My Genealogy Hound

HIRAM WOODEN. It is with pleasure that we recount the experiences of those of the citizens of Mason Township who came here in the early days and underwent hardships and privations that they might develop the rich resources of this region, and bring about the condition that we see to-day. Among those brave and hardy men is Hiram Wooden, who has been a resident of this State since twenty years of age, and has ever been a promoter of intelligence and sociability. He was born in Saratoga County, N.Y., January 5, 1826, the son of Zachas Wooden, and grandson of Reuben Wooden, who was born either in Germany or Holland. The latter’s parents were Timothy and Annie Wooden. Reuben married Patience Sanders and they became the parents of ten children.

The grandfather of our subject came to this country when young and married a lady who was also of foreign birth, born in Wales. They settled in New York State, and there Mr. Wooden followed agricultural pursuits until his death. He lies buried in Saratoga County. He had one son, Timothy, a soldier in the Revolutionary War, who had his leg broken while driving a wagon loaded with ammunition. The limb was amputated with a common woodsaw, but he died from the effects of this extraordinary operation. Zachas Wooden was a soldier in the War of 1812. He married Miss Amy Teachout, who was also born in the Empire State, and they had eight children, six sons and one daughter, besides our subject. The eldest child, Harriet, married Charles Smith in New York State, but subsequently came to Michigan and died in Mason Township, Cass County, March 4, 1880. She was the mother of four children, two of whom died in infancy. The others are: Martha, who married Theodore Garvin and resides in Mason Township; and R. T., who went to Montana, where he resides at the present time. The brother next younger than our subject, John, was born January 6, 1828, and died in Michigan June 1, 1860. He was single. Abijah, born April 3, 1830, died without a family. Smith, born May 4, 1832, married Mary Main, and is a retired farmer. He lives in Cassopolis and has three children, a son and two daughters. Cornelius, born May 4, 1834, was a soldier in the Civil War and served three years. He was with Sherman in his march to the sea and in a number of prominent engagements. He was twice married, the last time to Miss Martha Winegartner, who bore him four children. He is now a merchant in Petoskey, Mich. Timothy, born m 1836, entered the army in the Second Michigan Cavalry, Company L, and died in Benton Barracks, in St. Louis; and Charles, born in 1838, was accidentally shot and killed while hunting near Helena, Mont.

The father of this family was a man of considerable means and in 1843 he came West to Michigan, purchasing a considerable tract of land in Mason Township. This he divided among his five living children, giving each a good tract in his own right. He then returned to the Empire State and sent his children out to grow up with the country. Later he came West and made his home at Elkhart, Ind., where his wife died November 27, 1876. From there he moved to Mason Township, this county, and passed away on the 1st of April, 1881. His son, Hiram, the subject of this sketch, was but about twenty years of age when he came to Michigan to take up the farm given him by his father, and he at once began making improvements. A log house was erected, but thoughts of the pleasant home in the East interfered with his bachelor life, and he was homesick for some time. At length he made the acquaintance of Miss Martha C. Dils, and they were married on the 25th of September, 1850. This lady came originally from the Empire State. She was born in Cayuga County, October 7, 1833, and was the daughter of David and Catherine (Miller) Dils.

Mr. Dils was born in New Jersey and was of Scotch descent. His wife died in New York State February 16, 1843. She was the daughter of John and Sarah (McCloud) Miller, both natives of the old Bay State and of Scotch-Welsh descent. Mrs. Wooden had one brother, Abram J., who was born February 8, 1843, and who was but eight days old when his mother died. He is now a resident of Elkhart, Ind. During the Civil War he enlisted in 1861 and served his country faithfully until the cessation of hostilities. Mrs. Wooden’s half-brother, Myron E., was born in June, 1847, and married Miss Arabella Thomas. He died July 19, 1880. Mrs. Wooden’s father was married the second time, in 1844, to Miss Theresa Olmstead.

After his marriage Mr. Wooden took his bride, who was but seventeen years of age, to his humble home in the forests of Michigan, and on this farm they have toiled together for forty-three years. With his own hands he has cleared up two hundred acres of the heavily-timbered land, and she has ever contributed her share towards making the pleasant home they now enjoy. For more than forty years they have been exemplary members of the Free-will Baptist Church and have done much towards assisting the cause of Christianity. For several years Mr. Wooden has been a Deacon in the church and Mrs. Wooden has been Clerk of the Society. A life-long temperance man, and now well on toward his three-score years and ten, he can say what few, very few, can do, that he was never intoxicated in his life and has always been a temperate man. In politics he is a Republican but has never sought or cared for office.

To Mr. and Mrs. Wooden were born three children, Loren E„ born November 21, 1851, married Miss Elida Keely, who bore him five children: an infant, who was born March 17, 1883, and died when but a few weeks old; Maud, born March 17, 1884; Ethel, born February 16, 1886; Achsah, born in January, 1888; and Jay R., born June 15, 1890. Amy C., the second child, born June 11, 1855, first married John P. Frazier, who died June 4, 1880, leaving three children: Carl E., born July 21, 1876; Myron Burton, born September 15, 1878; and Zoa Belle, born November 21, 1879. The eldest child, Carl E., was a boy possessed of far more than average ability. Early in life he displayed a great liking for his books and could master anything he set his mind to. Although but fifteen years of age at the time of his death, he was ready to graduate from the Allen High School. After the death of her husband Mrs. Frazier married again, T. M. Southworth being her second choice. Their nuptials were celebrated September 15, 1885, and they have two children, a son and daughter. They reside at Allen, Mich. The youngest child born to Mr. and Mrs. Wooden, Achsah, first saw the light of day December 6, 1863, and died January 9, 1880.