My Genealogy Hound

Joel G. Wood (deceased). William H. and Elmira (Lane) Wood, both natives of Alabama, were the parents of nine children, all of whom moved to Arkansas. Two still live in Craighead County: Greene, on Maumelle prairie, and Francis, two and a half miles north of Jonesboro. Joel G. was born in Cherokee County, Ala., October 7, 1829, and was reared on the farm, receiving a fair “district school” education. January 29, 1854, he was married to Maria Evans, daughter of Jesse and Caroline (Anderson) Evans, parents of eight living children. Both Mr. and Mrs. Evans met an untimely death in a destructive cyclone which passed over Northern Alabama about 1884. The father was sixty and the mother about fifty years of age. Mr. Wood farmed in Alabama for two years after his marriage, then moved to Greene County, Ark., and two years later came to Craighead County and purchased sixty acres of land one and one-fourth mile south of Jonesboro, where he resided until the time of his death. He was a successful farmer, a grocery merchant of Jonesboro, also a butcher and did some freighting from Wittsburg, Walnut Ridge, and Memphis to Jonesboro. He served with credit one term as sheriff of Craighead County, and filled the offices of justice of the peace and constable in Cherokee County, Ala. He was a prominent citizen and a Democrat, meriting the honors bestowed upon him. He died from an accident November 16, 1882. To Mr. and Mrs. Wood were born twelve children, eight of whom are living: Alice V., wife of Napoleon Keller, a farmer of White County, Ark.; James Buchanan, married to Elizabeth Cox, and residing in Craighead County; Mary, wife of Dr. Lewis S. Thornton, a leading physician of Big Bay Station, Ark.; Joel G., who lives with his wife in Conway County; Albert Pike, married to Laura Rackley, and living near the old homestead; William P., Starling W., and Dora Lee, at home. The deceased are Josephine and three infants. Mrs. Wood resides on the old homestead, and conducts the farm in a successful and thrifty manner. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a lady of social and moral worth.