Memorials › John Wood

John Wood

1764 – 14 Jan 1848

Birth1764
Death14 Jan 1848
CemeteryKings Cemetery
Washington County , Arkansas , USA
Added byS Barger on 04 Nov 2012
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/93816825

Bio

John Wood was born in 1764 in Rowan County, North Carolina, which at that time was part of British Colonial America . His birth occurred during a period of growing tension between the colonies and Great Britain, just over a decade before the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783) . As a young boy, John would have witnessed the effects of this war firsthand, as North Carolina played a significant role in the fight for independence. The region was marked by skirmishes and political upheaval, and families like the Woods were deeply affected by the uncertainty of the era. On December 24, 1793 , John married Avis Baird in Rowan County, North Carolina. This marriage took place during the early years of the United States under the new Constitution, when George Washington was president and the nation was still defining its identity. Rowan County was a frontier area, with settlers carving farms out of dense forests and relying on community ties for survival. John and Avis raised nine children: Hannah, Absalom, Margaret, Isham, John Jr., Jarrett Benjamin, Andrew, Abraham, and Mary Elizabeth Wood. These children would later carry the family name westward as America expanded. By 1800 , John appears in the U.S. Federal Census in North Carolina, living as a farmer during a time of rapid growth and migration. In 1812 , records show him in Rowan County on a muster roll for the Rowan County Regiment, 1st Company, suggesting involvement in local defense during the War of 1812 (1812–1815) . This war, fought against Great Britain, secured U.S. sovereignty and opened the way for westward expansion. Following this period, John moved his family to Arkansas Territory, which had been organized in 1819. By 1828 , he appears on tax lists in Washington County, Arkansas, and by 1830 , census and tax records confirm his residence in the Arkansas Territory—a rugged frontier where farming was the primary occupation. In 1840 , John is listed in White River Township, Washington County, Arkansas, living alongside at least two of his sons. This area was part of the Ozark Plateau, known for its rolling hills and fertile valleys. Life here was challenging but offered opportunities for families willing to work hard. Washington County was still sparsely populated, with small farms and tight-knit communities. John's final years were spent in Washington County during a time of growing national tension over slavery and states' rights, which would soon lead to the Civil War. He died on January 14, 1848 , in Washington County, Arkansas, and was buried in Kings Cemetery . His death occurred just as the Mexican-American War (1846–1848) was ending, a conflict that expanded U.S. territory and intensified debates that would erupt into civil war a decade later. John Wood's life spanned some of the most formative events in American history—from colonial times and the Revolutionary War through the War of 1812 and into the era of westward expansion. He lived in North Carolina during its transformation from a British colony to a U.S. state and later moved to Arkansas as it shifted from frontier territory to statehood in 1836. His story reflects the resilience and determination of early American pioneers who built families and communities amid constant change. His legacy continued through his children and grandchildren, including John Wood Jr. (1801–1861) , Rosanna Elizabeth Wood (1840–1940) , and Evalina "Lena" Wilson (1880–1953) , whose lives carried the family name into the modern age.

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