George Columbus Wood was the child of William C. Wood and Mary B. Williams.
William C. Wood was born in 1823 in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri He went by Bill. Mary B. Williams was born in about 1823 in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. Mary’s nickname was Polly. George Columbus Wood was born March of 1846, in Missouri. He was a farmer. When the Civil War broke out, George enlisted in the Union Army. He was a member of the 31st. Missouri Infantry. George fought in a good many battles.
George Columbus Wood married Bethany Jane Leach in 1870 in Wayne County, Missouri. On August 10, 1888 he was given land in Douglas County, Missouri. The one hundred and twenty acres was given for his service in the Civil War. George received this land grant, signed by President Grover Cleveland, from the Federal Land Office in Springfield, Greene County, Missouri.
Between 1900 and 1902 George’s wife, Bethany Jane and his two daughters, Pruda Florence and Cora May died of tuberculosis. This was a terrible disease which was afflicting many people in the United States and around the world at this time.
George Columbus Wood and Bethany Jane Leach had three children. The first child of this union was Cecil William Wood. He was just called Will all of his life. Will was born in 1872 in Carter County, Missouri. He was a farmer. Will married Louise Jenkins in Douglas County, Missouri. We don’t know exactly when. Louise was called Lou. Will died in 1914 in Douglas County, Missouri. We don’t know how he died. We have no record of where he was buried.
The second child of George Columbus Wood and Bethany Jane Leach was Pruda Florence Wood. She was born on July 27, 1875 in Douglas County, Missouri. Pruda Florence married Joseph Asa Johnson on September 7, 1890 in Douglas County, Missouri. In 1902 Pruda Florence died of tuberculosis in Douglas County, Missouri.
She was buried at Good Hope Cemetery, in Douglas County, Missouri. Pruda Florence left four children when she died. Her youngest child’s Christening gown was made from the left over fabric from her mother coffin.
Cora May Wood was the third child born to George Columbus Wood and Bethany Jane Leach. She was born in Douglas County, Missouri in May of 1879. Cora married a man, who’s last name was Mathis. They married in Douglas County, Missouri. We don’t know his first name or when they were married. Cora May died of tuberculosis in 1901 in Douglas County, Missouri. She was buried at Good Hope Cemetery, in Douglas County, Missouri. Cora May left one daughter.
George Columbus Wood died in 1918 in Douglas County, Missouri. He was buried at Good Hope Cemetery, in Douglas County, Missouri. When George died, his wife and three children were already died.