History: Family: HOOD, John: Greene County, PA
Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John J. Hood.
thetnhoods@cs.com
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Interim Report on John Hood (1799-1843)
and his wife Letitia Smith Hood (c. 1803-1887)
Author: John J. Hood
Version Level: First Revision
Version Date: August 26, 2000
EARLY YEARS (1799 to 1818)
John Hood was born in Fredericktown, Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1799
where his father, Archibald Hood, had settled some years earlier.(1) The
name of his mother is unknown to us at this time.
John received a practical education from his father who operated a tannery
and saddlery shop in Fredericktown. As Smith Hood tells us, "[Archibald
Hood] taught his son, John, ...beginning at the age of ten years. Father
and son would work in the shop all winter and in the early spring travel
throughout Greene and adjoining counties selling their saddles and
harness[es]. Some trips would require a week or ten days."(2) It is
unclear whether or not John Hood received a formal education. In Crumrine's
history of Washington County, PA, he states that there was a log school
house erected in Fredericktown around 1810. Fredericktown is known to have
a library as early as March of 1796. However, it's not certain as to where
Archibald Hood was living between the years 1801 and 1819, therefore it's
also not certain where (or if) his son John would have had an opportunity
for a formal education. Regardless of that, John Hood, at the very least,
knew how to write his name as deeds on record in the Greene County, PA show
that he signed his name.
THE SMITH FAMILY
Smith Hood tells us that, "They [Archibald and John Hood] soon learned the
good places to stop for good food and a clean bed [when they were traveling
and selling saddles and harnesses], and one of their choice places to stay
was with a farmer by the name of Smith. [John] Smith [of Waynesburg] had a
very attractive fifteen year old daughter, named Letitia. John Hood fell in
love with her and they married."(3) Letitia was the youngest daughter of
John Smith and Lettice Cline Smith of Franklin Township, Greene County, PA.
Her age as recorded in census records created during her lifetime yield a
birth year range from 1801 to 1805. Her father moved from Harford County,
Maryland with his brothers in 1774 and was an Indian fighter during the
Revolutionary War.
About the time that John would have been courting Letitia, members of the
Smith family began leaving Greene County, PA for Tyler County, WV. John
Smith's son, John Jr., left for the area around Middle Island Creek in Tyler
County in 1818, and his father followed him to Tyler County in 1819. John
and Letitia were most likely married in 1819, as John Hood is taxed as a
married man for that year.(4) What's not certain is where they were
married. John Smith may have left for Tyler County after his daughter was
wed, meaning that they were married in Greene County (and no marriage
records were kept by Greene County at that time). The other scenario is
that John Smith may have moved with his daughter to Tyler County, meaning
that John may have married her in Tyler County (Tyler County records have
not been checked yet for this marriage). It is not known whether or not
Letitia received any kind of formal education. Deeds in Greene County that
she signed with her husband were marked with a "/" or an "X", indicating
that she did not know how to write. However, young women at that time were
taught how to read but not how to write.
THE YOUNG BUSINESS MAN: THE YEARS IN JEFFERSON (1819 to 1828)
John and Letitia set up their home and shop in the village of Jefferson in
Jefferson Township of Greene County sometime in the year 1819. Tax records
show that they did not own any land nor the house in which they lived, but
that they did have one cow and John was taxed for his occupation (saddler).
Although they had a modest beginning, the tax records show that they quickly
began building wealth. By 1820, John owned his own horse. The 1820 census
for John and Letitia shows that there were two men between the ages of 16
and 26 living in the household. One of these men would have been John, and
the other may very well have been an apprentice or an employee as the census
states that both of these men are engaged in "manufacturing".
In 1821, John appears to have gained enough wealth to purchase a lot with a
house on it in the village of Jefferson. The tax records describe this
house and lot as being, "...of E. Luse." This may very well have been
Eleazar Luse, who served as a witness for a deed for John Hood some years
later. There is no deed recorded in the Greene County courthouse for the
time when John Hood bought this house and nor is there one for when he sold
it. Nevertheless, it would be of great interest to discover if Eleazar Luse
recorded a deed for when he first bought this lot and to determine where it
was located as this would be the location where many of John and Letitia's
children were born. John and Letitia's first child, John Smith Hood, was
born in May of 1821, so he may or may not have been born in this house. It
would, undoubtedly, be the location where the other sons and one daughter
would have been born (William in 1822, Alfred in 1825, Maria in 1826 and
James in 1827).
In 1822, John Hood had purchased another horse, was still living in
Jefferson and appears to have started dealing speculatively in land. In
March of 1822, he purchased from William and Polly Pryor (heirs of the
Robert Kelley estate) a 1/8 interest in an undivided tract of land known as
the "Buffalo Flats" for $90. He then sold this land in March of 1823 for
$100 to George Rex (a return on investment of 11%).(5)
John Hood obtained other tracts of land in Greene County between 1822 and
1828 while he was living in Jefferson. He warranted a 400 acre tract in
Wayne Township, and he and Joseph Adamson jointly owned a 107-acre tract in
Center Township that was situated on the Ten Mile Creek. Around 1826 or
1827, he purchased a five-acre tract of land in Jefferson Township from a
man named Strawn.(6)
The year 1828 saw John Hood selling much of the property that he had
acquired. In March of that year, he and Joseph Adamson sold the tract that
they owned in Center Township. In August of 1828, he sold the tract in
Wayne Township that he had warranted (he had purchase it from the Greene
County Treasurer in June of 1828 as he had forgotten/neglected to pay the
tax on the property). And at some point in 1828, he also sold the five acre
tract he held in Jefferson Township and as well as their house and lot in
the village of Jefferson has been sold by that time.(7)
BUSINESS IS STEADY: THE WAYNESBURG YEARS (1828-1832)
>From deeds in the Greene County courthouse, it can determined that John
Hood and family moved from Jefferson to somewhere in or around Waynesburg in
August of 1828. On August 2, 1828, John Hood is recorded as being "of
Jefferson Township" when he purchases 1/2 of lot #138 in Waynesburg, and
then on August 21, 1828 he is recorded as being "of Waynesburg" when he
sells his tract of land in Wayne Township.
Although it's known when John Hood moved from Jefferson to Waynesburg, it's
not known exactly where he lived in Waynesburg. Tax records for the 1/2 of
lot #138 that he owned was vacant, and he sold it at a time when he was
known to be living in the vicinity. He apparently sold this lot by
1830.(36)
In December of 1828, John Hood bought a tract in Franklin Township that
contained 12 acres and 96 perches of land. Even though he held this land
until he moved to West Virginia, this is not where he lived as there is no
tax paid for a house or a cabin on this land.(37)
The 1830 Greene County, PA census record for the John Hood household paints
a picture of a home with a growing family that has a number of employees or
apprentices or servants living with them. The census show four young, white
males in the home, and it would safe to conclude that these are John and
Letitia's four sons: John Smith, William, Alfred and James. There are also
two young females listed and we would be safe in concluding that these are
John and Letitia's daughters Maria and Margaret. In addition to the family,
there are three white males between the ages of 15 and 20, and one white
male between the age of 20 and 30, all of whom may have been employees or
apprentices. There is also an additional female between the ages of 20 and
30 who may have been a servant for Letitia. Lastly, there was a free Negro
in the household between the ages of 10 and 24 who may have been an employee
or a servant.
The tax and land records during this period make it appear as though John
Hood stopped dealing in land and focused solely on his saddlery business.
Tax records during this period show him as living in Franklin Township (but
never showing a house or cabin), working at his trade, owning a 12* acre
tract of land, and owning a horse (or two) and a cow (or two).
BUSINESS EXPANDS: THE WEST VIRGINIA YEARS (1832 to 1843)
John Hood and family moved from the Waynesburg area to Blacksville in
present-day West Virginia late in 1832 or very early in 1833 (Blacksville is
13 miles due south of Waynesburg and abuts the Pennsylvania-West Virginia
border). His home was located on lot number 258 on the Blacksville town
map. John Hood ran a general store in Blacksville and with his son, John
Smith Hood (now about 11 years old), continued the saddler trade (the son
taking up the trade as did his father). This store that John Hood operated
is mentioned in a literary piece entitled "The Road to Morgantown". "The
Road to Morgantown" is the earliest example of the folk literature in
Monongalia County, written about 1832. Robin Darrah, a resident of Miracle
Run in western Monongalia County, is giving directions to a stranger on how
to get to the county seat and adds a great deal of superfluous information.
Along with illustrating the garrulous nature of some backwoodsmen, the
account gives sidelights on living conditions of the day and the people
mentioned were real men and women living in the area at that time. At one
point in the middle of this piece, Robin Darrah utters: "John Hood's got the
best store in Blacksville." (8)
Apparenly not content with simply operating a store and a saddlery business,
it is said that John Hood started the large wholesale and grocery and
provision house of Hailman, Hood and Company of Pittsburgh in 1836.(9)
Judging from court records, John Hood is either loaning money or issuing
credit to suppliers or customers ay this time. He files his first lawsuit
in Monongalia County Chancery Court on April 11, 1835 against Thomas
Reynolds and Joseph McCormick. The suit concluded on September 17, 1835
with the court ordering each of the defendants to pay John Hood the $50 they
owed to with "legal interest" dating from March 24, 1834 (interest to accrue
until it is paid) along with the court costs. (10)
Once more, John Hood appears to have been dealing speculatively in land. In
1836, he received a land grant for 17* acres of land on a branch of Day's
Run in Monongalia County (although Day's Run may be in present-day Marion
County). He made no improvements to the property (i.e., clearing it,
erecting buildings on it, etc.), and sold it by 1838. (11)
It was around this time that John Hood and family moved again: "After a few
years in Blacksville, John Hood again moved to what was then known as
Jimtown, located on the Monongahela River, at the mouth of Scott's Run in
Cass District, Monongalia County, West Virginia." (12) It was in this
vicinity that John Hood and his business partners began operating a store on
December 5, 1837. (13)
Although he apparently moved to Jimtown (or thereabouts) in 1837 or so, John
Hood did not cut his ties in the Blacksville area. Core (1979) states that
in 1839, John Hood of Blacksville (italics added) was one of a number of
people who bought stock in the Dunkard Creek Turnpike. In this same year,
Core says that John Hood, with William Launtz (Lantz?), was operating a
store at Blacksville. Tax records show that John Hood retained ownership of
his lot in Blacksville as late as 1839. (14)
What is surprising to this author (John J. Hood) is that John Hood opened
his store at Jimtown in December of 1837, a few months after the Panic of
1837 (a financial crisis) began. For a man who had never been to court
while living in Pennsylvania and had only been to court once in (West)
Virginia before 1837, we now see him in court quite often after 1837, both
suing others and being sued. These lawsuits may have been after-shocks of
the Panic of 1837.
The first suits were filed by John Hood singularly. On September 17, 1838,
John Hood filed one suit against John Williams for a $69.19 debt due him and
another one against Zephaniah J. Cannon for a $100 debt. John Hood won both
cases, with John Williams being ordered to pay John Hood the debt with 6%
interest from July 1, 1837, and with Zephaniah Cannon being ordered to pay
his debt to John Hood with 6% interest from April 1, 1838. (15)
On September 11, 1839, the Merhcants and Mechanics Bank of Wheeling filed
suit against John Hood, Morgan L. Boyers and James W. Hailman, "...merchants
in trade and business under Hood, Boyers & Company". The bank may have
tried to overwhelm the defendants by citing a large number of counts against
them in their suit. The judge overseeing the case dropped all of the counts
save for one on September 16, 1839 and allowed the case to proceed. The
case was finally resolved on April 9, 1841 when the judge ruled in favor of
the bank and ordered Hood, Boyers & Co. to pay their debt to them of $175
with 6% interest from May 13, 1839. (16)
The last suit in this flurry of lawsuits in which John Hood was involved
from 1837 to 1840 was when James W. Hailman, John Hood and Morgan L. Boyers,
"...merchants trading under the firm Hailman, Hood & Company", brought suit
against Abraham Brookover for indebtedness on April 16, 1840. The judge
sided with the plaintiff, ordering Abraham Brookover to pay Hailman, Hood &
Co. $84.50 with 6% interest from August 7, 1839. (17)
After residing in the vicinity of Jimtown, John Hood and family moved one
more time: "About the year 1840 he moved to Lowesville at the mouth of
Indian Creek in Grant District, Monongalia County. There, he erected a good
home, a frame building large enough for a general store and saddler shop."
(18) Core (1979) notes in his history of Monongalia County that John Hood
was sworn in as a Justice of the Peace for Monongalia County in 1840.
The 1840 census for Monongalia County, (West) Virginia show a family where
the children are "leaving the nest". There are only two young males in the
household, one surely is their son James and the other may be their son
William. Their son, John Smith, is known to have left home long before 1840
to study the saddler's trade in Waynesburg. Their other son, Alfred,
received formal schooling at schools in Waynesburg and Pittsburgh, and he
most likely had left home by this time. There is also only one daughter in
the age bracket of 10 to 15 years when there should be two daughters (Maria
and Margaret). Could Maria have been at school? Working as a servant in
another household?
His years at Lowesville in the early 1840's appear to be the zenith of his
career. One source has said that, "He was a man of excellent
characteristics, and took a deep interest in all movements for the material
development of the section wherein he resided."(19) His son, Alfred Hood,
said that his father was, "...one of the most remarkable and successful
business men [sic] that southwestern Pennsylvania has ever produced.... He
operated two or three large farms, ran several lines of huckster and
peddling wagons....He also ran a line of trading boats on the Monongahela
and Ohio rivers, and operated several large saddlery and harness shops,
whose products he sold throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. In
connection with these different lines of business he engaged in numerous
other enterprises, one of which was buying large quantities of whiskey,
which he shipped west and sold.....He possessed rare organizing powers, good
judgement and fine executive ability. At the time of his death he was
entering upon a wider career of business that promised abundant prosperity
to himself and usefulness to the commercial interests of western Virginia
and western Pennsylvania. Prudent but energetic in his enterprises and
enthusiastically hopeful in whatever he engaged, his untimely death was
severely felt in the Monongahela valley from Pittsburg to Fairmont."(20) By
1843, John Hood's land holdings at Lowesville (on the Monongahela River at
the mouth of Indian Creek) consisted of four tracts of land that amounted to
397.5 acres of land.(21)
THE FAMILY AFTER JOHN HOOD'S DEATH: 1843 AND AFTERWARDS
John Hood died unexpectedly on March 21, 1843 at his home at Lowesville.(22)
John Hood's eldest son, John Smith Hood, was the only heir of legal age, so
he moved back home with his mother and siblings from where he was living in
Granville (in Grant District of Monongalia County).(23) John Smith Hood
took charge of the farm, store and shop, and also aided his mother in caring
for the family.(24) John Hood died intestate and it appears that John Smith
Hood and William Lantz (one of John Hood's business partners) were named as
executors of John Hood's estate. John Hood's dealings were so extensive
that it appears that it took them until 1850 to finally settle the
estate.(25)
One of the tasks associated with settling the estate was engaging in
lawsuits of those who owed the estate money. On September 14, 1844, Hood,
Boyers & Co. filed two suits, one against Peter Davis, John H. Bowlby and
Matthias W. Davis, and the other suit against Peter Davis and Robert Tibbs.
The case against Davis and Tibbs lasted until April 14, 1846 when two bills
of exception were filed, and this is the last mention of this case. In the
other case, it dragged on from one court date to another until the plaintiff
agreed that they would renounce their claim against John H. Bowlby and
Matthias W. Davis if they (Bowlby and Davis) agreed to pay their share of
the court costs. Once that obstacle was removed, the case was finally
concluded on September 13, 1848 with the court ordering Peter Davis to pay
Hood, Boyers & Co. $519.39, with 6% interest on $340.58 of that amount from
the date of judgement.(26)
Although John Smith Hood was settling the estate, all was not amicable in
the family regarding the handling of it. His next youngest brother,
William, came of legal age late in 1843. Since he had apparently been
living at home all of this time, he may have believed that he could conduct
business in the name of the estate. We can be reasonably certain that son
William attempted to seize some or all of his father's estate, as we find
Letitia and all the other siblings taking William to court and suing
him.(27)
On September 8, 1847, Letitia Hood (widow of John Hood), John S. Hood,
Alfred Hood, Maria Hood, James Hood, Letitia Hood, Caroline Hood, and Joseph
C. Hood filed suit in Monongalia County, (West) Virginia Chancery Court
against William Hood. To settle this dispute, the court named three
commissioners to divide up the land formerly belonging to John Hood,
deceased (except for the Dunkard Creek land). The court named James Evans,
Esq., Edwin W. Tower and Joshua Lowe to serve on this commission, and
directed them judge the land by its quantity and quality. Letitia Hood was
to receive 1/3 of the land as her dower interest; John S., Alfred, Maria,
James, Letitia, Caroline, Joseph C. and William ("children and heirs") were
to each receive 1/8 of the remaining land.(28)
The commissioners returned with their report to the court on April 7, 1848.
Lot #1 was a 100-acre tract that was to go to Letitia Hood, widow of John
Hood.(29) Lot #2 was a 27-acre tract that was to be received by John S.
Hood. Lot #3 was a 57-acre tract that was to go to Alfred Hood. Lot #4 was
a 34-acre tract to be received by Joseph Hood. Lot #5 was a 54-acre tract
that was to go to Maria Hood. Lot #6 was a 58-acre tract that was to be
received by James Hood. Lot #7 was a 38-acre tract that was to go to
Letitia Hood. Lot #8 was a 14-acre tract that was to be owned jointly by
William and Caroline Hood. The court ordered that the costs of the case
were to be borne receiving the land partitions in equal proportion except
for Letitia Hood, widow of John Hood.(30)
It was around this time that John Smith Hood had started his family, and it
appears that he built a home for his wife and family on his mother's
land.(31)
In the 1850 census of Monongalia County, (West) Virginia, Letitia Smith Hood
is listed as the head of her own household. Her younger children, James,
Letitia and Joseph, are living with her. The estimated value of her wealth
that was reported to the enumerator was $2,500.
As mentioned earlier, the year 1850 marks the date when all matters
concerning the estate of John Hood were (or seemed to be) concluded.
However, it may appears that the heirs believed that William Lantz (one of
the apparent executors) may have cheated the estate. Letitia Hood, et al
(heirs of John Hood, deceased) filed suit in Monongalia County Chancery
Court on April 11, 1851 against William Lantz, et al. For some reason (that
was not recorded), the heirs of John Hood made the motion that the case be
dismissed, and the judge acceded to their request on January 31, 1855.(32)
In the 1860 census of Monongalia County, (West) Virginia, we find Letitia
Smith Hood listed with the family of her son, James Hood. Her son, Joseph,
is still single and living with her.
We find nothing in the written record on Letitia Hood until the 1870 census
of Monongalia County, West Virginia. At this time, we find Letitia Smith
Hood listed in the household of her son Joseph Hood (or to put it more
appropriately, Joseph Hood and family was now living with his mother on the
old John Hood farm). The value of her personal property was estimated at
$200, and the value of her real estate holdings was valued at $3480 (which
was quite a lot for that time).
The value of her Letitia Smith Hood's real estate holdings roughly
correspond to what has been found in the 1872 land tax records (for property
held in calendar year 1871). She is in one possession of a 116-acre tract
of land on the Monongahela River (at the mouth of Indian Creek) that is has
an assessed value of $1,392.(33) She is also listed as joint owner with her
son John Smith Hood of a 54-acre tract of land near the Monongahela River.
The assessed value of this land in 1872 was $864. This 54-acre tract was
sold sometime between 1874 and 1884.(34)
In the 1880 census of Monongalia County, West Virginia, Letitia Smith Hood
is listed as living in the household of her son, James Hood. The tax
records indicate that she was living at the old John Hood homestead until
her death.
Letitia Smith Hood died on September 10,1887.(35) The cause of death is
recorded on her death record as simply being "Old age". She lies buried
next to her husband in the cemetery at Lowesville where the Mount Hood
Methodist Episcopal (South) Church used to stand.
Since Letitia Smith Hood died intestate, an inventory of her estate was made
and recorded in the Monongalia County courthouse (on August 7, 1888). The
items that she owned of highest monetary value were her livestock: one colt,
one cow and one heifer. Aside from her livestock, she appears to have been
prepared to have company overnight (grandchildren, perhaps?) as she had four
beds, a bedstead, linen, blankets, a comforter and a quilt. It appears that
her kitchen was equipped with everything that a housekeeper might have
desired at that time: table and chairs, a cupboard, dishes, a kettle and
pot, a copper kettle, table spoons and tea spoons. Lastly, there are items
that suggest that she was living in comfort and wealth for her time; items
such as a mirror, a clock, a watch, a desk and two carpets.
Since Letitia retained ownership of the homeplace until her death, the heirs
had to decide among themselves how to settle this matter. This apparently
was handled better than when John Hood died in 1843, as none of the heirs
have been found suing each other in the court records. The land is listed
"J.S. Hood and others" in the tax years following Letitia's demise. By
1889, John Smith Hood had purchased the interests of his brother, Joseph,
and his sister, Maria Trippett.
THE CHILDREN OF JOHN AND LEITITA (SMITH) HOOD
1.) JOHN SMITH HOOD
Born May 31, 1821 in Jefferson, Greene County, PA. He married Mary Maria
Smythe, Feb. 4, 1844 in Monongalia County, WV. He was farmer and a mill
owner is Lowesville. He died June 30, 1901, Lowesville, Monongalia County,
WV and is buried at the Mt. Hood cemetery in Lowesville. He will be the
subject of a report such as this in the future.
2.) WILLIAM HOOD
Born Nov. 18, 1822 in Jefferson, Greene County, PA. Court records in
Monongalia County show that there was a William Hood & co. in existence as
early as 1851. One source has said that he was involved in the mercantile
business in Worthington, Marion County, WV, but that he lost everything in a
flood in 1852 that nearly wiped out the entire village. He later moved to
Shinnston and ran a creamery and dealt in coal land.
William Hood was said to have been a private in the Confederate army and was
held prisoner at Camp Chase, Ohio. This author has searched for service
records for William Hood but has found none. He may have given assistance
to the Jones raiders during their raid into WV in May of 1863, and for that
he may have been sent to Camp Chase.
Married Hannah Pindell Coombs (1st spouse). Died near Shinnston on Feb. 3,
1899.
3.) ALFRED HOOD
Born Aug. 14, 1825 in Jefferson, Greene County, PA. Married Sarah Straight
(1st) June 10, 1846. Alfred moved to Rivesville in Marion County and became
a farmer and stock dealer. Died Dec. 18, 1899
4.) MARIA HOOD
Born Jan. 4, 1826 in Jefferson, Greene County, PA. This author has
questions about her date of birth, as it only five months after that of her
brother, Alfred. She married Phillip Lowe (1st), April 7, 1849. She later
married a Mr. Trippett. She died Feb. 13, 1921 and is buried at Mt. Hood.
5.) JAMES HOOD
Born October 20, 1827 in Jefferson, Greene County, PA. He married Martha
Hough, April 1, 1850 in Monongalia County, WV. He was a merchant in
Lowesville, and also served a the postmaster (when Lowesville had a post
office). He died April 30, 1909 and is buried at Mt. Hood.
6.) MARGARET HOOD
Born about 1827 or 1828, Greene County, PA. She never married, dying at 15
years of age on Sep. 21, 1841 at Lowesville(?), Monongalia County, WV. She
is buried next to her parents in the Mt. Hood cemetery.
7.) LETITIA HOOD
Born Sept. 22, 1832 at Waynesburg, PA or Blacksville, WV. She married Jacob
Huffman. They are said to have lived at the old John Hood place in
Lowesville, taking care of Letitia Smith Hood in her old age. She died
April 7, 1896 and is buried in the Mt. Hood cemetery.
7.) CAROLINE HOOD
Born about 1833-1835, Blacksville, WV. She never married, dying at 15 years
of age between 1848 and 1850 at Lowesville(?), Monongalia County, WV. She
is buried next to her parents in the Mt. Hood cemetery.
9.) MARY ELLEN HOOD
Born 1836? Died 1837? This unfortunate child died when only one year old.
Her dates of birth and death can only be surmised, using gaps in the birth
years of the other children as clues. She is buried next to her parents in
the Mt. Hood cemetery.
10.) JOSEPH A. HOOD
Born May 20, 1841 at Hamilton, Monongalia County, WV. He married Columbia
Robey (1st), Nov. 11, 1868. He was a merchant in Lowesville.
NOTES
(1) Alfred Hood identifies the town as "Frederick", but tax records from
that time leave no doubt that Archibald Hood was in Fredericktown.
(2) Smith Hood narrative (1948).
(3) Ibid
(4) Greene County tax list
(5) Greene County tax lists and deeds
(6) Ibid
(7) Alfred Hood (1895) states that John Hood spent the last twelve years of
his life in West Virginia (which would make it around 1831). The tax
records in Greene County show that he was present in Franklin Township in
1832, but had definitely left the area by 1833 (stating the he had, "Moved
to Blacksvell [sic]"). John and Letitia's daughter, Letitia, was born in
September of 1832, and in some census records she claims to have been born
in Pennsylvania and in others that she was born in Virginia.
(8) "The Monongalia Story" by Core
(9) Alfred Hood (1895). The author (John J. Hood) has found where a Hailman
and a Lazear jointly owned a lot in Waynesburg, and a Jesse Lazear was a
witness on a deed for one of John Hood's land deals.
(10) From Monongalia County, WV Chancery Court Book No. 1. John Hood won
this case by default as the judge stated that the defendant Thomas Reynolds
was, "...still failing to appear...".
(11) From Sim's Index and tax records
(12) Smith Hood (1948)
(13) Core (1979) mentions this store twice, but it is somewhat confusing.
On page 158, Core says that John Hood and Company start a store in the
vicinity of Hamilton on December 5, 1837. Then, on page 359, Core states
that Morgan L. Boyers, with John Hood and Company, started a store in
Jimtown December 5, 1837. It appears that something of importance occurred
on December 5, 1837, but just exactly where it occurred and who the major
players were still needs to be straightened out.
(14) More research needs to be done regarding the dates of ownership of his
Blacksville and Cass District holdings.
(15) Law Order Book 1, p. 196
(16) Law Order Book 1, p. 224. Morgan L. Boyers is known to have resided
in Grant District of Monongalia County, WV. It's uncertain the residence(s)
of James W. Hailman at this time.
(17) Law Order Book 1, p. 257
(18) Smith Hood (1948)
(19) Found in Callihan (1912), from a biographical piece on C.P. Hood (son
of William Hood [1822-1899] and grandson of John Hood [1799-1843]),
(20) Alfred Hood (1895)
(21) Monongalia County tax records
(22) Both Alfred Hood (1895) and Smith Hood (1948) cite the date of death
for John Hood as being March 21, 1843, and both state that John Hood was in
his 45th year of life when he died. Alfred Hood (1895) identifies the place
of his death as "Laurelville" in Monongalia County, West Virginia, but
Smith Hood identified the place of death as his home in Lowesville
("Laurelville" may have been an older name for Lowesville; places called
"Laurel Flats" and "Laurel Point" are not far from Lowesville).
(23) In his biography that appeared in the Biographical and Portrait
Cyclopedia of Monongalia, Marion and Taylor Counties, John Smith Hood only
mentions the approximate year that he moved to Lowesville. The author (John
J. Hood) has made the connection that he came home to handle his father's
affairs and settle his estate.
(24) Smith Hood (1948)
(25) The Cornerstone Genealogical Society in Waynesburg, PA has an
unidentified document in the Hood vertical file that appears to be a record
of settled accounts (year-by-year) for the estate of John Hood, deceased.
More work needs to be done in the estate records and court order records in
Monongalia County on this matter.
(26) Law Order Book 2
(27) In Smith Hood's narrative, he goes to great lengths to emphasize how
the heirs of John Smith Hood (who died intestate) were in agreement about
how to divide up the estate and settled the matter peaceably. He may very
well have known about the fight between William Hood and the rest of the
heirs of John Hood, and this may what have prompted him to make such a
statement regarding John Smith Hood and his heirs.
(28) Chancery Order Book 2, p. 59
(29) Tax records leave little doubt that this was the John Hood homestead
that she received, being at the point where Indian Creek flows into the
Monongahela River.
(30) Chancery Order Book 2, p. 72
(31) This is my best guess as to what the situation was at this time.
Smith Hood claims that John Smith Hood lived with his mother until 1861.
The census records show that Letitia Hood and John Smith Hood had their
families living in separate dwelling houses.
(32) Chancery Order Book, p. 202. More research needs to be done on how
the John Hood estate was settled, as well as what role William Lantz (or
Launtz) played in the settlement of the estate and in John Hood's business
activities while he was living.
(33) There can be little doubt but that this is the old John Hood homeplace
in which she is living. In the column under how the land is held, her's
states that it is "Life", while most everyone else is listed as "Fee".
(34) More research can be done on this point regarding the acquisition,
sale and possible use of this tract of land.
(35) The date on her grave marker matches the date listed on her death
record.
(36) Tax records also show that he had sold this lot by 1830. What is
perplexing is that the deed recorded in Greene County when John Hood sold
this lot is dated March 10, 1835. What can explain this? Was this a
copying error by the county clerk? Was it really sold by 1830, but no
contract written until 1835?
(37) As with the lot in Waynesburg, there is a discrepancy between the tax
records and the deed. The tax records show that John Hood held this 12+
acre tract only as late as 1832, and the tax records mention that it was
sold to James Golden. The deed recorded for the sale of this tract from
John Hood to James Golden is dated April 1, 1837. Again, what could explain
this difference?
RESOURCES
*History of Monongalia County, by Samuel T. Wiley, Kingwood, 1883
*Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Monongalia, Marion and Taylor
Counties, published by Rush, West and Company, Philadelphia, 1895 (Although
this is a "vanity" history book, Alfred Hood (1825-1899) of Marion County
wrote, by far, one of the better histories of the Hood family)
*The Smith Hood narrative, written by Smith Hood (1861-19??) using, "..his
personal memory and facts gained from others, and from records in the Bibles
of John Smith Hood and wife Maria Smythe Hood on Feb. 20th 1948"
*Washington County, PA, Crumrine (1882)
*Greene County, PA personal and property tax records for various townships,
1815 through 1840.
*Greene County, PA deeds
*Census records, 1820 and 1830 Greene County; 1840, 1850, 1860 1870 and 1880
Monongalia County
*The Monongalia Story, Vol. III, Earl Core, McClain Printing Co., Parsons,
WV, 1979
*Chancery and Law Order Books, Circuit Clerk's Office, Monongalia County, WV
*Monongalia County, WV land tax records
*Sim's Index to Land Grants in West Virginia
*Genealogical and Personal History of the Upper Monongahela Valley West
Virginia, by James Morton Callihan, Lewis Historical Publishing Co., New
York, 1912
*Gravemarkers at the cemetery in Lowesville which used to be the site of the
Mt. Hood M.E. Church, South
John J. Hood
PO Box 248, McDonald, TN 37353
e-mail: thetnhoods@cs.com