Nancy Jane Parchman (1837-1918)
Obituary
Gonzales Inquirer Newspaper, Gonzales, Texas
January 24, 1918
In the early hour of this morning, (Thursday) January 24, 1918, at the hour of 2:15 at the family residence there entered into that rest which remaineth to the people of God the spirit of Mrs. Nancy Jane Wood, wife of H. K. Wood of this city and one of the pioneer residents of the county, aged 81 years and 2 months.
Mrs. Wood had been in feeble health for sometime, however, her last illness was of short duration, her condition having become critical only the past several days.
Surrounded by all of her children and loved ones, she passed bravely and calmly out to the “Home Over There.”
Surviving her are her venerable husband with whom she trod life’s pathway for over 63 years, they having just celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary on January 3, and six children, namely Jas. Wood, Lucius P Wood, Misses Ora and Dula Wood and Mesdames W. B. Jackson and R. C. Botts, all of whom reside here except L. P. Wood whose home is at Ballinger. She was one of a family of 13 children, two of whom survive her, Mrs. George West of Pleasanton, Texas, and Mrs. G. McCracken of Austin, Texas, and was herself the mother of nine children, three of them having preceded her to the Great Beyond, Mrs. Thad Cardwell, formerly Miss Rue Wood, and Miss Vidie Wood dying after they reached years of maturity.
In addition to bestowing a mother’s tender care upon her own children, she mothered and reared to manhood and womanhood a nephew and niece Willie Parchman and Mrs. J. T. Dawson of Sinton, and a motherless grand daughter, Miss Mary Jane Ruth Cardwell, and partly reared an orphan sister.
Many other relatives also survive her among them Mrs. A. W. Harman, H. W. Matthews and Mrs. Albert Voges of this city. Mrs. Wood was formally Miss Mary Jane Parchman, and was born in Lawrence County, Tennessee, Nov. 24, 1837.
Coming to Texas with her parents in 1849, she first lived at Marshall for a brief time going from there to Harris County.
In the fall of the same year they moved to Gonzales County, settling at Belmont near the county line. Here she was wedded to Harris Kimball Wood, January 3, 1855. The old log house in which they were married is still standing and now belongs to Chas. Burris whose wife is Mrs. Wood’s cousin.
Having resided in Gonzales County over 69 years, Mrs. Wood endured many of the hardships incident to the early days which was the lot of every pioneer of this section.
She was a faithful Christian, a member of the Methodist Church South for forty-odd years.
The hour for the funeral has been set for 3:30 this afternoon. Interment will be made in the City Cemetery.
The Inquirer joins the numerous friends of the family in offering condolence to the venerable husband and other loved ones in their loss.
Source: John T. Nash, 6th great grandson of Capt. William Wood, Jr.