In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printings (1896 and 1906) are folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1829, Erie County
From History of Bureau County, Illinois (1885), The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois .. (1896), Past and present of Bureau county, Illinois (1906)
JASPER WOOD, Mineral, was born November 15, 1829, in Erie County, Ohio; a son of Bourdett and Rhoda (Harrington) Wood, who were among the pioneers of Erie County, Ohio, where they yet reside. They are the parents of ten children. The grandfather of our subject, Jasper Wood, Sr., was a Captain in the war of 1812, and participated in the battle of Lake Erie. He married Elizabeth Boylstone, a native of Massachusetts. Both died in Ohio. The grandfather of our subject on his mother's side was Seth Harrington, a native of Connecticut. He served under Gen. Harrison in the war of 1812, and was the commander of Fort Bloomingville, near Lake Erie. Our subject was reared and educated in Ohio, where he also farmer. In 1850 he crossed the plains, and in California mined for gold successfully for two and one-half years, and also teamed. In 1854 he returned to Ohio, and the same year came to Gold Township, Bureau Co., Ill., where he became a successful farmer. He also took a deep interest in township affairs, and has held the office of Supervisor, Justice of the Peace, School Trustee and Treasurer. In 1867 he came to Mineral Township, where he at present resides. Here he has been School Trustee for fifteen years, and at present is Highway Commissioner. Mr. Wood was married here to Miss Ruhecy Goble, a native of Rock Island County, Ill. She is a daughter of Benjamin and Barbara (Vandruff) Goble. To Mr. and Mrs. Wood six children were born: Benjamin B. and Mrs. Flora G. McKee are deceased; Richard B., Thaddeus J., Ada S. and Henry L. Mrs. Flora G. McKee died May 22, 1884, aged twenty-four years and seven months. She left two children: Blanche and J. B. W. McKee. Financially Mr. Wood's life so far has been a success. He has accumulated a handsome property of nearly 2,000 acres of land. Of this 680 acres are in Gold and 1, 200 acres in Mineral
Townships. He engaged extensively in the stock business. Politically he is a Republican.
As printed in History of Bureau County, Illinois (1885). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
JASPER WOOD, one of the extensive farmers of Bureau county, Illinois, now residing on section 13, Mineral township, was born in Groton township, Erie county, Ohio, November 13, 1829, and is a son of Burdette and Rhoda (Harrington) Wood. The father became a large land owner, securing land in Iowa on Mexican soldier's warrants, and also had a tract near Sterling. Illinois. His death occurred on the 25th of February, 1889, at the age of eighty-six years.
Burdette Woods was the son of Jasper Woods, of English descent, who was in the war of 1812. Plis family were early settlers in Ohio, locating on the western reserve. Seth Harrington, the father of Rhoda Harrington, was also in the war of 1812; he was a captain and had command of Fort Bloomingville, at the head of Lake Erie.
On the 1 8th of March, 1850, our subject started for California, in company with a friend, and driving a four-mule team. At Fort Leavenworth they were joined by twenty-one men, and their train consisted of six teams. The trip from Ohio to the golden state required one hundred and thirty-two days, arriving there on the 3d of August. For four years Mr. Wood engaged in mining, the most of which time he was quite successful, returning home with three thousand one hundred dollars in gold. This journey was made by the way of the Isthmus of Panama and New Orleans, reaching his destination in April, 1854-
In the fall of that year Mr. Wood came to Sheffield, Bureau county, Illinois, and secured one hundred and sixty acres of land near Green river, for which he paid six dollars per acre. It is located in Cold township,- and there he made his home for thirteen years, during which time he added to it until the boundaries of the farm included six hundred and eighty acres, and at the present time he has ten hundred and fort acres there all in one body, improved with three sets of farm buildings, and for some of which land he paid as high as thirty dollars per acre. After making his first purchase, Mr. Wood invested the remainder of his capital in cattle, purchasingone hundred and thirty-six head in Bond county, Illinois, which he brought here the same fall. For thirty-five years he engaged in the cattle business, keeping in stock from fifty to one hundred head annually, which business proved a profitable source of income.
It was in 1867 that Mr. Wood removed to his present farm, a tract of one hundred and sixty acres a mile and a half northwest of Sheffield, in Mineral township, upon which he has made many valuable improvements, and has added to the same until the place now comprises twelve hundred and forty acres, on which are five sets of buildings. Most of this tract is under his own supervision, though he employs six hired men, and upon his farm in Gold township has two more. His land here cost him from eleven to sixty-five dollars per acre, and it is as valuable property as any to be found in this section of the state. He also owns two tracts in Nebraska, comprising nine hundred acres, one tract in Sa- 49 1 line county of four hundred and twenty acres, on which his son Richard lives, and another tract, four hundred and eighty acres, in Franklin county, and eighty acres in Jefferson county, Illinois, near Mt. Vernon.
In Alba township, Henry county, Illinois, Mr. Wood was married October 22, 1857, the lady of his choice being Miss Ruhecy Goble, who was born in Rock Island county, this state, and when twelve years of age went to Henry county with her parents, Benjamin and Barbara (Vandruff) Goble, the former a native of southern Illinois, and the latter of Pennsylvania. Six children were born of this union, as follows: Benjamin Bur dette died in childhood; Flora Gertrude be came the wife of Ah'red McKee, and died May 22, 1884, leaving two children — Blanche Sophia and Jasper Burdette \V., who make their home with our subject; Richard Boyleston lives in Saline county, Nebraska; Thaddeus Jasper re sides upon the home farm; Ada Sophia is the wife of Charles W. Gunkel, a merchant of Sheffield; Henry Lester is in the lumber business in Sheffield.
In religious belief Mr. Wood is a Unitarian, and politically is identified with the republican party, but is no politician. For three years he served as supervisor of Gold township, was school trustee for twenty-one years, or as long as he would accept the position; road commissioner nine years, and justice of the peace for some eight or fen years. He is a prominent and representative citizen, whose friends in the community are many, and by all who know him he is held in the highest regard.
As printed in The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois .. (1896). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
JASPER WOOD.
Jasper Wood, one of the e.extensive farmers of Bureau county. Illinois, now residing on section 13, Mineral township, was born in Groton township, Erie county, Ohio, November 15, 1829, and is a son of Burdette and Rhoda (Harrington) Wood. The father became a large landowner, securing land in Iowa on [e.lican soldier's warrants, and he also had a tract near Sterling, Illinois. His death occurred on the Soth of February, 1889, at the age of eighty-six years.
Burdette Wood was a son of Jasper Wood, of English descent, who was in the war of 1812. His family were early settlers in Ohio, locating on the western reserve. Seth Harrington, the father of Rhoda Harrington, was also in the war of 1812; he was a captain and had command of Fort Bloomington, at the head of Lake Erie.
On the 18th of march, 1850, Jasper Wood of this review started for California, in company with a friend and driving a four-mule team. At Fort Leavenworth they were joined by twenty-one men, and their train consisted of six teams. The trip from Ohio to the Golden state required one hundred and thirty-two days, they arriving there on the 3d of August. For four years Mr. Wood engaged in mining, the most of which time he was quite successful, returning home with three thousand one hundred dollars in gold. This journey was made by the way of the Isthmus of Panama and New Orleans, reaching his destination in April, 1854.
In the fall of that year Mr. Wood came to Sheffield, Bureau county, Illinois, and secured one hundred and sixty acres of land near Green river, for which he paid six dollars per acre. It is located in Gold township, and there he made his home for thirteen years, during which time he added to it until at the present time he has ten hundred and forty acres there all in one body, improvoil with tlirce sets of farm buildings, and for some of which land he paid as high as thirty dollars per acre. After making his first purchase, Mr. Wood invested the remainder of his capital in cattle, purchasing one hundred and thirty-six head in Bond county, Illinois, which he brought here the same fall. For thirty-five years he engaged in the cattle business, keeping in stock from three to four hundred head annually, which business proved a profitable source of income.
It was in 1867 that Mr. Wood removed to his present farm, a tract of one hundred and sixty acres a mile and a half northwest of Sheffield, in Mineral township, upon which he has made many valuable improvements, and has added to the same until the place now comprises twelve hundred and forty acres, on which are five sets of buildings, about all rented at present time. His land here cost him from eleven to sixty-five dollars per acre, and it is as valuable property as any to be found in this section of the state. He also owns two tracts in Nebraska, comprising three hundred and twenty-six acres; seven hundred and twenty acres in Kansas; and sixty-five acres in Huron county, Ohio. He took an active interest in business affairs until January 8, 1906, when he was injured by a fall and has since been in poor health.
In Alba township, Henry county. Illinois, Mr. Wood was married October 22, 1857, the lady of his choice being Miss Ruhecy Goble, who was born in Rock Island county, this state, March 10, 1840, and when twelve years of age went to Henry county with her parents, Benjamin and Barbara (Vandruff) Goble, the former a native of southern Illinois, and the latter of Pennsylvania. Six children were born of this union, as follows: Benjamin Burdette died in childhood. Flora Gertrude became the wife of Alfred ilcKee and died May 22, 1884, leaving two children — Blanche Sophia and Jasper Burdette W. Richard Boyleston lives in Saline county, Nebraska. Thaddeus Jasper resides upon a farm in Mineral township. Ada Sophia is the wife of Charles W. Gunkel, a merchant of Sheffield, and they have one son, Woodward William, twelve years old. Henry Lester is in the lumber business in Sheffield.
In religious belief Mr. Wood is a Unitarian and politically is identified with the republican party, but is no politician. For three years he served as supervisor of Gold township; was school trustee for twenty-one years, or as long as he would accept the position; road commissioner nine years; and justice of the peace for some eight or ten years. He is a prominent and representative citizen, whose friends in the community are many, and by all who know him he is held in the highest regard.
As printed in Past and present of Bureau county, Illinois (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1885. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.