San Joaquin County
Biographies
RICHARD WOODS
RICHARD WOODS, a farmer of
Elkhorn Township, was born August 10, 1822, in Marshall County, West Virginia,
a son of George and Achsa (Birch) Woods, natives of Virginia, and residents
upon a farm. In 1855 they moved to Iowa, settling in Linn County upon land
obtained from the Government, and resided there until the father’s death in
1863 at the age of seventy years. Richard, who was brought up to farm life,
went to Iowa in 1853, two years before his parents emigrated there, and followed
agricultural pursuits until 1862, when he came overland with ox teams to
California, arriving here at the end of a six months’ journey. On the way
across the plains they were attacked by Indians, at the place known as the City
of Rocks, north of Salt Lake; and although Mr. Woods and another member of the
party were wounded, the forty whites put the 100 Indians to flight. On arriving
here Mr. Woods purchased a squatter’s right to his present home, and was one of
the first to settle in this part of the country. Therefore he had wild land
upon which to make all the improvements which exist there now, and will attest
the good judgment, energy and economy of the proprietor. He has therefore been
a judicious, successful agriculturist.
Mr. Woods was married in 1851 to Miss Mary
A. Durbin, a native of Virginia and daughter of William B. Durbin. There are
nine children having the following names: Adaline, wife of James Parrott;
George A., Barbery J., wife of E. Sollinger; William M., Charles R., Carrie G.,
wife of V. J. Lucas; James A. and Melvin O.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Page 569. Lewis Pub. Co.
Chicago, Illinois 1890.
© 2009 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
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