Evelina Wood

b. 23 October 1855, d. 10 January 1918

Evelin "Lina" Wood Abercrombie, 1855-1918
  • Evelina Wood was born on 23 October 1855 in Montgomery County, Texas.
  • She was known as Lina.
  • On Thursday, 8 July 1858, Wm Barnes Wood, in Green Wood's absence, recorded: "Evelina quite sick."
  • William Barnes Wood and Cornelia Josephine Mitchell appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1860 in Montgomery County, Texas. Other members of the household included Evelina Wood, Robert Micajah Powell and William Wood Powell. Robert M. Powell was the widower of William Barnes' sister Elizabeth Green Wood.
  • On Wednesday, 27 June 1860, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Mrs. Wood, Mr. Powell, Ella and Wood Powell and Wm B. W. and wife and daughter all left for Sour Lake." And on Monday, 1 July, "Bob returned from Sour Lake with the Waggon and six mules, left all well." On Monday, 9 July, "Started Bob with waggon and six mules to Sour Lake to bring the Bagage." And on Sunday, 15 July, "Mrs. Wood, Mr. Powell and the rest returned from Sour Lake. Mr. A. W. Speight and Lady came also.
  • On 26 May 1867, Evelina Wood wrote to Ella Abercrombie Wood: My Dear Aunt, I expect you think I have treated you badly but I have been waiting to get a letter from you which don't come. so I will make an attempt to write. Miss Martha & Mama spent yesterday with Grandma & we hade such a nice vegetable dinner. Tockey played on the Guitar for us she says it is quite hard for her to learn. Grandma is looking quite thin, but seems to be well. she sells butter every week. I am going to school to Miss Martha & I hope that she will give vacation before you & Cousin come home. I am studying Geography Grammar Arithmetic & Reading. I am trying to improve as fast as I can. Aunt Bessies nurse has the itch which makes her very uneasy for fear Frank will have it. they now have Lucretia nursing for them. I see but little of Frank. Dr. Campbell left yesterday for Ala. I think he has gone for his Sister Mrs. Farris. How much I would like to attend your examination. I am very glad we do not have any. Cousin Bose came this morning for vegetables & flowers - he stays? very closely at his store? Capt [Lorenzo or Horatio?] Fisher is going to Mexico next July to look at the country - they are all thinking of moveing. This is the day for Mr Richardson to preach but the weather is so bad he will not have many out to hear him. Mrs Campbell is going to have her little daughter Lucy baptized - she will not have it done in church but at home. Ma and Pa Join me in love for Cousin and yourself. I shall expect an answer soon. Your loving Niece, Lina Wood
         Minimal punctuation added by the transcriber to enhance readability.
  • William Barnes Wood and Cornelia Josephine Mitchell appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1870 in Danville, Montgomery County, Texas. Other members of the household included Evelina Wood, Evelina Alexander Barnes, Campbell Wood, Ella Abercrombie Wood, Eliza Stocks Wood, Elizabeth Ames Wood and Powell Wood.
  • She married James Buford Abercrombie, son of Milo Bolling Abercrombie and Sarah Lee Haden, on 27 November 1879, with J. Ward, Rector of Grace Church, Galveston, officiating. (It is not clear whether the marriage took place in Walker County or Galveston, or elsewhere.) They were second cousins once removed.
  • James Buford Abercrombie and Evelina Wood appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1880 in Walker County, Texas. Also in the household was one domestic servant.
  • During the early 1880s, James and Lina Abercrombie were operating a boarding house in Huntsville.
  • Evelina Wood wrote (from Willis) to her grandson Wood Powell on 12 April 1887, ". . . I wish your three sweet daughters & Campbell's girls, Lina's & "Ella's little red head could see each other & become acquainted. I want Lina to send you one of "Willie's pictures recently taken. How I long to see you my dear boy and your sweet wife & children. I sometimes think Is life worth living? when kindred are so far away . . ."
         Letter in private collection of B. M. Henwood, descendant of Wm Wood Powell; original transcription by R. E. Reichardt.
  • Evelina Wood wrote from Willis, Texas, to her grandson Wood Powell in Christian County, Illinois on 12 April 1887, ". . . I came to town last Sunday - Billie, Josie and Lina's two oldest children with us. . . . Lina has been quite sick recently – was not well when I left – I passed last Friday with her. she has a beautiful place a nice but very small house. She keeps a cook & grown nurse. Her time is taken up with out doors work. She says she is determined to raise her meat this year & sell butter enough to pay for her sewing. She can’t bear house work. She is now raising bronze turkies. they are very much larger than the other kind. has sent on for Pekin ducks. Jim A. has been in the Alliance store in Willis the last 7 weeks. He gives the farm no attention whatever, goes home Saturday nights & returns Mondays. Josie keeps Josie Lee altogether and she is a deal of trouble. Her dear patient grand ma says she can not do without her. Billie has so little to do at home for the want of rain. He comes to Willis about three or four times per week. A great deal lovely weather & east wind but no rain. ground too hard to finish planting cotton, garden almost at a stand still – Billie sets out cabbage plants by watering the ground so as to pull them up & water the ground to set them out. His corn looks green & pretty but almost quit growing. . . ."
         Letter in private collection of B. M. Henwood, descendant of Wm Wood Powell; original transcription by R. E. Reichardt.
  • James Buford Abercrombie and Evelina Wood appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Huntsville, Walker County, Texas. Other members of the household included William Adair Abercrombie, Ella A. Abercrombie, Bolling Anderson Abercrombie, James Smither Abercrombie, Anne Mitchell Abercrombie, Robert Haden Abercrombie, Lavinia E. Abercrombie, John Leonard Abercrombie, Charles Milo Abercrombie and Cornelia Josephine Mitchell. James and son Bolling also were enumerated in Falls County at the prison. Josie Mitchell Wood also was enumerated with her husband in Montgomery County.
  • James Buford Abercrombie and Evelina Wood appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Harris County, Texas. Other members of the household included James Smither Abercrombie, Anne Mitchell Abercrombie, Robert Haden Abercrombie, Lavinia E. Abercrombie, John Leonard Abercrombie, Charles Milo Abercrombie, Joseph Rice Abercrombie and Bolling Anderson Abercrombie.
  • Evelina Wood became a widow at the 6 March 1912 death of her husband James Buford Abercrombie.
  • The following appeared on 6 March 1912 in The Houston Chronicle: James Buford Abercrombie, aged 62 years, died at his home on Grantham avenue, three miles south of Houston, Tuesday afternoon. He is survived by his widow and nine children: W. A., Bolling A., J. S., Robert H., John L., Milo C., Joe W. and Misses Annie Mitchell and Vinnie E. Abercrombie.
         Mr. Abercrombie was a member of San Jacinto Lodge No. 7, A. F. and A. M., at Huntsville, Texas. The remains will be shipped by Settegast & Kopf Thursday morning at 7:15 o'clock to Huntsville for interment, accompanied by members of the family.
  • Evelina Wood died on 10 January 1918 at age 62 in Houston, Harris County, Texas, at the Baptist Sanitarium.
  • She was interred at Oakwood Cemetery, Huntsville, Walker County, Texas.
  • Last Edited: 4 Apr 2016

Family: James Buford Abercrombie b. 23 July 1850, d. 5 March 1912