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Third Generation

4. Ira McClain Wood¹ was born on 15 Feb 1846 in White County, Illinois.^1,2,4 He appeared in the census in 1850 in Effingham, Effingham County, Illinois.¹ Census shows him with Eliz. Gilbert. He appeared in the census in 1860 in Effingham, Effingham County, Illinois.¹ Census shows him with Eliz. Gilbert. He served in the military between 16 Jul 1862 and Oct 1862.¹ He served in the military between Jun 1865 and 17 Sep 1865.^1,2
Two different entries appear in an Illinois civil war database.

NAME COMPANY & UNIT RESIDENCE
---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------
WOOD, IRA M D 135 INF EFFINGHAM
WOOD, IRA McLEAN I 71 INF EFFINGHAM

He appeared in the census in 1870 in Sullivan, Moultrie County, Illinois.¹ Census shows him with A Keedy. He appeared in the census in 1880 in Sullivan, Moultrie County, Illinois.¹ He appeared in the census in 1900 in Windsor Township, Shelby County, Illinois.¹ He died on 4 Nov 1921 in Jonathan Creek, Moultrie County, Illinois.¹ Sandra Nees records his place of death as his home in Jonathon Creek. We have two newspaper clippings. One states he died at home but the other states he died in the home of his daughter, Mrs Lehman, near Arthur, IL.. He was buried on 6 Nov 1921 in Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan, Moultrie County, Illinois. Ira lived with his uncle, Andrew Jack Gilbert. According to Mary & Ruth's family tree document, Ira was born in Tennessee but Sandra Nees confirms that he was born in White County, IL. We also have two newspaper clippings listing his place of birth as Effingham, IL. Sandra also confirms his date of birth as 15 Feb 1846.

Sandra Nees states the following newspaper clipping is in error. First, the wedding date is 25 Sep. Second, Ira's parents were James and Clarissa. They lived in White County but not necessarily in Effingham. Sandra has guardianship papers filed in 1862 in Effingham that declare James dead.

The following is the text from a newspaper clipping showing Ira and Mariah's wedding date as Sept 27:

Ira McClain Wood's parents William G. Sr and Elizabeth lived in Effingham, White County, Illinois when he was born. Ira volunteered in the Union Army July 1862 and served 3 years and 2 months. He was discharged at the end of the war on September 9, 1865 and moved to Jonathan Creek, 4 miles east of Sullivan, IL, very close to that time.

Transcripts of two obituaries:

CIVIL WAR VETERAN GOES TO REWARD

Ira Wood Death Occurred At Home of Daughter Near Arthur.

-----

Ira M. Wood, aged 75 years died at his home northeast of Sullivan Friday. Funeral services were conducted at the residence Sunday morning at 10 o'clock, conducted by Rev. Mr. Smith. Burial was in Greenhill cemetery.

Ira M. Wood was born at Effingham February 15, 1846. His parents died when was but a small child and he was taken by his Uncle Jack Gilbert and reared to manhood. On July 16, 1862, he answered his country's call and volunteered in the union army, Co. D. 135 Reg. Ill. Infantry at the age of sixteen; serving 3 years and 2 months. Returning from the war he moved to Jonathan Creek four miles east of Sullivan.

September 27 he was married to Mariah J. Harrison and to this union were born nine children, of whom all except one are living. A son, James W. died in 1906. The eight living are Wm. G. of Sullivan, Myrtle Lehman, Arthur, Charles E. Wood, Lovington, Thomas H. Wood, Evansville, Ind., John R. Wood, Kernon, Ill.., Raymond M. Wood, Shelbyville, Mrs. Anna Gordon, Shelbyville, and Amos F. Wood, Strasburg. His wife also survives.

The deceased had sixty grandchildren of whom fifty-one are living also one great grandchild. He was a member of the Methodist church.

Alter a brief illness he died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Lehman near Arthur.

*****
IRA M. WOOD

He was born at Effingham, Feb. 15, 1864: His parents died when Ira was but a small child and he was taken by his uncle Jack Gilbert and reared to manhood. On July 16, 1862, he answered his Country's call and volunteered in the Union army, Co. D. 135 Reg. Illinois Infantry (at the age of 16) and on Sept. 17th. 1865 received an honorable discharge, serving 3 years and 2 months.

Returning from the war Ira with his uncle moved to Jonathan Creek four miles east of Sullivan.

He was married to Mariah J. Harrison and to this union were born nine children, of whom all except one are still living. A son James W. Wood died in 1906. The eight still living are William G. Wood of Sullivan, Ill. Myrtle C. Lehman of Arthur, Chas. E. Wood if Lovington, Thomas H. Wood of Evansville Indiana, John R. Wood of Kernon, Raymond M. Wood and
Mrs. Anna Gordon of Shelbyville, and Amos F. Wood of Strawsburg.

The deceased had 60 grandchildren of which 51 are living also one great grandchild. About twenty-eight years ago, Brother Wood became a Christian, uniting with the Methodist Church We are told from that day on he loved to read the word of God.

After a brief illness he departed from this life at the home of his daughter Mrs. Lehman near Arthur on Nov. 4, 1921, age 75 years eight months and 17 days. Leaving a wife, eight children, fifty-one grandchildren and a host of friends to mourn the loss.

The funeral sermon at the Union Prairie Christian church was delivered by the pastor L. Z. Smith of Sullivan. Songs by Frank McDonald and interment in Greenhill Cemetery.
Ira McClain Wood and Mariah Jane Harrison were married on 25 Sep 1870 in Sullivan, Moultrie County, Illinois.¹ Married by Lewis R. Jones.

5. Mariah Jane Harrison was born on 21 Sep 1848 in Oxford Township, Guernsey County, Ohio.^1,2,4 According to Ruth and Mary's Family History, Mariah was born in England 21 Sep 1849 but Sandra Nees confirms Mariah was born in Guernsey County, OH, 21 Sep 1848. Sandra states she has records proving the OH birth.

Based on Sandra Nees' information, all the following may be in error but Ruth and Mary, thinking Mariah was born in England, had no record of when Mariah came to the U.S. They thought she came when she was very young. They also thought her parents settled first in Pennsylvannia, moved to Missouri, and then came to Illinois. They also reported that Mariah had three sisters die of scarlet fever on the boat on the way to the U.S.
She died on 24 Jun 1922 in Shelby County, Illinois.¹ She died in the home of Anna Gordon, northeast of Shelbyville. She was buried on 26 Jun 1922 in Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan, Moultrie County, Illinois.¹ Children were:

i.
William George Wood¹ was born on 22 Nov 1871.¹ He lived in Sullivan, Moultrie County, Illinois. He died on 10 May 1923 in Lovington, Moultrie County, Illinois.¹ He was buried in Keller Cemetery, Moultrie County, Illinois.¹ Uncle Bill was a hard worker and loved his family.
ii.
James Walter Wood was born on 16 Dec 1873.¹ He died on 25 May 1906 in Texas.¹ We had his death date as 25 May 1906. Sandra Nees shows the death date as 20 May 1906 but has it marked as questionable. He was buried in Probably Texas.¹ Jim was a traveler and didn't stay long in any place. He was called a wanderer and traveled to Missouri, died in Texas. There was no known family.
iii.
Mary Myrtle Wood was born on 11 Dec 1876.¹ We had placed the birth date at 11 Dec 1875 but Sandra Nees places it at 1876. She died in 1965 in Ohio.¹ Sandra Nees shows a death date of "18 Apr 1953 ? ". She lived in Arthur, Douglas County, Illinois.
iv.
Charles Edward Wood¹ was born on 6 Mar 1878 in Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas.^1,2,4 Sandra Nees confirms his middle name was Edward and his date of birth was 6 Mar 1878. Mary and Ruth's Family History had Charles' middle name as Edwin and his birth date as 6 Mar 1877. He was farmer. He lived in Sullivan, Moultrie County, Illinois. He died on 5 Nov 1935 in Urbana, Champaign County, Illinois.¹ We had the death date as 7 Nov 1935 but Sandra Nees corrects this to 5 Nov 1935. He was buried in Keller Cemetery, Moultrie County, Illinois.¹ Charles grew up around Sullivan, IL. After he was married, Charles and Minnie lived around Monticello and White Heath, IL. Minnie was a sister to Ethel, the wife of Charles' brother Bill. They were very close.
v.
Thomas Henry Wood was born on 20 Feb 1881.¹ He lived in Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana. He died on 25 Jul 1937.¹ He was buried in Windsor Cemetery, Shelby County, Illinois.¹ Tom was quite a musician and enjoyed playing the fiddle and guitar. He wasn't ever a very happy person.
vi.
John Rose Wood was born on 11 Sep 1883. He lived in Kernan, La Salle County, Illinois. He died on 20 Nov 1934.¹ He was buried in Findlay Cemetery, Findlay, Shelby County, Illinois.¹
2
vii.
Raymond McClain Wood.
viii.
Amos Fletcher Wood was born on 25 Aug 1888.¹ He lived in Strasburg, Shelby County, Illinois. He died on 22 Oct 1969 in Illinois.¹ Died at the home of Bernice Curry. He was buried in Keller Cemetery, Moultrie County, Illinois. Amos tried to farm but didn't have much success.
ix.
Anna May Wood was born on 4 Jun 1890 in Sullivan, Moultrie County, Illinois.⁵ She lived in Shelbyville, Shelby County, Illinois. She died on 22 Oct 1964 in Shelbyville, Shelby County, Illinois.⁵ She was buried in Glenwood Cemetery, Shelbyville, Shelby County, Illinois. Anna May is the mother of the author of the Ira Wood Family Tree. Her middle name was spelled Mae in her son's (Sylvester) death notice.