.   The Corbins and their extended families were definitely music lovers and enjoyed these song fests.

The Topeka High School graduation photograph of Joan Corbin

Joan Corbin was married to Richard George Andrews at the Maple Hill Community Congregational Church on April 20, 1946.   Rick Andrews was born March 28, 1924 at Oak Hill, Connecticut.   He served in the United States Army in World War II, and was a member of the Alamo Scouts, a forerunner of today's special forces.  The unit worked behind enemy lines in the South Pacific.   After the war ended he and Aunt Joan were married and traveled to Connecticut where they lived for several years.  Uncle Rick enjoyed motorcycles and they rode from Kansas to Connecticut for pleasure.

In 1951, the Andrews returned to Kansas where Rick Andrews became employed at the Veteran's Hospital in Topeka, Kansas.   The hospital grew in size as veterans needing care returned from World War II.   There was also a unit that cared for older veterans of World War I.  He remained with the Veteran's Hospital his entire career.  Rick and Joan Andrews lived 2509 High Street in Topeka for several years and later purchased the frame home of Frank and Flossie Mackie and moved to Maple Hill, Kansas.



My Aunt Joan was always a "fun" person as this photo would indicate.   She has always had a sweet laugh and uses it often.  Aunt Joan is now 88, but still loves to have a good time, is in good health, loves to travel with her family, and generally enjoyes life.

This is a photograph taken in 1937 or 1938 on the south side of the Robert Corbin house in Maple Hill, Kansas.  L-R are Mildred Mae (McCauley) Corbin, Lucy Mae (Lemon) Banta-Strong, Charles M. Mitchell with Vivian Corbin in front of him, Bonnie (Thomas) Mitchell with Sarah Emma Corbin in front, Jerod T. Strong, and William Alexander Mitchell in back with mustache.   We're not sure who the little girl is in front of "Uncle Billie" Mitchell.  It could be his granddaughter, Marilyn Kelling, daughter of Pete and Virginia (Mitchell) Kelling.   Mildred Corbin and Charles Mitchell were Lemon first cousins.   Lucy Mae (Lemon) McCauley and Mary Jane (Lemon) Mitchell, wife of William Alexander Mitchell, were sisters.

Joan (Corbin) and Richard G. Andrews were the parents of three children:  Bruce Charles Andrews born April 12, 1954, Christine Mae Andrews born August 11, 1957 and Coleen Ann Andrews born February 5, 1959.    The Andrews children attended Maple Hill Grade School and graduated from and Royal Valley High School in Jackson County, Kansas.

This union ended in divorce.   Richard Andrews died March 7, 2003 at Topeka, Kansas.

Joan was married a second time on June 8, 1968 to Robert Lyle Frazier, son of Roy E. and Nellie (Crouse) Frazier.  The wedding occurred at the Maple Hill Community Congregational Church, Maple Hill, Kansas.  Mr. Frazier was born April 18, 1926 and operated his family farm for many years.  He worked for the Supply Depot in Topeka, Kansas for 10 years and later worked for the State of Kansas.   He served in the U. S. Army in Germany.

Bob Frazier helped raise Joan's three children who thought of him as a father.  He was a very hard worker, and spent many happy hours tending his family's farm and cattle.   He was a good husband, attentive to his wife and family.   I knew Uncle Bob from 1967 until his death on February 6, 2002.   Although his later years were clouded with emphasema, he had a good disposition, was always ready to help anyone he could, and seldom uttered a disparaging word.    He and Aunt Joan were members of the Mayetta United Methodist Church, where Bob held offices and Aunt Joan served as pianist.   Uncle Bob was a member of Masonic Lodge #282, AF&AM at Mayetta, Kansas and he and Aunt Joan were both active in the Order of the Eastern Star there.

I was blessed with wonderful aunts and uncles.   I spent a lot of time with Aunt Joan's family.   Aunt Joan was musical and so was I.   She always found time to accompany me for a special programs or to help me with my piano lesson.   She was always there for any of us when we needed her.

Joan (Corbin) Andrews-Frazier's oldest child is Bruce Charles Andrews, born April 12, 1954.   I'm awaiting information about his family.

Joan (Corbin) Andrews-Frazier's second child is Christine Mae Andrews, born August 11, 1957.    Chris attended Maple Hill Grade School and Royal Valley High School.  Chris was married to Lee Allen Tuck on July 24, 1976 at St. Marys Immaculate Conception Church in Valley Falls, Kansas.  Lee is the son of Lester E. and Annella Marie (Fiegener) Tuck, both deceased.

Lee Tuck founded his own concrete construction company and has been very successful, often employing his children and their spouses as well as others.  Lee's concrete construction company's name is ATM Concrete. The "A" stands for Ann, in reference to Lee's mother. The "T" is for Tuck, and the "M" is for Men. Or, some would say, All Tuck Men, who knows!! The choice for the name was really trying to come up with something that started with an "A", as that would be the first letter of the alphabet and for advertising purposes would be the first name you might see. Lee, Kristopher and Adam, all work together and have created a very successful company which has a great reputation for honesty and quality work. They have been in business for 20 years now, and do all types of residential concrete (basements, sidewalks, patios, etc), as well as commercial jobs. They are also doing some work with "stamp-crete" and other decorative concrete, which seems to be popular now.  

The first picture is Lee and Kristopher, working together on the concrete around the pool we put in last summer.  












Adam Tuck finishing concrete.
 



This is "stamped" concrete work done by ATM Concrete.













Chris (Andrews) Tuck has been in the nursing field all of her career.  She has worked and studied hard and has attained many honors.    Here is her academic history:
1979 - Kaw Valley Technical School - Licensed Practical Nursing Certification
1982 - Stormont Vail School of Nursing - Nursing Certification
1993 - Washburn University - School Nurse Certification
1999 - Graceland College - BA in Science of Nursing
2003 - California College of Health Sciences - Masters of Science in Service
            Administration with emphasis in Community Health

From 1191 to the present, Chris has been the Director of Health Services and School Nurse for Seaman School District #345 in Topeka, Kansas.

Just a few of Christine's professional services are:
1988 - Kansas School Nursing Organiation
1990 - National Association of School Nurses
2006 - Kansas School Nurse of the Year
2008-2010 - President Kansas School Nurses Organization
2010-2014 - Kansas Representative to the National Association of School Nurses
2012 - Appointed to serve on the National Executive Board of the National
           Association of School Nurses.

When Chris Tuck is credited in presentations or books her certiciation is listed as:  Christine Tuck, MS, RN, BSN, NCSN.  Chris says that she has achieved National Certification in School Nursing, which she claims is likely her proudest attainment.

Chris has authored many phamplets and books, has been appointed to local, state and national committees and boards by the Kansas Governor and others, and has received the accalaides of her associates and colleagues.

In the midst of working full-time and going to school for many years, Chris and Lee are also the parents of four children:
Kristopher Lee Tuck - July 19, 1978, Wamego, Pottawatomi, Kansas
Alicia Dawn Tuck - April 29, 1980, Wamego, Pottawatomi, Kansas
Mollee Coleen Tuck - October 8, 1983, Wamego, Pottawatomi, Kansas
Adam James Tuck - December 30, 1984, Topeka, Shawnee, Kansas.

The Tucks raised their family in a burmed house built by Lee Tuck on his parent's farm in rural Jackson County, Kansas.

In addition to her professional life, Chris (Andrews) Tuck also enjoys running.  Here is what she wrote about how it all started.   "I started running at age 30, and ran with some of my pediatric nursing colleagues during our lunch hour or after work. I typically ran 4 to 5 times a week, and depending upon the time of year, run 12 to 30 miles a week. I have ran three marathons ( San Antonio, TX 2004; Chicago, IL 2007; Marine Corps Marathon in Washington DC, 2011)."

"I recently ran a Half Marathon, in Des Moines, IA in Oct of this year, with my niece and nephew, Cameron and Kaney Tyler. I have also run 5K’s and am now working on the next generation of my family to run!"
 
This photo was taken after Chris Tuck ran the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC.   Front row L-R:  Jaxon Padilla, Emmy Goldberg.  Back Row L-R:  Mollee (Tuck) McKinley, Joan (Corbin) Andrews-Frazier, Christine (Andrews) Tuck, Aysia Padilla, and Alicia Padilla.

A photo taken at the 2011 Fall Into Fitness Run at Seaman High School, Topeka.  L-R are:  Chris (Andrews) Tuck, Aysia and Alicia Padilla.

  In the front row of this photo L-R are:  Olivia and Maecy Tuck.  In the back row L-R are Jill Tuck and Chris Tuck.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I
In this photo, L-R are: Christine (Andrews) Tuck, Cameron Tyler and Kaney Tyler. Cameron and Kaney are Chris' nephew and niece and the children of Coleen (Andrews) and Jim Tyler.
 
 
 
 This is a photo of the Christine (Andrews) and Lee A. Tuck Family taken at the August 2012 Corbin Family Reunion at Gage Park, Topeka, Kansas.   In parinthesis behind each child's name, is their parent's name.  L-R in the front row are: Maecy Tuck (Kristopher), Max Tuck (Kristopher), Jaxon Padilla (Alicia), Aidan Tuck (Adam), Olivia Tuck (Kristopher), Emmy Goldberg (Mollee), Averi Tuck (Adam), Halle Tuck (Kristopher), Aysai Padilla (Alicia), Rylee McKinley (Mollee.)
Second row, L-R are:  Kristopher and Jill Tuck, Alicia and Christopher Padilla, Jen Tuck with Anella and Adam Tuck, Mollee McKinley with boyfriend Jeff Wilkerson and his son Tucker.
Back row L-R:   Lee A. Tuck, Christine (Andrews) Tuck and Joan (Corbin) Andrews-Frazier.

 
 
This photo was taken on Christmas 2012 and is a photo of the children, grandchildren and great granchildren of Joan (Corbin) Andrews-Frazier.   There are three missing from this photo, Lindsey Andrews, Kelsey Andrew's son Taegan, and the wife of Scott Andrews, Jamie Andrews.
L-R on floor in front are:  Emmy Goldberg (Mollee), and Macey Tuck (Kristopher.)
Second Row L-R are:  Aysia (Alicia), Rylee (Mollee), Olivia (Kristopher), Max (Kristopher), Aidan (Adam), Jaxon (Alicia), Hallee (Kristopher), Averi (Adam), Kelsey (Bruce's youngest daughter.)
Third Row L-R are: Adam, Jen with Anella Tuck, Jill Tuck, Coleen Tyler, Joan (Corbin) Andrews-Frazier, Christine (Andrews) Tuck, Laurie (Pierce) Andrews with grandson Parker (Scott) Andrews.
Fourth Row L-R:  Kristopher Tuck, Alicia (Tuck) Padilla, Mollee (Tuck) Padilla, Kaney Tyler (Coleen), Lee A. Tuck, Bruce Andrews with grandson Ryder (Scott) Andrews and Jim Tyler.
Back Row L-R:  Christoper Padilla, Jeff Wilkerson (Mollee's boyfriend) with his son Tucker, Cameron (Coleen) Tyler and Scott (Bruce) Andrews.

Coleen Ann Andrews, youngest child of Joan (Corbin) and Richard G. Andrews, was born on February 5, 1959 at First United Methodist Church, Holton, Jackson County, Kansas.   Coleen attended grade school at Maple Hill, Kansas and later at Hoyt, Kansas.   She graduated from Royal Valley High School, Jackson County, Kansas.

Coleen was married to  James Alan "Jim" Tyler.   Jim Tyler was born on June 9, 1957 at Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois to Paul Durad and Patricia Ann (Craft) Tyler.  Jim and Coleen were married on October 20, 1979 at Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas.    Jiim and Coleen have lived in Topeka, Kansas and Lawrence, Kansas all their married lives.

Jim has worked at Westar Energy for 33 years. He is the Director, Distribution Services. Coleen just celebrated her 32nd anniversary at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas and she is the Director of Underwriting and Contract Administration.

Jim and Coleen (Andrews) Tyler are the parents of two children:  Cameron Joseph Tyler and Kaney Nicole Tyler.  Cameron was born on April 15, 1983 and Kaney was born on May 8, 1985.
Cameron just began his seventh year in the U.S. Army. He is a Combat Medic, 82nd Airborne Division, Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. He will turn 30 in April.
 
Kaney is the head women's soccer coach at Washburn University of Topeka. She will have her Masters in Sports Administration in May 2013 from Southern New Hampshire University which, ironically enough, recruited her to play soccer after high school. Instead, Kaney played soccer at and graduated from Missouri Southern University, Joplin, Mo. She will be 27 in May.
 
Jim and Coleen (Andrews) Tyler now live in rural Lawrence, Kansas.


 








(Note:   This is a work in progress.   There will be more information to come about Joan (Corbin) Andrews-Frazier's second marriage and her children and their families.)




Children and Great Grandchildren of George and Freda (Kitt) Corbin

I'm pleased to provide a little history about the children and grandchildren of George and Freda Corbin.   George is the son of Robert Corbin and Mildred Mae (McCauley) Corbin, and the grandson of George Washington Corbin and his wife Sarah Ann "Sadie" (Todd) Corbin.   Freda is the daughter of Frederick Solomon Kitt and Mary Emeline (Clark) Kitt.


This photograph was taken at the 60th Wedding Celebration for George Samuel and Freda (Kitt) Corbin.  Pictured are Jennie Justice, Freda Arlene (Kitt) Corbin, George Samuel Corbin, Leslie Forest Justice, Lucille (Corbin) Clark and Joan (Corbin) Andrews-Frazier.   The photo was taken on May 29, 2007.

George and Freda were both raised in Wabaunsee County, Kansas primarily in the community of Maple Hill.   After their marriage in 1947, they moved to Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas where they spent their entire lives.   George was employed by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company for more than 30 years and Freda was a devoted mother and was employed by Macy's Stores after the children were older.


This photograph was taken at the 60th Wedding Anniversary celebration for George Samuel Corbin and his wife Freda Arlene (Kitt) Corbin.   They are at the center of the photograph and they are surrounded by their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

To their union, three children were born:   Sheila Kay Corbin, Robert Frederick Corbin and Ronald George Corbin.   All three attended Seaman High School on Northwest Rochester Road, Topeka, Kansas.

Sheila Kay Corbin was married to Laro Loddie Hill.    They are the parents of two daughters: Michelle Dawn Hill and Marcie Danae Hill.

This is a photo of Sheila Kay and Laro Hill with their grandchildren on the occasion of their 45th Wedding Anniversary.   Left to Right are:  Madeline Kay Schriener, Mariah Morgan Miller, Sheila Kay (Corbin) Hill, Elise Ann Schreiner and Laro Hill.


This is a photo of the grandchildren of Shiela and Laro Hill taken at Christmas 2012:   L-R are Samuel Earl Miller, Elise Ann Schreiner, Madeline Kay Schreiner and Mariah Morgan Miller.











Michelle married Todd Michael Schreiner and they have two daughters:  Madeline Kay Schreiner and Elise Ann Schreiner.

Marcie Danae Hill married Thomas Earl Miller and they have two children:   Mariah Morgan Miller and Samuel Thomas Miller.

Robert Frederick Corbin Sandra Root and they have three children:  Allison Arlene Corbin, Robyn LeeAnn Corbin and Collin Robert Corbin.

Allison Arlene Corbin married Brandon Troy Nelson.   Their children are:  Sierra Allison Nelson, Savannah Robyn Nelson, Corbin Brandon Nelson.   Brandon's daughter from a previous marriage is Aspen Malease Nelson.

Robyn LeeAnn Corbin married Brian Keith Devlin.  Their children are:   Gate Robert Devlin and Chloe BriAnn Devlin.

Collin Robert Corbin married Sara Beth Ropski and they have two children:  Ashlyn Amora Corbin and Hayden Albert Corbin.

Ronald George Corbin married Sandra Mentzer and they have no children.   Sandra Mentzer has two children from a previous marriage:  Laurie North Alejos and Rodney North.

Laurie North Alejos has four children:   Alyssa, Chas, Trey, and Alex Alejos.

Rodney North has two children, twin boys:  Tyler and Taylor North.


This photograph was taken at the Corbin Family Reunion held at Gage Park, Topeka, Kansas in August 2012.   Standing back row left to right are:  Robby Corbin, Sandi Corbin, Collin Corbin, Sara Corbin, Brian Devlin, Robyn Devlin, Allison Nelson, and Brandon Nelson.  Front row left to right are:  Gate Devlin, holding Corbin Nelson, Savannah Nelson, Ashlyn Corbin, Freda (Kitt) Corbin holding Hayden Corbin, Chloe Devlin, and Sierra Nelson.  This photograph was taken by Jim Tyler.

George Corbin passed away April 4, 2008.   His widow, Freda (Kitt) Corbin continues to live in their home in Topeka.   All of the Corbin's children and grandchildren make their homes in or near Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Our Woody Family Connection with Georgia

I had an email from a distant cousin asking how the Clark/Woody Family is connected to the Woody Family in Northern Georgia.   I'm going to reprint a short history I wrote for the Woody Family Reunion in June 1996.  My Great Grandfather, John "Johnnie" Clark married Mary Eliza Woody, the daughter of Peter Littleton and Eliza (Stover) Woody.

Our Woody Connections by Nicholas L. Clark

"It had been a long drive from Muncie, Indiana to Dahlonega, Georgia in March 1988.   My wife Verona, and our children Nicholas and Amy, were on our way to visit Walt Disney World in Florida over Spring Break.  The weather was superb and got better as we headed south.  The sun warmed the temperatures well into the 70s, as we traveled along in our Chevy Caprice Wagon.   The children were very eager to get to Disney World and knew that they were in for another "family roots" delay when I announced that we were going to take a little side trip to discover some of our Woody family history.
An 1895 Map of Georgia showing Lumpkin and Union Counties in the north central portion of the state.


All my life, I had heard about the Woody family from my Grandmother, Mabel Clark; from my cousin, Mabel Woody, and from a very distant cousin and Woody family genealogist, Thelma (Mrs. Olaf) Nelson.   It was really Thelma, who was the expert.   She had traced the family heritage from Kansas to Missouri, and on to Georgia.  The early roots of the family were in North Carolina and England.    She had documented Woody family participation in the American Revolution, the Civil War and other events of consequence.   She was a dear lady whom my Grandmother Clark loved and respected.   My family visited Thelma and her husband Olaf Nelson, when they lived in Tacoma Washington.   The year was 1978 and, even though advanced in age and with considerable physical handicaps, we found them to be warm, wonderful, welcoming and full of interest in their distant cousins.  


I loved my Great Great Grandfather's Woody's (Peter Littleton Woody) beautiful stone house in Snokomo, Newberry Township, Wabaunsee County, Kansas.   It was already 100 years old when I first became interested in family history.   It was occupied by dear cousin Mabel Woody, who was short, slender, pert, hard-working and loved to share stories about her life.   Her mother, Minnie Wilson, had lived past 100 and had instilled a love of family and history which Mable gladly shared.  My Grandmother Clark and I would often drive to the old Woody home on Sunday afternoon and spend the afternoon visiting with Mable and Minnie.  



The Peter Littleton Woody Home, Snokomo, Newberry Township, Wabaunsee County, Kansas.  This photo was taken about 1880, ten years after the Woody's moved to Kansas from Platte County, Missouri.   Unfortunately, not all those photographed are known, but Peter L. Woody is standing between the two white horses.  This is the south side of the house.  Note the double veranda.  There was an identical double veranda on the north.  The underground root cellar was just behind the man and black horse on the left.

One time in the late 1960s, Thelma Nelson was visiting Cousin Mabel Woody so Grandmother Clark and I drove over and spent the afternoon.  Mable would always take us up to the head of the stairs where hung the portraits and marriage license of Peter Littleton Woody and Elisa Stover Woody, who built the stone house.  Mable said that Peter Littleton Woody had been raised in northern Georgia, but he was not a Southern sympathizer as had been other members of his family.  She said that he had first joined the Confederate Army, but that he had deserted and joined the Northern Army because he didn't like the way the blacks were treated and didn't believe in slavery.   This interested Thelma and myself, and Thelma began corresponding with the National Archives to retrieve Peter Woody's military records.   She found Mabel's oral history to be accurate.

Mabel didn't remember too much about Peter's Civil War history.   But Thelma eventually discovered a great deal more.  It seems that one of Peter Woody's brothers, John Woody, was absolutely committed to the Southern Cause, so much so, that he headed the Home Guard, which was evidently a unit meant to harass the families of men who joined the northern army or deserted from the Confederate Army.   John Threatened to kill Peter if he returned to Dahlonega after the war.




















Peter Littleton Woody and his wife, Eliza Stover Woody.



When I visited Dahlonega in 1995, I talked with local historians there and at Blairsville, just to the north in Union County, Georgia.   Both related to me that the area had been very much divided between Northern and Southern sympathizers.  Since it was a mountainous area and not dedicated to raising cotton, the slavery issue was not as heated in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.   They also said that all of Northwest Georgia had been Cherokee Indian Territory and that the Cherokee were very much against slavery.  The historians said that there had been many, many families split over the slavery issue and that they felt the majority of the people in Lumpkin and Union Counties had been in favor of maintaining the Union.

At any rate, Peter Woody must have felt he couldn't remain in Georgia, because he moved his family far from this beloved Georgia woods, to Platte County, Missouri in 1867.   There was a terrible flood on the Platte River in 1868, which ruined all the work that Peter and Eliza Woody had done in improving their Missouri farm.  Realizing the risk of remaining in the Platte River Valley, he moved his family about 100 miles west, to Wabaunsee County, Kansas.   He was in search of land that would not flood.   The year was 1868 and the vast Potawatomi Indian Reservation of over 3,000,000 acres had just been opened to settlement.   He decided to farm in the highlands, overlooking the spectacular Mill Creek Valley.   In 1870, he purchased 16y0 acres in the community named for Potawatomi Chief Snokomo.   Cousin Mabel said that the old Chief was still living in the area when the Woodies moved there and that Peter Woody allowed him to be buried on his farm. 

Peter Woody, like many other farmers in Wabaunsee County, built his two-story home of native limestone which was available from the surrounding hills.  It was hard work to quarry the stone, but it was cheap and there were many stone masons in the area.  The home was in a "T" formation.  The house had three large rooms on the first floor and three on the second.   On each side of the upstairs bedrooms, were two beautiful long sleeping porches, a most unusual feature for Kansas but quite common in Georgia.

There was one large kitchen on the west side of the house.   Mabel showed us that if you went through a door in the northwest corner of the house, you went into a large underground root cellar.  This was used for many purposes.  Primarily it was used as a root cellar to store harvested potatoes and other root vegetables as well as canned and preserved foods.   Secondarily it had been used for a "storm cellar" because tornadoes blew stone into the home and killed it's occupants.   Thirdly, it had been used as a little "fort" in case there had been Indian troubles.  There were still several Indian families living along Mill Creek at that time and the Kaw Indian Reservation wasn't too far to the south so they felt protection was necessary.

Mabel told us a story about the kidnapping of one of Peter and Eliza Woody's children.   She said that soon after the house was built, a large number of Indian men came up the lane.   The family hadn't seen them at first and before they knew they were present, an Indian leaned down from his horse and swooped one of the playing children onto the horse and they all galloped away but remained in sight.  Peter approached them and they asked him what he had to trade for the child.   He told them that he had a barrel of sugar and they were willing to trade.   He wheeled out the barrel of sugar and the Indians gave the child back, breaking the top of the barrel and carrying away the sugar in buffalo skin bags.   After that, the Indians came back many times.  They didn't threaten the family or take any captives, but they would camp in the yard and Eliza would send food out while they smoked their pipes and visited.

The interior styling of the house was completely foreign to Wabaunsee County.   Most houses were plastered inside, but the interior walls of the Woody home were completely paned with beaded board.   This is a  horizontal board hat is about 3/4" thick and 4" wife.   Down the center of the board, there is a "V" groove.   Each board is tongue and grooved so that they fit tightly together.   Wood doesn't hold heat very well but plaster does.   Therefore, this style was employed in much of the South were the Woodys were raised.  

Even 100 years after the house was built, the skill of Eliza Woody was evident in the living room and all of the bedrooms, which were carpeted with her beautiful handmade rugs.  Mabel told us that there was straw underneath the rugs and that every spring, they were taken up and put over the banisters of the two big upstairs porches and beat to get the dust and dirt out.   Clean straw would be put down and the rugs laid and tacked.  These were braided rugs.   Wool strips were cut and then braided together.   The braids were then sewn together to make the desired size carpet.

Not far from the Woody House, was the Snokomo School House, also built of stone.  Records show that Peter Woody paid $700.00 to have the school built so his children and other neighboring children would have a place to go to school.   This beautiful old building was restored as a country school by the Snokomo Silent Workers Club and I was privileged to be the speaker for the rededication ceremonies in 1973.  The Wabaunsee County Historical Society placed an historical marker at the school.

This is a photo of the Snokomo School House, built not far from the Woody residence at a cost of $700.00, paid mostly by Peter L. Woody.   This photograph was taken in 1934 and shows Pauline Shipp, teacher, standing in front.   My great grandmother, Eliza Woody Clark, my grandfather, James Peter Clark, and my mother, Lucille Corbin Clark all attended school here.

Returning to narrative about our family's trip to Georgia, I was reluctant to try and contact my relatives still living in Georgia on count of the controversy between my great great grandfather's desertion and consequent removal from Georgia.  I didn't know what kind of unpleasantness might be harbored by them.   There are always two sides to every story and I didn't know what Peter might have done when he left Georgia.   However, I knew that Thelma Nelson had visited there and had been very well received and had remarked about how wonderful all the Woody Cousins were to her, so I soon overcame my fears and left the Interstate at Dalton, Georgia and headed east on Georgia Highway 76.

The children soon forgot any unpleasantness they may have felt in giving up a day to explore family history, after all, it surely wasn't the first time they had tolerated their father's family history craziness!   The drive into the Blue Ridge Mountains was simply spectacular and they were soon absorbed in the scenery and watching for various animals.  We continued on Highway 76 to East Elijay, and there took Highway 52 to Dahlonega, the county seat of Lumpkin County, Georgia.  The weather continued to be exceptionally warm and beautiful.

The Dahlonega region was homeland to many bands of Cherokee Indians.   The Cherokee are closely related to the Iroquois Indians of the Great Lakes Region and have lived in North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama and the Southeast for many hundreds of years.   There is a photograph of my great, great, great grandmother, Percilla Treadway Woody in the archives of the Georgia State Historical Society in Atlanta.  On the back of the photograph is written, "Percilla Woody - full blooded Cherokee." Suches, Georgia, just to the north of Dahlonega, is named for the Cherokee Chief, Suches.   It was one of the main areas where General Winfield Scott gathered the Cherokee at gun point and began their march 1500 miles west to Indian Territory, now Oklahoma.  The tragic trek, when 4000 Cherokee lost their lives, is now known as The Trail of Tears.

A photo of Percilla Treadway Woody, now in the Georgia Historical Society archives.  On the back it says, "Percilla Woody full blood Cherokee."   Percilla is wearing a typical Cherokee beaded collar.  The photo was made between 1860 and 1870.  Percila was the mother of Peter Littleton Woody.

Dahlonega is today very much a tourist town and summering location for wealthy residents of Atlanta and other urban areas.  Thank heavens one of our Woody descendants, W. Arthur "The Ranger" Woody, was the first National Forest Ranger appointed in Georgia (1918) and was responsible for the United States purchasing millions and millions of acres of verdant, timber-covered mountains which is today, the Chattahoochee National Forest.  He is said to have seen the last wild deer slaughtered in his region, and vowed to not only bring back the deer population, but preserve vast tracts of mountain land for future generations.   He went to North Carolina, brought deer back with his own funds, and attracted the attention of the government when it began to develop the Chattahoochee Forest.   He remained a ranger until his death in 1944 and was one of the most respected men in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Dahlonega was full of tourists on the beautiful March day in 1988 and we ambled into the local Chamber of Commerce office, near the old courthouse, and asked about the Woody Family.

"Oh my goodness," said the elderly grey haired lady at the desk.   "The Woodys are one of our most prominent families and are very highly respected."   She continued to tell me about her knowledge of the family and then picked up the phone and dialed without us asking her to do so.

"Hello Miss Oline?   There's some nice kin folk of yours here and they'd sure like to talk with you."   She handed me the phone, ready or not, and the next thing I knew I was talking with Oline WOody, widow of "Ranger" Woody's son, Clyne E. Woody.

We chatted a monument, and then she said, "Thelma Nelson said you'd be coming down for a visit one of these days."   I had never mentioned that to Thelma, but Thelma was certainly aware of my love for family and history and must have surmised the same.  "Now you folks come right on out to the house.   I want to take a look at you!"   With that, Ms. Woody gave us directions and we were on our way.

We headed north out of Dahlonega on Highway 19, towards Blairsville.   Then we turned to the northwest on Highway 60, as if going to Suches.    Before we arrived at Suches, we traveled a narrow, black-topped road up, down and around the most rugged and picturesque of areas.   At last, we topped a splendid mountain when my son Nicholas suddenly said, "Dad, look!"   There's a sign that says Woody!"   Sure enough.   Just ahead, was a beautiful National Forest Service marker denoting that we had arrived at Woody Gap, in the Chattahoochee National Forest.

We stopped, unloaded and drank in the grandeur of our surroundings.  For as far as the eye could see, there was beauty of every description.   Purple hued mountains with red, pink and gray granite formations.   Sturdy pine forests and bubbling streams.   Overhead, a huge hawk called its welcome.   Little chipmunks wandered over to sample crackers from the children.   A rush of emotion filled me, as if all my ancestors had gathered to say, "You're home!"  We were humbled and proud to know that we were in a very special place that honored more than 150 years of our family's heritage.

Not wanting to leave, but realizing our limited time, we left Woody's Gap, but vowed to return as soon as we could.  We climbed back into our station wagon and headed north on Highway 60.   We soon  came to Ms. Clyne Woody's nice, brick, ranch home nestled at the bottom of Woody Gap.  Just beside the house, was one of the bluest lakes in Georgia.   She was already at the front door, waiting to greet us and it was all we could do to get the children to come inside long enough to be introduced.   They were ready to "run a little" and explore.   So they went outside and we visited with Ms. Woody for about an hour.   She then said, "There's another cousin you've got to meet, Mabelle Woody Gooch."   I had heard Thelma speak of her and was pleased to have the opportunity.

Ms. Woody phoned and made certain that they were home before giving us directions and sending us on our way.   Although Oline didn't say so, I had the feeling that she was not well.    I visited Dahlonega again in October 1995 and her name was not in the phone book.   I'm assuming that she had passed on.     We will never forget her hospitality and that beautiful home by the blue lake.



Mabelle was a frail little lady, whose eyes twinkled and who radiated a warm feeling of welcome   She was living with her children and grandchildren who had owned a fine cattle operation.  We visited for a long while and the children explored yet another inviting forested parcel of land.   It was nearing supper time and we didn't want to impose so we took our leave.   I asked Ms. Gooch for directions to the old Woody Family Cemetery, which Thelma Nelson had told me was nearby.   Thelma had spoken so lovingly of the cemetery and I wanted to see where my fourth and fifth generation ancestors were laid to rest.  It seemed that it was not more than one or two miles distant from Ms. Gooch's home.   It is in a very remote location, up a little graveled lone, which dead ends at the cemetery.   The cemetery itself is immaculately kept.

The knoll on which the cemetery is located, overlooks the little valley with breath-taking beauty.  It speaks to you and tells you that you have entered a very special place.  Here, lie cherished loved ones--family members---who we never knew but for the oral descriptions and traditions of our loved ones.   The parents of Peter Littleton Woody, John Wesley and Percilla Treadway Woody have stones that are fairly new and indicate that they were placed there by loving descendants.  On the rise, is a very nice family picnic shelter which is used annual for a reunion on Memorial Day Weekend.  It is also used by family members for funeral and other gatherings.

Incidentally, Percilla Woody was a midwife and delivered over 3,000 babies during her lifetime.  When she passed away in 1888, her obituary in the Dahlonega Paper stated that she always added "Percilla" to every girl baby's name that she delivered, making it one of the most popular names in the county.   She was 89 at the time of her death.

Both Ms. Woody and Ms. Gooch invited us to return, but fate has not been kind in providing such an opportunity.   I continue to hope that we will be able to return in some not-to-distant time, for I felt as if I had known these wonderful people all my life and that we were more than welcome.   We were kin."

Hope this answers some questions and creates many more.   I had a very wise professor of education in college.   He said, "Education isn't about answering questions, its about creating a spirit of inquiry which makes it necessary to find answers."   How true.    Happy Trails!!