JOSEPH CASERY WOODY & THE WOODY FAMILY
Joe Woody
The Woody family has left an enormous imprint on the area around Clark Cemetery and Veal Station. Joseph Casery Woody was born in Texas on July 17, 1880. He was the son of George Preston Woody and Matilda Amanda West. His ancestors were some of the first settlers to Parker County.
In fact, Joe’s great grandfather Samuel Woody (1797-1879) is generally recognized as the first settler of Parker County. Sam was born in Roane County, Tennessee while George Washington was President of the United States, and remained there, engaging in farming and blacksmithing until he started on his long westward journey to Texas.
The Woody’s came by water and ox team via Shreveport, La., to Parker County with their relatives the Farmers, and made their first stop in the White Settlement Community near Fort Worth in the mid 1840’s, almost 170 years ago. They all came through safely from Shreveport with their meager belongings loaded in old style covered wagons pulled through sand and mud by ox teams. There weren’t any roads or federal troops in route to guard against possible Indian depredation. Their location of homes called for constant vigilance against the Comanche Indians in preserving families, homes, and livestock for many long and trying years.
In fact, Joe’s great grandfather Samuel Woody (1797-1879) is generally recognized as the first settler of Parker County. Sam was born in Roane County, Tennessee while George Washington was President of the United States, and remained there, engaging in farming and blacksmithing until he started on his long westward journey to Texas.
The Woody’s came by water and ox team via Shreveport, La., to Parker County with their relatives the Farmers, and made their first stop in the White Settlement Community near Fort Worth in the mid 1840’s, almost 170 years ago. They all came through safely from Shreveport with their meager belongings loaded in old style covered wagons pulled through sand and mud by ox teams. There weren’t any roads or federal troops in route to guard against possible Indian depredation. Their location of homes called for constant vigilance against the Comanche Indians in preserving families, homes, and livestock for many long and trying years.
the site of Sam Woody Jr's log cabin in Decatur, TX
Sam Woody’s son, Sam Jr (1826-1920) is an early pioneer of Wise County. He built a log cabin near Deep Creek in Decatur about 1854. It was the first dwelling in the area. After Woody cut the logs, friends and relatives helped him erect the cabin in one day. A Texas Historical marker stands at the site today.
Another one of Sam Woody’s sons, William “Bill” Woody (1824-1915; Joe’s grandfather) had also moved to Texas and joined him in Fort Worth, and they settled north of there at the mouth of Ash Creek in Tarrant County. As they came first they had their choice of land and settled some of the finest soil in the State. The Indians, who had seemed to take an especial liking to the Woody’s, informed the new settlers that fine tracts existed further up the creek near Veal Station, which they explored and had surveyed by Llewelyn Murphy, a bachelor surveyor who had accompanied the Woody’s to Texas. W.T. Reynolds joined the settlement at the mouth of Ash Creek, and by common consent occupied a portion of the fine valley east of Samuel Woody's claim. After their arrival, two other families, the Barkers and the Godfreys, also settled nearby.
Sam Woody secured 320 acres near Veal Station, and built one of the first houses in the county, a log cabin contained one room, a door and no windows. This crude structure accommodated his large family and was frequently used as a tavern and a place of worship. The Woody Hotel, as it was known for many miles, was the subject of numerous stories told of the hospitality of Samuel Woody, the Ash Creek pioneer. He is reported as having dug the first two wells in the county. Supplies were hauled from Houston and Shreveport, as Fort Worth was scarcely more important as a settlement than the Woody homestead, and Birdville was still the county seat of Tarrant County.
Sam’s sons, Bill and John, also had homes near Veal Station. William “Bill” Woody (1824-1915) married Elizabeth Farmer. He served in Capt. Jos. Wards Co. C, 1st Frontier Dist, TX State Troopers, Parker Co., TX Enlisted 1 July 1864 at the age of 40. Bill claimed that he built, himself, the first of homes with lumber, on his farm on Walnut Creek about 4 miles from Springtown, and he hauled the lumber with ox teams from Shreveport, La. He always said that it was the first home built with real lumber in Parker County. He also donated the land for what is now known as Veal Station Cemetery.
John Woody (1835-1921) was the sheriff of Parker County from March 13 1866 until June 25, 1866. He married Leah Morris. He also served in the Texas Rangers.
Another one of Sam Woody’s sons, William “Bill” Woody (1824-1915; Joe’s grandfather) had also moved to Texas and joined him in Fort Worth, and they settled north of there at the mouth of Ash Creek in Tarrant County. As they came first they had their choice of land and settled some of the finest soil in the State. The Indians, who had seemed to take an especial liking to the Woody’s, informed the new settlers that fine tracts existed further up the creek near Veal Station, which they explored and had surveyed by Llewelyn Murphy, a bachelor surveyor who had accompanied the Woody’s to Texas. W.T. Reynolds joined the settlement at the mouth of Ash Creek, and by common consent occupied a portion of the fine valley east of Samuel Woody's claim. After their arrival, two other families, the Barkers and the Godfreys, also settled nearby.
Sam Woody secured 320 acres near Veal Station, and built one of the first houses in the county, a log cabin contained one room, a door and no windows. This crude structure accommodated his large family and was frequently used as a tavern and a place of worship. The Woody Hotel, as it was known for many miles, was the subject of numerous stories told of the hospitality of Samuel Woody, the Ash Creek pioneer. He is reported as having dug the first two wells in the county. Supplies were hauled from Houston and Shreveport, as Fort Worth was scarcely more important as a settlement than the Woody homestead, and Birdville was still the county seat of Tarrant County.
Sam’s sons, Bill and John, also had homes near Veal Station. William “Bill” Woody (1824-1915) married Elizabeth Farmer. He served in Capt. Jos. Wards Co. C, 1st Frontier Dist, TX State Troopers, Parker Co., TX Enlisted 1 July 1864 at the age of 40. Bill claimed that he built, himself, the first of homes with lumber, on his farm on Walnut Creek about 4 miles from Springtown, and he hauled the lumber with ox teams from Shreveport, La. He always said that it was the first home built with real lumber in Parker County. He also donated the land for what is now known as Veal Station Cemetery.
John Woody (1835-1921) was the sheriff of Parker County from March 13 1866 until June 25, 1866. He married Leah Morris. He also served in the Texas Rangers.
Clota May (Kutch), Robert Loyall and Joe Woody
Joe’s ancestors had located and settled on very good creek farms and the Woody’s made a good farm life here. Joe’s schooling was at the Springtown Male and Female Institute. He also aided in the development of the Woody-Kutch Live Stock Commission Company, North Fort Worth, Texas, and was able to acquire a very substantial acreage of Woody lands by inheritance and purchase. He had a substantial ranch and a large dairy herd of Jerseys and Holsteins and a modern equipped barn and did all he could for the World War II effort. He was able to raise and furnish for the markets a very large production of dairy products, fat cattle of all grades, goats and turkeys. He believed he was doing a good job for Uncle Sam, and regretted that he was unable to handle a machine gun or a jeep and be with our boys on the European front, or with drives in the Pacific or Atlantic.
Joe married Clota May Kutch (1883-1977) in December 1900. And although they are both buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Fort Worth, Texas their son Robert Loyal Woody (1904-1996) and many other relatives are buried at Clark Cemetery. Many of Joe’s ancestors are buried at Veal Station Cemetery.
(Adapted from A Tale of Two Schools and the History of Parker County)
Joe married Clota May Kutch (1883-1977) in December 1900. And although they are both buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Fort Worth, Texas their son Robert Loyal Woody (1904-1996) and many other relatives are buried at Clark Cemetery. Many of Joe’s ancestors are buried at Veal Station Cemetery.
(Adapted from A Tale of Two Schools and the History of Parker County)