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Note: John B Woods on 1860 Cass Co. Silver Creek twp census with father WS Woods, age 4, born in MI. John B Woods on probate records in Cass Co Mi., with sisters Peninah J., Sarah C., and brother James, for the estate of his father Wiley S Woods, who died April 15,1864. His uncles William W Hinchman and Thomas Easton were appointed Guardians April 20,1864. John B Woods, son of Wiley Woods on 1870 Cass Co. Newburg twp.age 14, living with his Aunt and Uncle Isaac S Pound and Elizabeth Hinchman Pound. Sept 9 1878 John B Woods received $140.00, the balance from his fathers estate. State of Michigan, County of VanBuren, John B Woods age 24, and Helen M Vanderhoof, age 20 were married on Dec. 26,1878 by John W.H. Carlisle, Clergyman. Wittnesses, Rosita Hoppin and Lovinia Hoppin. John B Woods and Wife Helen Vanderhoof, along with their son Sherban, went with Helen's Parents William and Ann Vanderhoof to the Dakota Territory. These families were one of many from Cass Co MI. to be attracted by the Westward movement. Mr. Vanderhoof had contacted his brother, who had gone on ahead, to buy a claim for him in Dakota Territory, near the settlement of Madison, now in SD. In the latter part of August in 1880, the Vanderhoof and Woods families left in covered wagons to travel over 700 miles to their home. It took them 6 weeks to make the trip, but without any serious difficulties. They drove a Studebaker wagon on the box of which was fastened a row of hoops. Over these was stretched a heavy canvas, which protected them from from rain and the heat of the sun. The wagon was filled with articles needed for the trip and there was still room for the women and children to sleep in it. John Woods drove another wagon where the men slept. They left their Decatur home located a mile west of the village on what is now M-40. Their first stop was at the Code school, where they said good-bye to the teacher, Miss Mary Caldwell and their school mates. They next stopped at the Christie and Bradley farms, at Mile Ryans and the O'Rourkes. They drove on to the Johns home in Silvercreek, where they spent the night. The next day they drove to Niles and spent the night with a relative, George Hoppin. This was the last they spent at a house until they reached Gilman, Iowa, where they spent the night with another relative. They drove through rain and mud the first ten days, and camping by the roadside was far from pleasant. A two burner stove and oven enabled the woman to provide meals. It was very hard work. After supper was over and the horses feed and groomed, the families sat around the campfire and enjoyed an hour or two of rest and comfort until bedtime. Mr Vanderhoof would read a chapter from the bible and say a prayer, before retired under the canvas for the night. Jack the big black and white dog would curl up under the wagon where the women and children slept. The two wagons were placed close together, and only once did they feel any danger from prowlers. Jack's angry growls kept them away. The horses were tied to the backs of the wagons. The farmers along the sold them grain and hay and milk and vegetables. One of the great events for the children was crossing the Mississippi River. Mr Vanderhoof's membership in the Odd Fellows Lodge was a great help to them. The Pin he wore on his coat lapel brought them many friendly greetings and questions about their trip. At Gilman Iowa they enjoyed for the third time another night of sleeping in a bed at relatives. They started out the next day, and in another week to ten days reached LaVeme, Minn. Mr. and Mrs. Vanderhoof's son, David worked in a store there, and helped make their stay peasant. The travelers were nearing their destination. After leaving LaVeme came Dell Rapids, Dakota Territory, then Madison, and then Herman, on a pretty lake of the same name. When driving into Herman, they saw ties being laid for the railroad, and thought their goods that they had shipped from Decatur would be arriving soon, but they had to wait many months for them. A group of Odd Fellows and other gathered and directed them to their claim. Their winter in Dakota Territory was the hardest they had ever experienced, excepting the terrible blizzard of 1886. I think they were there for about eight years before returning to Decatur, VanBuren, MI. While in Dakota Territory, the had three more sons, Clarence B., James and John Wiley. After returning to VanBuren Co., they had four more children, Carrie, Harry, Harold and Violet. Helen Woods died while giving birth to Violet on May 27,1897 in Decatur. April 8,1898 Warren L. & Susie Veach sold land to John B Woods, NW 1/4 NE 1/4, section 20 VanBuren Co MI. Deed recorded June 13,1898. State of Michigan County of Cass John B Woods, age 45 and Susie Morris, age 35, both widowed, were married on July 8,1900 by J Henry Hammond, Clergyman. Witnesses were, Rose Debolt and Clara Hammond. Feb 18 1904 John B Woods sold Land to William Vanderhoof, NW 1/4 NE 1/4 Section 20 Vanburen Co MI. Deed recorded Feb 24 1904. April 19,1905 Elias Thompson sold land to John B Woods, Lot 11, BLK F, Decatur. Deed recorded April 20,1905. March 3 1906 John B Woods sold land to William A Graham and Roxana, Lot 11, BLK F, Decatur. Deed recorded August 24,1906. March 12, 1907 John B Woods sold land to George Delong, NW 1/4 NE 1/4 Section 20. Deed recorded March 19 1907. April 23,1908 Andrew J Johnson and Rosaline M sold land to John B Woods NW 1/4 NE 1/4 Section 20. Deed recorded Sept 4,1908. Sept 10 1908 John B Woods sold land to Thomas Dawker and Mary NW 1/4 NE 1/4 Section 20. Deed recorded Sept 12,1908. March 30 1910 Sophia P DeLong sold land to John B Woods NW 1/4 NE 1/4 section 20. Deed recorded April 8 1910. April 6 1912 Andres J Johnson and Rosaline sold land to John B Woods Lot 3,4 BLK 22 Decatur. Deed recorded April 08 1912. Jan 26 1914 John B Woods sold land to John W Woods and Eva c. L3,4 BLK-22, Decatur. Deed recorded Jan 28,1914. John B Woods and Susie Morris Woods divorced, but I don't have a date. My Dad, George Woods only remembers seeing Grampa John B Woods once, when dad was about 4 or 5 years old. Grampa let his sit on his lap and play with a pocket watch he had. My dad just loved the watch, and Grampa told him when he grew up he could have the watch. But when Grampa died the watch just seemed to have disappeared. Aunt Ica and Aunt Madeline told me about Great Grampa John B Woods getting trampled by a horse. He was not suppose to go into the stall with this horse, and he had been warned, this this horse was dangerous. Well Grampa who always liked to give horses carrots, walked into the stall anyway with a carrot for the horse. He fed the carrot to the horse, and then the horse reared Straight into the air and came down on grampa. The horse kept rearing and stomping grampa. Grampa was all broken up and blinded because and they took him to Ann Arbor Hospital. He was there about three weeks. Uncle Clarence went and got him and took him to his home in Kalamazoo. Grampa was there about three weeks before he died. Woods, John b Age: 67 Year: 1920 Birthplace: Michigan Roll: T625_799 Race: White Page: 3A John W son age 33 Eva S daughter-in-law age 27 Ica R granddaughter age 6 Madeline S granddaughter age 3 Roland G grandson age 1 State: Michigan ED: 188 County: Van Buren Image: 0260 Township: Decatur Woods, John B Age: 74 Year: 1930 Birthplace: Michigan Roll: T626_1028 Race: White Page: 8A Valued 1,500.00 Lived on South Street Laborer State: Michigan ED: 14 County: Van Buren Image: 0852 Township: Decatur Relationship: Head JOHN WOODS 1856-1930 John Woods was born on the 24th of March, 1856, in Silver Creek township, county of Cass, and died September 17,1930, at the home of his son in Kalamazoo. He was the son of Burel and Artie hinchman Woods. In 1878 he was united in marriage to Helen Van- derhoof of Hamilton township. To this union were born eight children of whom three survive. They are Clarence B Woods of Kalamazoo, John W Woods of Lansing, and Carrie Baldwin of Battle Creek. Ten grandchildren also survive, besides other relatives, and many friends. Funeral services were held in the Methodist Church, Decatur, last Sunday. Rev. E.C. Finkbeiner officiating. Burial followed in Hamilton Cemetery. John Woods was a resident of Decatur for many years. He was a quiet man, always pleasant, industrious and a good citizen. He met the problems of life to the best of his ability, and seldom if ever complained.
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