Thomas William Wood

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1850, Henry Co (District 1), Kentucky
• Census: 1880, Cedar Twp, Cowley Co, Kansas
• Cause of Death (Facts Pg): 1904, Suicide

Notes:

A portion of an obituary of Thomas William Wood [1838-1904] from an unknown newspaper account stated Thomas:

"...was ready to respond to anyone for assistance, and the morning of the day that he took his own life, he came up to town inquiring for the church collector, in order to make his gift for the next years work. At the time of his death he was 66 years old, having been born in Kentucky in 1838. Rev. Jones preached the funeral of Mr. Woods and his sister, Mrs. Morris, at the Cottingham graveyard, Wednesday afternoon, and in the presence of a large concourse of friends they were laid to rest in graves side by side. Mrs. Woods, the aged mother, is prostrated from the awful shock and the deepest sympathy of all is out to her in the loss of two children in the same day, one of which was her stay and comfort."

Older members of the family maintain that Thomas was murdered, perhaps by his brother in law James Burton. Those family members contend Thomas was happy, making plans for future years, visiting with relatives that evening, and then suddenly, when James Burton is the only one in the room, he is dead.

Thomas is buried beside his parents George Edward and Nancy Jane Wood at Cottingham/Meals Cemetery, Madison, Monroe County, Missouri. His gravestone reads:

Thomas W. Wood July 9, 1838 -- Nov. 7, 1904

Kevin Hewgley stated that he had spoken to one of the great aunts on August 16, 1998 and was told that "they still say he was murdered." He said the aunt did not expressly say so, but bantered around the possibility that maybe he was murdered by his brother-in-law James Burton. They say that Thomas was happy, making plans for years to come and visiting with relatives that evening. Then, suddenly, when Jim Burton is the only one in the room, he is dead.

Thomas married Susan E. Geter on 26 May 1874 in Saline Co, Missouri. Susan was born in 1846 in Kentucky; died about 1915 in Missouri. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]