Willis William Woodward
Submitted by Virginia Brown
Willis' Civil War record has provided information leading to his place of death and ultimately providing an insight into the life of his family during the Civil War. Mary Snow, who had been married to Willis' son, Wilson Willis, was trying to obtain a Civil War pension for her underage daughter, Willie, the same time Willis was applying for his pension. Wilson had served on both sides of the Civil War and had enlisted under his middle name. The Union War records of Willis and his son, had somehow been combined, causing confusion for the Bureau of Pensions. To this day, the files have never been separated which also confuses researchers.
Willis, the son of Peter Woodward, was born on January 10, 1807, in Rutherford County, North Carolina. Sometime before 1809, the family moved to Henderson County, Kentucky, and by the early 1820's had settled in Missouri in adjoining Wayne and Madison counties. On August 10, 1826, Willis was married to Elizabeth Reed, in Twelve Mile Township, Madison County. While in Madison county they had three children: Mahala, born December 27, 1827; Rebecca Elizabeth, born April 19, 1830; and Jordan Titus on December 27, 1833. Later, they moved to Crawford County, Missouri, where their son, Wilson Willis was born on December 14, 1835. Sometime after his birth they moved to Carroll County, Arkansas, where they had three more daughters: Mary, born September 13, 1840 (my gg-grandmother); Lucinda, born December 3, 1842; and Eleander on June 10, 1848. They were living in Union Township in Newton County, Arkansas, when the Federal Census was taken on October 30, 1850. Willis' father, Peter Woodward, age eighty-three was living with them at that time. Their last child, Sarah Elizabeth was born on April 06, 1852. Willis was a farmer, and for a period of time, served as a Justice of Peace in Newton County. While serving in this capacity, he performed the wedding ceremony of his daughter, Rebecca, to Warren Essex on February 24, 1853.
Willis favored the side of the Union during the Civil War and served for a short time. In an affidavit, he gave for his son-in-law, William Dotson, on January 21, 1886, he stated, "I was a Union man and loyal to the United States Government and I was permitted to enter the Union Army lines for protection when I deemed it necessary." His two sons, Wilson Willis and Jordan Titus, enlisted in the Confederacy in different units. Wilson was living in Enola, Faulkner County, Arkansas, at the time of his enlistment. Both were taken prisoners and confined to Gratiot Street Prison in St. Louis, Missouri. Jordan, who was held about two months, and Wilson about two weeks, were apparently paroled as part of a POW exchange. This prison was originally the McDowell Medical College, but during the war, it held Confederate POWs, civilian political prisoners, and Union deserters. Today, nothing remains of the prison, but the location is now occupied by the headquarters of Ralston Purina. On January 1, 1864, six months after his release from prison, Wilson enlisted on the side of the Union in Company E, 2nd, Regiment Arkansas Infantry. On March 3, 1865, Willis, age 58, enlisted in the same unit.
Bert Stark, Jr., a great-grandson of Jordan, wrote a small booklet entitled, "The Life of Jordan Titus Woodward (1833-1919)," and gave some information about the family during the war. When Jordan enlisted, he left his wife and children with his parents. During this time they suffered extreme hardships from bands of raiders and from war conditions. There were times when Willis, in his mid-fifties, had to hide in the woods to avoid being killed. According to a family story, one day Jayhawkers stopped at their farm and butchered their only hog which they had planned to use for food during the winter. Elizabeth had a boil on her leg, so painful it was difficult to get around. To walk she had to support her knee on a straight-backed chair as she pushed it along. Even so, she was forced to cook their hog that the raiders had killed. While the meat was cooking, the men searched the barn and found some corn Willis had hidden under hay in the loft. Some of the men shelled the corn, so it would be easier to carry. Elizabeth looked out the window and saw the men throwing the corn cobs at the children.
Willis went to live with Jordan sometime between May and December 1893. He died on January 3, 1894, and was buried next to Jordan in Colony Cemetery, in an unmarked grave located in Row 15. The cemetery is located on Highway #92, a few miles from Morganton. More than five years after his death, January 24, 1899, his pension claim was rejected.
CIVIL WAR PENSION APPLICATION
January 25, 1892
Willis Woodward: Age 85, resident of Summit, Newton County, Ark.
Enrollment: March 3, 1865 in Company E, 2nd Regiment Arkansas Regiment Infantry, Volunteers Disbanded: In Clarksville, Johnson Co, AR, on July 28, 1865
Disabilities: Deafness of both ears, catarrh of the head, loss of eye sight, and palsey
Signed Willis Woodward X (signed with X)
Witnesses J. M. Adams & B. F. Ballenger
CLAIMANT'S AFFIDAVIT
May 22, 1893
Claim for Pension #1148855, late of Co. E. 2nd Ark. Inf.
Willis Woodward, age 86, resident of Summit, Newton County, Arkansas, stated, "I, Willis Woodard, Claimant in the above civil claim do testafy that I have been married twice, 1st to Elizabeth Read 2nd to Mary Phillips. I was born in Relford County, North Carolina on January the 10th of 1807. At the time of my enlistment I was a farmer. My hight six foot - eyes blue - hair dark. I have a son by name of Willis but I learn he is dead. I furthur state that I am not able to go to a phisician on account of me not being able to travel and my years for paying is limited. I am not able to leave home for examination what-ever and I've ask the Department to consider my case and give me a home examination for I am lible to sudent deth by reason of said disabilities."
Signed Willis X Woodward (signed with X)
Witnesses James M. Steel & J.F. Clayborn
Note: Relford Co. may have been Rutherford Co. The will of Peter Woodward, Sr., recorded 1817-1818, in Henderson Co, KY, refers to his land in Ratherd County. The name was probably transcribed as it sounded.
GENERAL AFFIDAVIT
May 22, 1993
James Steel, age 61, resident of Summit, Newton Co, Arkansas, and F.M. Robinson, age 46, resident of Limestone Valley, Newton Co, Arkansas, stated, "We certify that we are personally acquainted with Willis Woodard & know him to be suffering the following diseases Deafness of Boath Ears Catarrh of head Loss of Eyesight and Palsey. We live in 1/2 of mile of Claimant and see him as often as Twice a Week from February 3, 1893 up to the pressent. He has spells which causes him grate suffering and said spells is lible to cause sudant deth. We further state that the clamant is not able to do any labor whatever. We know that claimant disabilities is not due to his own vicious habbitt. We have known him for 15 years and upwards and know him to be a tempert man in ever respects and we belive the statement of claimant to be true as to the orrigin of his disabilities for the standing of claimant as for trouth is good in the community where he now resids. We furthur state that claimant cannot leave his home for examination."
Signed: James M. Steel & F.M. (X) Robinson (sighed with X)
Witnesses: W.E. Robertson & J.C. Clayborn
Note: The Bureau of Pensions wrote to Willis' daughter-in-law, Mrs. Mary A. Snow of Enola, Arkansas, trying solve the question of the two Willis Woodwards.
DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR - BUREAU OF PENSIONS
Nov. 11, 1893
Washington DC
Madam
In the declaration of the above entitled claim as guardian of the minor Willis Woodward you state that the soldier died August 10, 1878 while it appears from the records of this Bureau that a person claiming to be the identical soldier Willis Woodward of Co E 2 Ark. Inf. who also claims to have a son named Willis has filed a claim for pension and was living as late as May 29, 1893. It is required that you furnish without delay, a full personal description of your late husband and soldier Willis Woodward showing his age at the time you were married to him, his occupation at enlistment, the color of his eyes, hair, and complexion, his approximate height, and, if possible, the name of the place or city county and state where he was born. You should also furnish proof of your late husband's identity showing that he is the identical soldier Willis Woodward of the organization aforesaid.
Very respectfully,
Wm Lochorn, Commissioner
Mrs. Mary A. Snow, Enola, Ark.
Note: An examination at home, requested by Willis, was approved. On Nov. 10, 1893, forms were sent from the Bureau of Pensions to the Postmaster of Summit, Newton, County. He was instructed to see that, ". . . you place them in the hands of a competent physician and surgeon of respectable professional standing, residing at or in the immediate vicinity of Summit . . ." The papers contained instructions about Willis' home examination. They were returned by the Postmaster with the following letter.
Summit Post Office
Newton County, Ark
Dec. 16, 1893
Commissioner of Pension
Washington, D.C.
Sir
I have the honor to inform you that I upon inquiries found that this man Willis Woodward has been removed out of this County by his children being dependent upon them for support! And that his present address is Morganton, Van Buren County, Ark. I therefore return these papers to your office, not being authorized to forward them.
Very respectfully,
Henry Heydenreich
Postmaster at Summit
Transcribed and compiled by Virginia Brown, ggg-granddaughter of Willis and Elizabeth Woodward.