Bartlett Woods (1818-1903)

Bartlett Woods announces his name through our columns as an independent candidate for Representative.

Bartlett Woods
1818 - 1903

Bartlett Woods was born July 15, 1818, in Winchelsea, England. He was baptized in the Winchelsea Church. He afterwards moved with his parents to Hastings, on the English Channel, where his father, John Woods, was postmaster.

In May 1836 Mr. Woods, accompanied by his brother, Charles Woods, crossed the Atlantic on their way home to America. Arriving at New York in August 1836, they made their journey westward by Erie Canal and then by stage coach to Michigan City, Indiana. Mr. Woods came to Lake County in 1837. In that year he purchased from the government the two hundred forty acres of land which was to become his home, paying for the same $1.25 per acre. He built a log house on the site of the present home. These beautiful locust trees which adorn this lawn were planted by him when they were no larger than whip sticks.

On January 28, 1847, Mr. Woods traveled with a yoke of oxen and a heavy wagon to the home of Samuel Sigler near Liverpool and there married Ann Eliza Sigler and brought her to the farm home.

On October 6, 1900, the wife and mother passed away, and on May 1, 1903, the husband and father joined her in the Great Beyond. They were both laid to rest in Maplewood Cemetery at Crown Point.

OLD SETTLERS MEET

Monument Unveiled to Bartlett Woods Memory

The Sam B. Woods farm near Lottaville was the scene of an auspicious occasion on last Saturday; in fact the surroundings of the well known farm of importance -- the annual gathering of Lake County's pioneers, and the unveiling of a granite shaft to the memory of one of Lake County's best beloved characters and citizens -- Bartlett Woods -- who in the hey day of his manhood stood out alone for the virtues that go toward making the best in citizenship and a power to be reckoned with by the forces that weaken the morale that make for that desired goal.

The granite shaft -- so befitting the life and character of one of Lake County's grand old men -- was unveiled and attended by solemn ceremony and W.C. Belman, of Hammond, orator of the day. In a eulogistic address dwelt at length upon the many sided virtues of Bartlett Woods -- a hewer to the line in all that he did or accomplished.

The other feature -- the Old Settlers picnic, with its basket dinner, its half-happy, half-sad reminiscences of bye -gone days and bye-gone faces, was all old settler's gatherings are noted for being -- a time and place to meet again, a time and place to talk over dear dead places and faces, and a time and place to be happy for just the time and place.

During the day prizes were awarded to Mrs. Joshua Spaulding of near Lowell, for being the oldest woman present, she being 84 years of age.

John Black, of Crown Point, was awarded a prize for being the oldest man present at the gathering, and Mr. and Mrs. John Hack, of Lowell, were given prizes for being the oldest married couple at the picnic.

Hiram Barton the "sage of Merrillville" was given tribute for being the oldest soldier present, and John Brown and John Black of this city, each with their four generations of descendents, came in for something handsome for being great-grandparents.