Eliza Stocks Wood

b. circa 31 January 1847, d. 29 May 1910
  • Eliza Stocks Wood was born circa 31 January 1847 in Alabama.
  • There is some evidence that Eliza's young cousins (and aunt Ella) called her "Tockey."
  • On Tuesday, 9 April 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Willis B. Wood started this morning at 4 oclock to Houston to meet his wife," and on Tuesday, the 16th, "Sent this morning the carriage & Little waggon for Willis & Family to Montgomery, they got home this evening."
  • Willis Breazeal Wood and Sarah Anne Harris appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1850 in Montgomery County, Texas, living next door to Green Wood.. Other members of the household included Eliza Stocks Wood, Charles Harris Wood and Willis Eason Wood.
  • On Sunday, 30 June 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Green M. Wood & wife & children & Willis B. Wood wife children & Duncan G. Campbell all Dined with us to day at the new place."
  • On Sunday, 7 July 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Willis & family to dinner, no other company."
  • On Sunday, 8 September 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "A very pleasant day. Green & Willis & their Familys Spent the day here."
  • On Sunday, 22 September 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "A beautiful day, all in fine health. Mr & Mrs Carothers, Green & Wife & Willis & wife & all their Children & Mr Powell spent the day with us."
  • On Sunday, 3 November 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "G. M. & W. B. Wood & their familey's with us & some Gentlemen from Grimes County."
  • On Sunday, 10 November 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Plesant day, all dined with Willis B. Wood."
  • On Wednesday, 25 December 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Mr. J. Abercrombie and Family and W. B. Wood and Family and Mr. Peter C. Harris to dinner with us."
  • Green Wood recorded in his book of Misc. Financial Records, in addition to personal expenses, an accounting of payments made related to schooling of Eliza Stocks Wood, as heir of Willis B. Wood: "May 1858 . . . Tuition at Waverly institute up to end, July 1st - $19.00; Cash paid Mr. Fitzie for Music tuition - $30.00. . . Sept 7th, 7 months Board at Mrs. L. Scott,s - $85.00; Tuition due on last session, June 30th - $7.00; Paid in advance for Tuition commencing Sept. 6th - $8.00.
  • On Monday, 6 September 1858, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Mrs Wood carried E. S. Wood to Waverly to School."
  • Green Wood and Evelina Alexander Barnes appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1860 in Montgomery County, Texas, next to their son William Barnes Wood.. Other members of the household included Eliza Stocks Wood, Campbell Wood, Ella Abercrombie Wood, Sarah Anne Harris, Charles Harris Wood, Willis Eason Wood, Elizabeth Ames Wood and Powell Wood. Green Wood is listed in the 1860 Slave Schedule with 106 slaves (33 of whom were age 10 and younger, and 8 of whom were age 60 and older) and 23 slave houses, for an average of 4-5 persons per cabin.
  • On Monday, 8 September 1862, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Mrs E. A. Wood & the Girls started on a visit to Mr McGar,s."
  • On Thursday, 16 April 1863, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Mrs W. & Eliza Stocks left for Huntsville."
  • 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 Eliza Stocks Wood, Evelina Wood, Evelina Alexander Barnes, Campbell Wood, Ella Abercrombie Wood, Elizabeth Ames Wood and Powell Wood.
  • Robert Lewis Hill and Elizabeth Ames Wood appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1880 in San Jacinto County, Texas. Other members of the household included Eliza Stocks Wood, Ella Wood Hill, Sarah Josephine Hill, Mary Louise Hill and Colonel John Hill.
  • She married Benton Randolph, son of Jeremiah Randolph and Nancy Matilda Hanby, on 6 September 1886 in Walker County, Texas.
  • Evelina Wood wrote from Willis, Texas, to her grandson Wood Powell in Christian County, Illinois on 12 April 1887, ". . . Billie went to Huntsville last Thursday. started at 5 o’clock A.M. and returned at 5 P.M. went in his buggie. He dined with Judge Randolph & Eliza. Eliza wrote me a lengthy letter by Billie. About three months she expects a little Randolph. She was 40 years old last January. . . . Lizzie Hill I hear from often, but see her seldom. She stays at home closely, has not been to see Eliza yet. . . ."
         Letter in private collection of B. M. Henwood, descendant of Wm Wood Powell, original transcription by R. E. Reichardt.
  • Eliza Stocks Wood became a widow at the 21 July 1894 death of her husband Benton Randolph.
  • The following appeared on 22 July 1894 in The Galveston Daily News: (Huntsville, July 21) Judge Benton Randolph died at his home at 3 a. m. to-day. He was born in Jefferson county, Ala., April 11, 1832; served in Hood's brigade in the war between the states; was a member of the constitutional convention of 1866, and was a senator in the Tenth and Eleventh legislatures. He served as a county judge of Walker county and also as district judge. The funeral took place this afternoon and was largely attended.
  • She married Herbert William D. Langston on 10 June 1896 in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.
  • Herbert William D. Langston and Eliza Stocks Wood appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Galveston, Texas. Other members of the household included Walter Anthony Langston, Lawrence L. Langston, Arthur Navarro Langston and George Gordon Langston.
  • The following appeared on 17 March 1907 in The Galveston Daily News: . . . The sleeping accommodations problem seems nearer a solution this year than ever before. Four new rooming houses are going up on the beach and there will probably be 300 available rooms on the beach this summer. The Seaside, a family hotel of seventy-seven rooms, is now in course of construction, the foundation having been laid and the timber work started. This building is to occupy the northwest corner of Tremont and Avenue Q, and the rear portion will be built over the grade raising canal. The structure will be four stories in height, and wil a system of open courts, every room will open outside. Galleries will contribute to the comfort of the guests. Mr. H. W. D. Langston is the leading spirit in the enterprise. . . .
  • Herbert William D. Langston and Eliza Stocks Wood appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Galveston, Texas, at 2204 Avenue Q. Other members of the household included George Gordon Langston.
  • She and Herbert William D. Langston were co-proprietors of a hotel, according to the 1910 census.
  • Eliza Stocks Wood died on 29 May 1910 in Galveston, Texas, at the Boulevard Hotel . Her death was officially witnessed by Herbert William D. Langston.
  • Her husband Herbert William D. Langston became a widower at her death.
  • She was interred at Lakeview Cemetery, Galveston, Texas.
  • The following appeared on 31 May 1910 in The Daily Enterprise: (Galveston, May 30) Mrs. Eliza St[o]cks Langston, wife of H. W. D. Langston of the Boulevard hotel, died suddenly Sunday morning at the hotel, in the fifty-sixth year of her life.
         Mrs. Langston was born in Montgomery, Ala., and was but a child when her parents moved to Texas. Her early life was passed on her grandfather's (the late Major Wood) plantation in Montgomery county, Texas. She was first married to Judge Benton Randolph of Huntsville, which union lasted ten years. After two years of widowhood Judge H. W. D. Langston claimed her as his bride at San Antonio in 1896. She had been a resident of Galveston for twelve years, participating actively in the management of the Seaside and Boulevard hotels, and she will be greatly missed by the guests, as well as her many friends, who annually sojourned here. Quiet and unostentatious, she led the life of a practical Christian. Mrs. Langston was sovereign of Myrtle Grove Lodge No. 122 of the Woodmen Circle of the local order at the time of her demise.
         The funeral was held from the residence at 10 o'clock this morning and interment took place in Lakeview cemetery.
  • Last Edited: 10 Aug 2013

Family 1: Benton Randolph b. 11 April 1832, d. 21 July 1894

Family 2: Herbert William D. Langston b. January 1843