William H. Wood
My 3rd Greatgrandfather
( Sherry Diane Hess 1 , Evelyn Mae Swalander 2 , Maude Mabel Smith 3 , Olive Aurelia Taylor 4 ,
Louisa Jane Wood 5 , William H. Wood 6 )

This page may be freely linked to but no part of it may be reproduced in any way without my permission.

My ggggrandparents, William H. WOOD and Rebecca MELLINGER, were married in Dodge twp, Dubuque Co, IA on 24 June 1855 by Henry MOUNEY. In the 1856 Iowa State Census, they were living in New Wine twp, Dubuque county. William is listed as 25, a carpenter, born in PA, and had been in Iowa for 2 years. Rebecca is 19, born in OH, and had been in Iowa for 3 years. With them is their new baby daughter Louisa Jane (my gggrandmother), who is listed as 1 month old. Also living with them is a Dorcas WOOD, 26 years old, born in PA, and having just arrived in Iowa. I believe this to be William's sister. She married Rebecca's brother William MELLINGER, Jr. in Hardin county on 17 October 1858.

This family moved around Iowa a bit until they settled in Waukee, Dallas Co, IA. In the 1860 census they were living in Ottisville, Franklin county with 3 daughters. The following year they were residing in Iowa Falls, Hardin county. In the 1870 census they had moved to Eldora, Hardin county and had 7 children. There was also a Louisa MELLINGER, age 58, living with them. By 1871 they were living in Waukee, Dallas county where William and Rebecca lived out the remainder of their lives.

William enlisted in Co. F, 2nd Iowa Cavalry in Davenport, IA for 3 years on 9 August 1861 and was mustered 9 September 1861. The description in his military records reads as follows: age-32 years; height-5 feet 4 1/2 inches; complexion-light; eyes-blue; hair-chesnut; where born-Greene Co, Penn; occupation-Carpenter. In June of 1862 he is listed as absent and being left sick in Hamburg, TN. He was transferred in April 1863 to the Keokuk General Hospital in Keokuk, IA. From here he was returned to active duty in September or October of 1863. He re-enlisted and re-mustered 1 March 1864, but by early January of 1865 he was once again left in a hospital in Nashville, TN. On 21 April 1865 he was transferred to the Veterans Reserve Corps and on 25 September 1865 he was mustered out in Springfield, IL.

It is never stated in his military records or his pension records what it was he contracted during the war. I believe it was either dysentery or cholera. Whatever it was, William suffered for the rest of his life and eventually died from this disease.

William was listed as a wagon maker in many of the census records although in Waukee he owned a shop where he made furniture and coffins. The inventory list from his shop in the probate records lists bedsteads, book cases, chairs, tables, coffins, picture frames, plates which say "Our Darling" or "At Rest", cloth, etc.

Rebecca died 5 January 1887 in Waukee. According to her death records she died from consumption. William died 3 months later on 16 April 1887 also in Waukee. He is buried in the Waukee Cemetery. His obituary found in the Dallas County News, Adel, Iowa on Wednesday, 27 April 1887 read:

"Died - At his home, in Waukee, April 16th, W. H. WOOD. He was a member of the 2nd Iowa Cavalry during the Rebellion. Enlisted Sept. 9, 1861, was discharged Feb. 29, 1864. Re-enlisted Mar. [1-9?], 1864, was transferred to the [invalid?] corps Apr. 25, 186[5-6?]. He lived in Waukee some 16 years, was an honored member of the M. E. Church, a member of the Thornton Post No. 303 G.A.R. He died of disease contracted in the army, of which he has been a constant but patient sufferer these long years. His beloved companion preceded him some two [months] past. A large family are left to [mourn?]"

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This page developed by Sherry Hess Jones / Okanogan, WA
Email: shjones@usroots.com
URL: http://www.oocities.org/Heartland/Plains/3264/wwmh.html