Born in Ohio in March, 1827, Benjamin B. Woodcox was a pioneer of Defiance County. He was here by 1850 in Defiance Township with his new wife, Mary Elizabeth Southworth. They were married on February 27, 1850, and then were enumerated on the census on July 20th in Defiance. Benjamin was a carpenter.
By 1860, the family had four children: Emily, 9; Gilbert, 7; Ella, 3; and Charity, 3 months. One might assume life was hard for this family with personal effects worth $50.
Benjamin decided to join the Union Army, enlisting on April 27, 1861, for a three month term. He was assigned to Company K, 21st Infantry at 34 years old.
Leaving his family behind, he was first sent to Cleveland to prepare as a soldier, and then to Columbus where the unit picked up their weapons and supplies. In Gallipolis, Ohio, until July 3, 1861, the unit then received word from General McClellan that they were needed to reinforce Union troops in West Virginia. The group encountered the Confederates at least once and drove them away. Then it was back to Galipolis. They had one other battle at the Red House on the Kanawha River where their colonel was wounded by a bayonet. The unit was ordered home by August 12, leaving 4 men killed in battle, 3 drowned and 8 dead of disease. Benjamin managed to escape all of these.
On August 13, 1862, Benjamin reenlisted into Company E, 111th Infantry. He was promoted to Sergeant on August 26, 1862, then to 2nd Lieutenant in December, 1862. In the 111th, Lt. Woodcox spent most of his time skirmishing the enemy in Tennessee and Georgia. He was mustered out on February 10, 1864, and promoted once more to full Lieutenant on March 3, 1864. He noted no disabilities on the 1890 Veterans Census.
The Woodcox family moved to Toledo at least by 1868, when Benjamin's name began appearing in the city directories. The enumerator found them there for the 1870 census. Benjamin, at 44, still worked as a carpenter, but he held real estate valued at $2500 and personal effects valued at $1500. Their only son, Gilbert, was 16 and four other daughters lived at home - Ella, 12, Charity M.(Myra), 10, Effa, 4, and Mildred, 1 year old. Emily had married to George Gibson in 1868.
Benjamin B. Woodcox appeared in the Toledo directories until 1873. In 1880, he lived at 73 Water Street, Defiance, according to the census. He was 53 and the enumerator listed him as "Woodcocks". Ellen, Effa/Effie and Mildred were at home with George Bartlett, 25, a painter born in England.
Towards the end of their lives, Benjamin and Mary resided at 962 Broadway St. in Defiance. It was documented through the newspaper and legal notices that Mary was suffering from some sort of dementia, and Benjamin was named as her guardian. The incident that led to her transfer to the Toledo State Hospital happened in April 1901. It was reported by the Defiance Crescent-News on April 4, 1901.
"DEMENTED LADY IS SAVED FROM DEATH.
Mrs. Ben Woodcox, Nearly Frozen, Wanders on Wabash Tracks Early This Morning.
A demented lady, Mrs. Ben Woodcox, came near being killed on the Wabash tracks in North Defiance about 2 o'clock this morning.
The circumstances surrounding her escape from the house and wanderings about the street in the cold, ending in being snatched from in front of a rapidly moving train, are pathetic in the extreme.
At about the time mentioned, John Lantow, who resides not far away from the Woodcox home, was awakened and heard someone outside. Looking out, he discovered a woman, and thinking it was a different person, he called her. Mrs. Woodcox advanced toward him and when quite near, she was recognized.
Mr. Lantow knew of the mental condition of Mrs. Woodcox and, calling to his wife, said Mrs. Woodcox is out here. When her name was mentioned, the old lady took fright and ran down the street. Mrs. Lantow hurriedly dressed, threw a shawl over her head, and started after the fleeing woman.
Seeing she was pursued, Mrs. Woodcox ran down the embankment onto the Wabash tracks. A train was rapidly approaching, but Mrs. Lantow followed and succeeded in catching her. She was pulled off the track, just in time to save her from a frightful death as the engine was but a few feet away when the rescue was made.
Mrs. Woodcox was not clad sufficiently to be out in the cold and was nearly frozen, which evidenced that she had been wandering on the streets for some time. It seems that she had not been missed from her home as no one searching for her appeared.
She was taken to the Lantow house and thoroughly warmed. Later she was taken to the home of Mrs. Hatfield, the only person that has any influence over her during these spells. There she remained the balance of the night.
This is the third time Mrs. Woodcox has left her home and aimlessly wandered about during the night. On both former occasions, she was found in Mr. Lantow's barn, fast asleep. Her experience of last night might have been a serious one.
She has no particular hallucination and is not dangerous, but during these spells, she is childish. No steps have been taken to have her placed in the Toledo State Hospital, although the authorities have been asked to advise."
In fact, probate court records indicated that Mary Woodcox was admitted to the Toledo State Hospital on April 13, 1901, leaving Benjamin alone. He lived about another nine months before passing away in January, 1902.
From the Defiance Democrat, January 23, 1902:
"REMAINS ARE INTERRED.
FUNERAL SERVICES OF B. B. WOODCOX HELD FROM M. E. CHURCH
The funeral of Benjamin Brown Woodcox, the pioneer and veteran who died Sunday morning, occurred this afternoon at 2:30 from the M.E. church.
The two orders, the G.A.R. and the I.O.O.F., of which the deceased was a member, showed respect and turned out in a body. The latter organization, which Mr. Woodcox joinedin 1845, had charge of the services. Both orders escorted the funeral cortege from the house in North Defiance to the church, where Rev. Whitlock preached an eloquent sermon.
The services at the church were attended by a large following of friends of the deceased pioneer, conspicuous among them being the many soldiers of the blue and old time residents of the city. After the ceremonies at the church, the remains were conveyed to their last resting place at Riverside Cemetery, where the Odd Fellows went through their beautiful burial service."
On January 22, 1902, Benjamin's will was probated in Defiance. His only son, Gilbert, received $100, daughter Effie Bolt of Los Angeles, California was left $200. The remainder of the property was given to his daughters, Myra Jarvis, 2/3 and Ella Viola Bartlett, 1/3 ; they were the executrices. After Benjamin's death the guardianship of his wife, Mary, was put in the hands of attorney, F. L. Hay; Mary died in 1903.
(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city. Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle. The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived. If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)
No comments:
Post a Comment