ELISHA WOODWARD (21)

Elisha Woodward is the oldest known Woodward ancestor of the authors.  Elisha was born in 1809 in Kentucky.  The 1850 census indicates that Elisha Woodward married a woman whose first name was Mary and whose middle initial was W.  According to Thomas Niswonger, Mary was born on July 29, 1812 in Kentucky.  According to Jill Farris as well as Bob and Karen Cadle, Elisha Woodward married Mary Hill.  In 1830, Elisha Woodward was living in Madison County, Missouri.  In 1840, Elisha Woodward was living in Carroll County, Missouri.  From 1850 to 1880, Elisha and Mary Woodward were living in Newton County, Arkansas.  Elisha and Mary Woodward were the parents of at least eight children:

  Mahala (Martha) Woodward, b. 1833, Missouri
  Rachael M. Woodward (21.2), b. 1837, Arkansas
  Lucretia Woodward (22), b. 1840, Arkansas
  Emily Caroline Woodward (21.4), b. March 25, 1844, Newton County, Arkansas
  Jesse (James R.) Woodward, b. 1846, Arkansas
  Elizabeth Jane Woodward, b. 1848, Arkansas
  Arminta Woodward (21.7), b. 1854, Newton County, Arkansas
  Charlotte Woodward, b. 1854, Newton County, Arkansas

Family tradition supports the above list of children, although there are major differences.  It also states that Willis Woodard was the brother of Elisha Woodard.  The listing by Flora (Coleman) Turner shows that Elisha “Woodard” married Mary (Hill) “Woodard.”  The listing further states that Mary had a brother named Billy Hill.  The listing shows that Elisha and Mary “Woodard” had nine children:

  Polk Woodard (listed as brother)
  Rachell Woodard, mar. 2nd to “Riar” Casey
  Virginia Woodard
  Ninttie Woodard, mar. Billy Claborn, then Bill Hicks
  Lottie Woodard, mar. Polk Davis
  Patsie (Woodard) Self
  Chaney (Woodard) Casey, great grandmother
  Christine Woodard, mar. Lewis Casey
  Emaline Woodard, mar. Austin Smith

Family tradition from Verna (Casey) Pearson presents another simliar listing.  Only the surnames of the parents are listed as Mr. Woodward who married a Miss Hill.  It shows the Woodwards having the following children:

  Chanie Woodward, mar. Allen Casey
  Patsy Woodward
  Criss Woodward
  Rachel Woodward
  Emily Woodward
  Minty Woodward
  Lotty Woodward
  Two boys (died)
  One girl (died)

We are fortunate to have located Elisha and Mary Woodward in census records from 1830 to 1880.  The 1830 census indicate that Elisha Woodward and Mary Hill were married in 1830 or earlier.  The 1830 census also indicates that they had no living children in 1830 (probably no children at all).  The 1840 census provides good fits for Mahala and Rachel Woodward but have one additional female (born 1830 - 1835) and one addtional male (born 1835 to 1840).  One possibility for the extra children in the 1840 census is that family tradition indicates that two boys and one girl died young, therefore, these could be young children that died before the next census.  The 1850 provides several good matches, but also opens sevaral questions as well.  Rachel, Lucretia, Emily provide good matches.  Mahala presents the issue of why she is not mentioned in both versions of the family tradition, but there is an 1876 marriage to James M. Steel.  Mahala would have been forty-three years of age which suggests a very late marriage or the possibility that 1876 marriage refers to another Woodward line.  Another possibility is that the census should have shown Martha Woodward which would match the family tradition of a daughter named “Patsy” who married a Mr. Self.  The son listed as Jesse Woodward presents another issue, perhaps this should have been James.  Maybe this son was named after President James K. Polk and was known by his middle name.  The 1860 census clearly shows James Woodward which supports this theory.  Tabitha presents another issue.  This name was difficult to read and could have been mistaken for Elizabeth Woodward.  The 1860 and 1870 provide excellent matches for all children.

1830 Madison County, Arkansas
  Elisha Woodward, b. 1800 - 1810
  Female (Mary), b. 1810 - 1815

1840 Carroll County, Arkansas
  Elisha Woodard, b. 1790 - 1800
  Female (Mary), b. 1810 - 1820
  Female (Mahala), b. 1830 - 1835
  Female (died young ?), b. 1830 - 1835
  Male (died young ?), b. 1835 - 1840
  Female (Rachel ), b. 1835 - 1840

1850 Newton County, Arkansas
  Elisha Woodward (M), b. 1809, KY
  Mary W. (F), b. 1811, KY
  Mahala (F), b. 1833, MO
  Rachael M. (F), b. 1837, AR
  Lucretia (F), b. 1840, AR
  Emily ? (F), b. 1843, AR
  Jessee (M), b. 1846, AR
  Tabitha ? (F), b. 1848, AR

1860 Newton County, Arkansas
  Elisha Woodward (M), b. 1810, KY
  Mary (F), b. 1812, KY
  Rachel (F), b. 1839, AR
  Caroline (F), b. 1844, AR
  James R. (M), b. 1847, AR
  Eliza (F), b. 1852, AR
  Arminta (F), b. 1844, AR
  Charlotte (F), b. 1844, AR

1870 Newton County, Arkansas
  Elisha Woodward (M), b. 1809, KY
  Mary (F), b. 1811, KY
  Arminta (F), b. 1844, AR
  Charlotte (F), b. 1844, AR

1880 Newton County, Arkansas
  Eliga Woodard (Head-M), b. 1808, KY
  Mary (Wife), b. 1812, KY

Family tradition and census records are not by any means a perfect fit.  Patsy (Martha) Woodward, Virginia Woodward and Chaney Woodward were never listed in any census records which casts doubt in either the census abstractions or the interpretation of family traditons.  Family tradition does not mention anything about the Eliza Woodward listed in the 1870 census.  Family tradtion indicates that Elisha and Mary Woodward had a son, Polk Woodward.  Listed as Jesse in the 1850 census and James R. in 1860 census does not closely track family tradition that they had a son, Polk Woodward.  Family tradition and census do support that Elisha and Mary Woodward did have just one son.

Mary (Hill) Woodward died on August 18, 1897 in Limestone, Arkansas and was buried in the Casey Cemetery in Newton County, Arkansas.  According to Jill Farris, Elisha and Mary Woodward had a daughter, Channie Woodward, who married Allen Casey (1.2.1).  Census records indicate that Channie was born between 1834 and 1840 in Missouri which makes it plausible that Channie could have been a daughter of Elisha and Mary Woodward.  However, Channie was not listed in the 1850 census with Elisha and Mary Woodward when she would have been ten to sixteen years of age (her first child was born in February of 1858 which implies she married in the mid 1850s.  Unfortunately no marriage record has been located that verifies that Channie Woodward married Allen Casey in Newton County, Arkansas.  The wife of Allen Casey (1.2.1) is listed the Newton County, Arkansas census records as:  in 1860 as Charaty Casey (born 1836, Missouri);  in 1870 as Jane (born 1834, Missouri);  in 1880 as Chennie (born 1840, Missouri);  in 1900 as Chaney (born April, 1835, Missouri).  According to Jill Farris, her Woodward information came from her mother-in-law that was related to her through her mother-in-law’s parents.  Her mother-in-law stated:  “Channie Woodward’s brothers and sisters, Patsy, Criss, Rachel, Emily, Minty and Lottie (twins).  Mother’s last name Hill.  Dont know father’s first name.”  This list of sisters (no brothers are mentioned) maps quite well in names as well as birth order:  Patsy is a nickname for Martha (this could be Mahala);  Criss could be a nickname for Lucretia (census records show Lucresey and Lucresy);  Rachel is a fit (except birth order is switched with Lucretia);  Emily matches the 1850 census (although the 1860 census shows Caroline and other descendants state Emeline E.);  Minty was a twin and is a nickname for Arminta;  Lottie was a twin and is a nickname for Charlotte.  Until more conclusive proof on Channies connection to Elisha and Mary Woodward, her descendants will be included in the section on her husband, Allen Casey (8.4.1).  For additional information on the descendants of Allen and Channie Casey, see the sketch of Allen Casey (8.4.1).

On October 7, 1876, Mahala “Woodard” married James M. Steel (born 1834 in Tennessee) in Newton County, Arkansas.  In 1880, James and Mahala Steel were living in Newton County, Arkansas.  In 1857, Lucretia Woodward married Lewis Casey.  For additional information on the descendants of Lewis and Lucretia Casey, see the sketch of Lewis Casey (3).  On October 15, 1868, Elizabeth Jane Woodard married George W. Davis (born 1850 in Missouri) in Newton County, Arkansas.  In 1880, George and Eliza Davis were living in Newton County, Arkansas.  George and Eliza Davis had at least four children:  -  Laura A. Davis, b. 1870, Arkansas,  -  Charlotte Davis, b. 1872, Arkansas,  -  Flora A. Davis, b. 1873, Arkansas,  -  Edwin Davis, b. 1879, Arkansas.  On October 2, 1870, Charoty Woodward married James B. Poke (born 1853) in Newton County, Arkansas.

References:  1)  1830 Census, Madison County, Missouri;  2)  1840 Census, Carroll County, Missouri;  3)  1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880 Censuses, Newton County, Arkansas;  4)  “Newton County, Arkansas Marriages, Book A,” Vera L. Dean;  5)  Letter, Jill Farris to Robert Casey, May, 1993;  6)  Family Group Sheet by Thomas Niswonger, November, 1995

RACHAEL M. WOODWARD (21.2) is the daughter of Elisha Woodward and Mary W. (Hill) Woodward.  Rachael was born in 1837 in Arkansas.  According to Newton County, Arkansas marriage records, Rachel Woodward (born 1840) married on July 4, 1872 to Uriah Casey (born 1830) in Newton County, Arkansas.  At the time of the marriage of Uriah Casey and Rachel Woodward, Uriah was listed as 42 years of age and Rachel was listed as 32 years of age.  Rachael was Uriah’s second wife and she was married to Uriah for less than four years.

Apparently, Uriah Casey’s first wife, Jane Casey, died between 1870 (when she was listed in the 1870 census) and 1872 (when Uriah married a second time to Rachael Woodward).  According to Newton County, Arkansas marriage records, Uriah Casey (born 1830) married Rachael Woodward (born 1840) on July 4, 1872 in Newton County, Arkansas.  It appears that Uriah Casey and Rachael (Woodward) Casey were married at most four years as Uriah Casey married a third time in 1876.  According to Newton County, Arkansas marriage records, Uriah Casey (born 1830) married a third time to Mary Jane Bohannon (born 1844) on December 17, 1876 in Newton County, Arkansas.  Additionally, the 1880 census shows Uriah Casey and his third wife, Mary J. Casey, living in Newton County, Arkansas.  The 1880 census shows no children born between 1872 and 1876 and therefore it is likely that Uriah Casey and Rachael (Woodward) Casey had no children.  Rachael (Woodward) Casey probably died between 1872 (when she married Uriah Casey) and 1876 (when Uriah Casey married a third time to Mary Jane Bohannon).  For additional information on the descendants of Uriah by his first and third marriages, see the sketch of Uriah Casey (8.4.2).

References:  1)  1850, 1860, 1880 Censuses, Newton County, Arkansas;  2)  1870 Census, Johnson County, Arkansas;  3)  1900 Census, Flathead County, Montana;  4)  “Casey History,” by George and Abner Casey, Page 268, 1964;  5)  “Newton County, Arkansas Marriages, Book A,” Vera L. Dean, 1982;  6)  Letter, Vernon V. Casey to Harold Casey, November, 1982;  7)  “Newton County Family History,” 1992, Pages 149 and 150

EMILY CAROLINE WOODWARD (21.4) is the daughter of Elisha Woodward and Mary W. (Hill) Woodward.  Emily was born on March 25, 1844 in Newton County, Arkansas.  Emeline Woodward married Austin Garland Smith.  Austin was born on October 30, 1818 in Kentucky and is the son of John Smith.  Austin was previously married to Nancy Rachel Whiteley and they had thirteen children:  Son (died as an infant);  Martha E. Smith (born June 14, 1841, Arkansas);  Lucy J. Smith (born January 19, 1843, Texas);  Sally T. Smith (born 1843, Arkansas);  Sarah Ann Smith (born December 25, 1845, Arkansas);  John Charles Smith (born October 23, 1846, Arkansas);  Nancy Catherine Smith (born June, 1845, Arkansas);  George Washington Smith (born January 24, 1850, Newton County, Arkansas);  James Martin Smith (born September 28, 1852, Newton County, Arkansas);  Isaac Jasper Smith (born October 6, 1853, Newton County, Arkansas);  Mary Susan Smith (born December 13, 1855, Newton County, Arkansas);  Samuel William Smith (born October 4, 1857, Newton County, Arkansas);  Andrew Jackson Smith (born March, 1859, Newton County, Arkansas).  One of these children, Nancy Smith, married Ambler A. Casey (8.4.3).  Austin Smith and his second wife, Emeline (Woodward) Smith, were the parents of nine children:

  Franklin Smith, b. 1862, Arkansas
  Elizabeth Smith, b. 1864, Arkansas
  Allen Grant Smith (21.4.3), b. December 16, 1866, Newton County, Arkansas
  Elizabeth C. Smith, b. 1868, Arkansas
  Altimary Zerah Smith, b. March 30, 1870, Arkansas
  Elisha Langley Smith (21.4.6), b. November 26, 1872, Newton County, Arkansas
  Uriah Absolum Smith, b. March 7, 1876, Newton County, Arkansas
  Matthew Otis Smith, b. January 2, 1879, Newton County, Arkansas
  Rachel Cornelia Smith, b. March 21, 1881, Newton County, Arkansas

From 1870 to 1880, Austin and Emeline Smith were living in Newton County, Arkansas.  Austin G. Smith died on March 18, 1887 in Newton County, Arkansas and was buried there in Newton County, Arkansas.  In 1900, Emeline (Woodward) Smith was living with her daughter, Rachel Woodward, in Newton County, Arkansas.  Emeline (Woodward) Smith died on October 19, 1911 in Johnson County, Arkansas and was buried there in Johnson County, Arkansas.  Franklin Smith died as an infant.  Elizabeth Smith died as an infant.  On August 21, 1887, Altimary Smith married John D. Baucom in Newton County, Arkansas.  Altimary married a second time to Robert Baker.  Altimary (Smith) Baker died on September 30, 1919.  Uriah Smith married Mary Isabell Martin (born August 30, 1882).  Mary (Martin) Smith died on March 31, 1899 and was buried in the Wayton Cemetery in Newton County, Arkansas.  Mary died shortly after the birth of a son who was born on March 21, 1899 and died on March 24, 1899.  Matthew Smith married Sarah Hudson.  On September 30, 1900, Rachel Smith married Thomas Shatswell.

References:  1)  1870, 1880 and 1900 Censuses, Newton County, Arkansas;  2)  “Joseph Whiteley, Sr. and His Descendants,” by Dorris (Easley) Estes, 1990;  3)  Family Group Sheets by Mary E. Casey, February, 1994;  4)  Family Group Sheet by Thomas Niswonger, November, 1995

ALLEN GRANT SMITH (21.4.3) is the son of Austin Garland Smith and Emily Caroline (Woodward) Smith.  Allen was born on December 16, 1866 in Newton County, Arkansas.  On January 24, 1889, Allen G. Smith married Minnie Grace Cowell in Newton County, Arkansas.  Minnie was born in May of 1872 in Tennessee.  In 1900, Allen and Minnie Smith were living in Newton County, Arkansas.  Allen and Minnie Smith were the parents of at least four children:

  Manda Smith, b. September, 1891, Arkansas
  Mytle Smith, b. December, 1892, Arkansas
  Bennett Smith, b. July, 1885, Arkansas
  Vestus Smith, b. April, 1898, Arkansas

References:  1)  1900 Census, Newton County, Arkansas;  2)  Family Group Sheets by Mary E. Casey, February, 1994

ELISHA LANGLEY SMITH (21.4.6) is the son of Austin Garland Smith and Emily Caroline (Woodward) Smith.  Elisha was born on November 26, 1872 in Newton County, Arkansas.  On February 4, 1892, Elisha Smith married Nancy Jane Farmer in Newton County, Arkansas.  Nancy was born on May 25, 1875 in Arkansas and is the daughter of William Harrison Farmer and Mary J. Farmer.  William H. Farmer’s sister, Nancy I. Farmer, married William Uriah Casey (8.1.6.2).  From 1900 to 1920, Elisha and Nancy Smith were living in Newton County, Arkansas.  Elisha and Nancy Smith were the parents of at least ten children:

  Della Smith, b. April, 1895, Newton County, Arkansas
  William Abner Smith, b. August, 1898, Newton County, Arkansas
  Albert Jasper Smith (21.4.6.3), b. December 30, 1899, Jasper, Arkansas
  James Allen Smith, b. 1903, Newton County, Arkansas
  Orval A. Smith, b. 1905, Newton County, Arkanas
  Angie Emeline Smith, b. 1907, Newton County, Arkansas
  Lucy Victoria Smith, b. 1909, Newton County, Arkansas
  Olive Juanita Smith, b. February 5, 1915, Newton County, Arkansas
  Jewel F. Smith, b. 1915, Newton County, Arkansas
  Arthur Smith, b. 1928

Elisha Smith died on September 30, 1919 in Newton County, Arkansas and was buried there in the Union Hill Cemetery.  Della Smith married a Mr. Gerald.  William Smith married a woman whose first name is Walsie.  James Smith had one son:  -  James Allen Smith, Jr., b. 1938.  Orval Smith married a Miss McArter.  Emeline Smith married William Wilson.  Lucy Smith married Heulett Breedlove.  Olive Smith married Boyd Matlock and they live in Parthenon, Arkansas.  Olive (Smith) Matlock died on May 8, 1990 in Harrison, Arkansas and was buried in the Union Hill Cemetery in Newton County, Arkanas.  Jewell Smith married a Mr. Snow and they had six children.  Jewell and her husband were killed in a train accident.

References:  1)  1900, 1910 and 1920 Censuses, Newton County, Arkansas;  2)  “Joseph Whiteley, Sr. and His Descendants,” by Dorris (Easley) Estes, 1990;  3)  Family Group Sheets by Mary E. Casey, February, 1994;  4)  Family Group Sheet by Thomas Niswonger, November, 1995

ALBERT JASPER SMITH (21.4.6.3) is the son of Elisha Langley Smith and Nancy Jane (Farmer) Smith.  Albert was born on December 30, 1899 in Jasper, Arkansas.  On March 2, 1923, Albert Smith married Nora Eveline Casey (8.1.6.2.1.7).  Nora was born on February 25, 1906 in Jasper, Arkansas and is the daughter of James Marion Casey and Elizabeth Jane (White) Casey.  Albert and Nora Smith were the parents of eleven children:

  Louise Smith, b. December, 1923
  Carl Smith, b. July, 1925
  Fern Smith, b. 1927
  Ila Ruth Smith, b. August 14, 1929, Shecota, Oklahoma
  Nella Smith, b. ca. 1931
  Ruby Lee Smith, b. ca. 1933
  Glenna Jo Smith
  Unnamed Infant
  Jimmy Ray Smith, b. February 25, 1941
  Lottie Mae Smith, b. March 14, 1943
  Jackie Glenn Smith, b. September 28, 1951

Albert and Nora Smith lived in Walden, Arkansas.  Louise Smith married Virgil Mayes.  Carl Smith married Eva Mae Fowler.  Fern Smith married Grover G. Breedlove.  On January 8, 1947, Ruth Smith married Wayne Woodrow Breedlove (born July 20, 1918 in Swain, Arkansas).  Wayne and Ruth Breedlove have one daughter:  -  Velma Cathy Breedlove, b. April 24, 1954, Jasper, Arkansas.  Nella Smith married James K. Gillian.  Ruby Lee Smith married Cleatus Hamblin.  Glenna Jo Smith married Lewis Essex.  Lewis and Glenna Jo Essex have one daughter:  -  Karen Essex.  Karen Essex married a Bob Cagle.  Jimmy Ray Smith married Wanda Rundell.  Lottie Mae Smith married James Richmond.  Jackie Smith married Anna Jo Massengale.

References:  1)  “Joseph Whiteley, Sr. and His Descendants,” by Dorris (Easley) Estes, 1990;  2)  Family Group Sheets by Bruce Peoples, April, 1993;  3)  Family Group Sheets by Mary E. Casey, February, 1994

ARMINTA WOODWARD (21.7) is the daughter of Elisha Woodward and Mary W. (Hill) Woodward.  Arminta was born in 1854 in Newton County, Arkansas.  On April 13, 1871, “Arminty” Woodward married William Franklin Hicks in Newton County, Arkansas.  William was born in 1849 in Gilmer County, Georgia.  William and Arminta Hicks were the parents of at least one son:

  James Madison Hicks, b. 1872, Arkansas

William Hicks died in December, 1879.  In 1880, Arminta (Woodward) Hicks was living with her son, James, in Newton County, Arkansas.  On July 3, 1881, Arminta married a second time to James N. Dick Clayborn in Newton County, Arkansas.  On July 23, 1891, James Hicks married Elizabeth Adams in Newton County, Arkansas.

References:  1)  1880 Census, Newton County, Arkansas;  2)  “Newton County, Arkansas Marriages, Book A,” (1871 marriage) Vera L. Dean;  3)  Letter, Jill Farris to Robert Casey, May, 1993;  4)  Family Group Sheet by Thomas Niswonger, November, 1995;  5)  Letter, Don E. Hicks to Robert Casey, May, 2000