WOODLAND, HENRY
Surnames: MILLER, PECK, GILLS, SOMERVALL, FISHER, DAWSON, RYOUSLS, FIKE, COOPER, FORBES, WRIGHT, JOHNSON, WOODHOUSE, DODD, BARCLAY, VARDEMAN, MENEFEE, JONES, MORRISON, SIMMS, WALLER, GREEN, HARDEMAN, SIMPSON, GOODWIN, WILLIAMS, MILLERMAN, PEEBLES, PICKNEY, JACKSON, SENECHAL, GURLICK, BRYANT, HARDY, HUNNICUTT, BRUCE, NESBITT, WATSON, FINCH, PAULING, LOFTIN, TILLERY, COOK, LEGETT, WINZER, CORNELISON, KELLY, NEWTON, KINARD, HARTMAN
Henry Woodland, b 1814 in Knox County, Indiana, d July 26, 1897 at Blue Ridge, Falls County, Texas-was orphaned three weeks after his birth, and was reared by foster parents and relatives who are said to have treated him harshly. He grew up "fending" for himself.
In the fall of 1836, he heard reports of the Texas Revolution, and on December 15, 1836 in Indiana, he signed up with a group of soldiers to join the Texas Army for twelve months, under a Colonel Miller's command, Captain Peck's Company from Indianapolis. The company sailed from Indiana down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, arriving at New Orleans on January 7, 1837, and then sailed from New Orleans to Galveston on the ship, "Howell." A storm in the gulf delayed their crossing, and they landed at Matagorda Bay on March 10, 1837. Henry served in the Texas Army in various parts of South Texas, for which he received a certificate for 1280 acres of land for a year's service (including the time after he signed up in Indiana, and his arrival in Texas). His dates of service were from his enlistment December 15, 1836 to December 27, 1837. Henry did not claim the 1280 acres of land, but sold the certificate. He later recorded that he had "squandered the money." He later received a certificate for 640 acres, and this certificate went the same way as the first.
During the next four years, Henry related that he worked at various jobs-on a steamer, on a farm, and as a Volunteer Texas Ranger during the Indian Raids on settlers in 1839 in Captain Gills Company, in General Alexander Somervall's Brigade. He went from Brazoria to Navasota, back to Springfield, Viesca in Falls County, and on to Granbury. One Indian nearly killed him during this time. In 1842, he was one of the 300 men organized under Colonel W.S.Fisher, after the disastrous fight of Captain Nicholas Mosby Dawson, who crossed the Rio Grande River and attached Mier-a strategic Mexican point with a strong garrison. After a bloody fight, the Texans were defeated and captured. This expedition became known as the "Mier Expedition," and Henry Woodland was one of the men captured. Of the 176 imprisoned at Perote, Mexico, on in ten would be shot. Seventeen black beans and 159 white beans were placed together, and the prisoners had to draw the bean which would determine life or death. Henry was among the ones who chose a white bean for life. These men were kept in prison at Perote until released early in 1844, while others were kept in prison at Vera Cruz near Mexico City. Captain William "Ryousls" discharged him September 1844 by Colonel L. Fisher. He received $605 for "his service, horse and equipment" in 1850. The captain stated that "Henry Woodland was a mounted ranger, furnished his own horse, arms, and equipment." He was a Private, and was kept in chains sometimes during his two years imprisonment. These and most of his life's accounts are recorded in his 'Memoirs' kept by his descendants.
On February 4, 1846 in Fort Bend County, Texas, Henry Woodland married Mary Ann Fike, b ca 1828 in Tennessee, and they had two sons:
Henry James Woodland, b December 1846 in Fort Bend County, Texas-married March 19, 1868 in Falls County, Texas to Mary Cooper. The marriage was performed by Cumberland Presbyterian Minister, Reverend John R. Forbes, at present-day Stranger. Henry James and Mary had only one known child,
William Woodland-called "Willie," who was listed as "age 9 years" in the of his uncle, William Howell Woodland, on the 1880 Census. In Henry Woodland's will, dated June 12, 1883, he included his grandson, "Willie", with certain of his children-leaving each a gift of $25.00. No further record has been found of Henry James and Mary (Cooper)Woodland, nor of their son, William ("Willie") Woodland.
William Howell Woodland, b April 1848 in Fort Bend County, Texas, d 1912 at Blue Ridge, Falls County to Ella Cynthia Wright, b November 25, 1854 in Texas, d March 24, 1929 and both buried in Blue Ridge Cemetery-daughter of Reverend and Doctor Johnson V. Wright and his wife, Ann Elizabeth (Johnson) Wright. They had nine children.
Before the birth of his second son, Henry Woodland was off to war again in the U.S.Mexican War of 1847-1848; and he recorded his service at Buena Vista and Chapultepec. It is not known where he was in 1850, as he was not found on any Texas Census that year, although Mary Ann and their two sons were still residing in Fort Bend County as "Woodhouse" rather than "Woodland." Both names were apparently used by the family, as the early Indiana records list a "Woodhouse" as an administrator of an estate-and when the estate was settled, the same man was listed as "Woodland."
Henry Woodland is said to have married in Houston, Harris County, Texas to Nina Dodd, by whom she had a daughter, Elizabeth Woodland, b ca 1851; and in later years, she is reported to have visited her half-brother, William Howell Woodland, in his in Blue Ridge. No further information is available on Nina Dodd, or Elizabeth Woodland.
In 1852, The State of Texas, in behalf of Mary Ann (Fike) Woodland, charged him with "Polygamy." Final disposition of the case came on August 23, 1853. The case was decided in favor of Henry Woodland-granting him a divorce from Mary Ann, and custody of the two sons. Both sons were listed on the 1855 scholastic census of Falls County.
On September 20, 1855 in Falls County, Henry Woodland was married again to Tabitha B. Barclay, b 1837 in Robertson County, Texas, d ca January 1863. Her burial site has not been identified. She was a daughter of David A. and Dorcas Vardeman (Menefee) Barclay. Tabitha was the second daughter and the first child born in the Republic of Texas to her parents. Henry and Tabitha lived in a log cabin east of her father's home, and it was during this time that he became a partner of Wilburn Jones, who had a store in the Union are of North Blue Ridge (present-day Stranger). The Jones store was the voting place where early settlers wanted to locate the county seat of the newly created county of Falls in 1850. A court record in Robertson County, Texas reveals that Henry Woodland sued Wilburn Jones for debt. Henry and Tabitha B. (Barclay) Woodland had five children before her death:
Charles T. Woodland, b 1856-no further information.
Nancy Woodland, b 1860-no further information.
Charity Woodland, b 1860-no further information.
Lucinda Woodland-a twin to Priscilla, b ca January 1863-married a Mr. Simms. No further information.
Priscilla Woodland-a twin to Lucinda, b ca January 1863-died young, before June 12, 1883 when her grandfather, Henry Woodland, wrote his Will. She was not one of those named. Grave sites of Charles T., Charity, and Priscilla-like that of their mother-have not been found.
Henry Woodland again heard the call to arms, and on April 23, 1862, he enlisted in the Confederate States Army at Marlin, Texas, and served until the end of the war in CSA Company B, Waller's Battalion, Green's Brigade, Hardeman's Division of the Trans-Mississippi Army. He did "noble service for the Confederate Cause in the Civil War." He married again soon after his return from the Civil War.
on June 15, 1865 in Falls County, Texas, Henry Woodland married his former sister-in-law and younger sister of Tabitha B. (Barclay) Woodland, Mrs. Lucinda (Barclay) Menefee-widow of Thomas Strother Menefee, who died ca 1864 while serving in the Confederate States Army during the Civil War. Lucinda was born January 11, 1840 at Tinnenville, Robertson County, Texas, d November 4, 1928, and buried in Blue Ridge Cemetery beside her second husband, Henry Woodland.
Lucinda Barclay was first married on January 11, 1857 in Falls County to her first cousin, Thomas Strother Menefee, b February 1815 in Tennessee- a son of Jarrett and Sarah (Simpson) Menefee. Thomas Strother and Lucinda had three children:
an Infant Menefee, b and d October 11, 1857;
Elizabeth Menefee, b November 9, 1859, d in 1880-who married Henry Goodwin and had one daughter,
Betty Goodwin, b 1880-who married Hugh Williams-a son of James W. and Ara (Millerman) Williams of the Blue Ridge Community of Falls County, Betty and Hugh had two sons:
Lanhan and Jay Williams; and
Jarrett Strother Menefee, b April 27, 1861, d January 2, 1931 of accidental gunshot, in May, Texas, and buried there-married December 10, 1891 in Falls County, Texas to Emma R. Jones-daughter of G. William M. Jones and his wife, Frances E. (Harlan) Jones, b September 7, 1871 in Macon County, Alabama, d November 5, 1938 in May, Texas-who moved first from Falls County to Haskell County, and finally to Brown County, Texas.
Henry and Lucinda (Barclay) Woodland had eight children, and reared his children, and their children-as well as her granddaughter; their eight children were:
Joseph Woodland, b 1866 at Blue Ridge, 1936 in California-married Ara Peebles-daughter of William Peebles, and lived in the San Jouquin Valley. They had
Clark (m. Delma),
Curtis (m.1 Hazel, m. 2.Pauline),
Francis (m. Gordon Ogier),
Ora Joan (m. Frank Meyers).
George Woodland, b February 29, 1868 at Blue Ridge, d July 4, 1960 in Marlin, Texas-married Clarac Alma Johnson, b December 23, 1877 at Blue Ridge d September 17, 1937-daughter of Albert John Pickney (sic Pinckney) and Lydia Ann Clementine (Jackson) Johnson, and had one daughter, Alma Clarac Woodland. They lived in Marlin, Texas.
Sarah Woodland, b 1870, d 1951-married George Frederick Senechal, and they lived in Houston, Texas and had four sons:
Sterling (m. Dot Gurlick),
Gorden (m. Marie Lu Bryant),
Pat (m. Viola Hardy),
and Norman (m. Cora).
James Louis Woodland, b 1872, d 1957-married Florence Hunnicutt, and lived in Marlin, Texas-had five children:
James Woodland (m. Alice Bruce),
Dr. Robert Henry Woodland (m. Natalie Nesbitt),
Frances Woodland (m. Milton Watson),
Annie Mae Woodland (m. Sam Finch),
and Rosella (m. George E. Pauling).
Lida Woodland, b 1875, d 1958-married John Pleasant Saxon and had
Thomas Henry Saxon who died at age 2 years;
Beth Saxon who married DeWitt Loftin;
Edna Saxon who married Charles Tillery;
Ernest Wesley Ssaxon;
Agnes Saxon who married Thomas Cook;
and Helen Saxon who married Brandon Legett;
and Alice who married W.P. Winzer. They lived in Regan, Texas.
Pearls Woodland, b 1877, d 1927-married William Houston Cornelison-a son of Jesse and Mary Elizabeth (Saxon) Cornelison-and had seven children. The family moved to San Bernadino, California. Children:
Roy (1897-1961),
Herbert (1900-1904);
Jarrett Menifee (1901---);
Jesse Mart (1903-1979);
Elmo (1907---);
Richard (1909-1978);
Pearl (1915---)m. Deran Kerian
Ida Woodland, b June 9, 1880, d January 18, 1973-married Thomas S. Kelly, b August 1, 1873, d October 12, 1956, lived northwest of Reagan, Texas, and had no children.
May Woodland, b 1883, d 1950-married Isaiah ("Zay") Kelly, lived southeast of Reagan, Texas, where they reared their children:
Charles Culen m Nona E. Newton,
Essie E. m. Charles Kinard,
Audrene m. Otto Hartman,
and Homer Kelly.
Henry Woodland's early hardships prepared him to plunge fearleessly into battle for Texas whenever the call to arms arose. It was patriots like him who forged the early path for Texas to become the great state it is today. Until his death, Henry enjoyed attending all of the old veteran's associations meetings. Lucinda was a fine Christian woman who read the Bible daily, walked to the Blue Ridge Baptist Sunday School and Church every Sunday-a round trip of about three miles, and taught a Sunday School Class. She acted as midwife in the community when a doctor was not available, and was said to have used a pistol to run off some drunken Indians after they had shot her husband at their log cabin house on Bald Hill in 1860 while she was married to her first husband, Thomas Strother Menefee. She later loaded her wounded husband and two babies in a wagon and rode through the night to the of her parents, David and Dorcas Barclay.
Copyright Permission granted to Theressa Carhar for printing these bio of these Falls County Families to this Web page
"Families of Falls County", Compiled and Edited by the Falls County Historical Commission,
page 498,499,500,501, column 2,column 1 and 2, column 1 and 2, column 1
Member of Falls County Historical Commission
