Mathew Wood

Mathew Wood

• Father: Joshua Wood b. 8 October 1765, d. circa 27 May 1844
• Mother: Sarah Ridley b. circa 1771, d. before 7 August 1820

• Mathew Wood was born on 4 July 1805 in Henry County, Georgia.
• He married Mourning Atkinson, daughter of Agrippa Atkinson and Martha Grace?, on 4 July 1825 in Bibb County, Alabama. And Mathew's brother John married Mourning's sister Elizabeth Atkinson..
• Mathew Wood and Mourning Atkinson appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1850 in Talladega District, Talladega County, Alabama. Other members of the household included Uriah Griffin Wood, Letitia Ann Wood, Abi Wood, Esther Wood, William R. Wood, James Frank Wood, Willis H. Wood, Sarah Elizabeth Wood and Floyd C. Wood.
• He was a farmer, according to the 1850 census.
• On 24 April 1857, Mathew Wood wrote to Green Wood:
       Tyler, Texas, April 24th ’57
       Maj Green Wood
       Danville
       Montgomery County Texas
  Cousin Green, we are all well But rather low spirited on account Of the cold dry wether. we have had scarcely any rain for 10 weaks. we had A frost and freeze the 5th last and A snow the 12th, 4 or 5 Inches deep, Still continues cool. the frost has spoiled Our fruit, wheat. I think has killed a Good many of our peachtrees and a good Deal of the trees in the woods. we had To plant over our crops. is it so with You? fortunately I had not planted the Corn you sent me but have planted It since. it is up. I don’t think we can Make a good crop this year though perhaps We may. it looks like we might have Rain soon. there has been a good deal of Complaint of whoping coff and Measles In our neighborhood. I had but two Small negroes to have it. we get letter From our Alabama friends & relations Frequently. they are generly well. Bro John's son Ashley was married a short time since to a Miss Brooks of South Carolina and his daughter Martha to a Mr Funderburg. I reccon They bowth done well in marrying. I can’t think of any thing to write that Would interest you. I have my land In fine order if it only would rain And turn warm. my stock appears to be doing tolerable well. I have some over 100 head of hogs, the most of the shotes fat enough to roast. how do you like Buckhannons Inaugeral address? I like it well. I think it to be a Suthern document. Whig as I am I expect to support his Administration as long as he sticks to the Principles as laid down in his Inaugeral. I think it would be perfect madness for Any Sutheran man, Whig or Democrat, to oppose his Administration under Existing circumstances. he appears to be A sound conservative constitutional Man. we are all giting along in Business about as usual. I want To hear from you again soon. perhaps My mind will be more composed So that I can think of something That will Interest you more. I am determed however whether my Letters are Interesting or not to write To you frequently as long as we bowth Live. Remember me kindly to Cousin Evelina and your children,
       I remain Your Cousin M Wood
  Minimal punctuation added by the transcriber to enhance readability.
• The following appeared on 16 May 1860 in the Tyler Reporter: We are authorized and requested to announce that Mathew Wood is a candidate for Sheriff. --election in August next.
• Mathew Wood and Mourning Atkinson appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1860 in Tyler, Smith County, Texas. Other members of the household included William R. Wood, Sarah Elizabeth Wood and Floyd C. Wood.
• He was a farmer, according to the 1860 census.
• Mathew Wood and Mourning Atkinson appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1870 in Etna, Smith County, Texas.
• He was a farmer, according to the 1870 census.
• Mathew Wood died on 15 January 1876 at age 70 in Smith County, Texas.
• His wife Mourning Atkinson became a widow at his death.
• He was interred at Smith Cemetery, Gresham, Smith County, Texas.
• The following appeared in the Some Biographies of Old Settlers--Historical, Personal and Reminiscent (1900):
       Matthew Wood and Family
       Matthew Wood was born in Henry County, Georgia, July 5th, 1805. He moved to Bibb County, Alabama, with his father's family before the Indians had left that country.
       He married Miss Mourning Adkinson, of Alabama; they had eleven children--M. R., J. W., U. G., L. A., Abi, Esther, W. R., J. F., W. H., S. E., and F. C.
       M. R. married Rachel Goodgame; they had two children. J. W. married Jane Thompson; they had five children. U. G. married Kittie Farrington; they had seven children. L. A. married J. F. Baswell; they had one child. Abi married W. H. Chancellor. Ester married Isaac Longley; they had four children. W. R. married Missouri Brooks; they had three children. J. F. married Matilda Johnson they had six children, W. H. died at the age of 15. S. E. married H. F. Rice; they had nine children. Floyd never married.
       Mathew Wood first settled in the Bascom neighborhood. He then settled three miles east of Tyler where he died.
       He held the office of Justice of the Peace, and was mayor of Tyler at one time. He was an honest man--an honest official. He died since the Civil War leaving a good name behind him, a good heritage for his children.
       The descendants of Mathew Wood are among our best people; intelligent and upright in their dealings with their fellow man.

• Last Edited: 16 Jul 2016

• Charts: Descendants of WOOD William & Lydia Ballentine