Franklin Ephraim Woodford

Franklin Ephraim Woodford, born in Cooper County, Missouri, on May 5, 1848 was the youngest of the four boys in the Luther Woodford family. He was in his sixth year when the family, in a covered wagon drawn by oxen, arrived in the vicinity of Sergeant Bluff in 1855. The family home was the log cabin built by Luther Woodford the previous year. Frank, as he was called, attended the school at Sergeant Bluff, which his father helped to establish, and the Methodist Church to which his father was one of the chief promoters and contributors.

Into the vicinity of Sergeant Bluff, in 1864, there came another family in a coverd wagon drawn by oxen. This family came from New York state. It was the Lafayette Foster family.

The Woodford and the Foster families became well acquainted as they worked together for church and school and other community interests. Franklin E Woodford and Emma Foster were married March 16, 1875. Their first home was the original Woodford log cabin. In this cabin, on March 23, 1878, their first child, Pearl Alice, was born. In that same year the family moved into the newly built residence on the farm. In this house, which was later remodeled, were born another daughter, Faith Foster, March 17, 1883, and the son, Homer Lafayette, September 17, 1887. All three children attended school at Sergeant Bluff and were members of the Methodist Church.

Homer L Woodford and Nina B Prescott, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George W. Prescott, also pioneer residents of Sergeant Bluff, were married November 24, 1909. That year Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Woodford retired from active farm life and moved to the new home which they had built in Sergeant Bluff.

From interview with Joyce (granddaughter): As soon as Homer married, Frank and Emma moved to town and lived with daughter Faith. Franklin continued to walk to the farm everyday. He took care of the garden and orchard - planted fruit trees, raspberries, grapes, etc.

Homer and his father operated the 320-acre farm southeast of Sergeant Bluff, which was past the original Woodford homestead, on a partnership basis for a number of years. Homer eventually purchased the farm and continued operation until 1947, at which time he took Jack Cook in partnership, which is continuing at the present time. Early in the farming operation Homer began livestock feeding and has successfully raised hogs and fed cattle in large number. The land is very productive and has been maintained excellently with best farming methods of crop rotation and fertilization of the land.

Thanksgiving memories by Doris Woodford Nash (granddaughter): My first recollections of family Thanksgivings are of being at my Grandfather's Sergeant Bluff residence. These celebrations were family affairs and, naturally, included my father and mother and my sisters, Joyce and Pearl. Also included were Grandfather and Grandmother's daughters, Pearl and Faith. Later, Pearl's husband, Elkanah Buchner, was a guest. Luther, Grandfather's brother, and daughter Ethel, and various friends of Faith from Morningside College were also frequent guests. Later, the family increased and my sister, Jean, and brother, Homer Jr. came to Thanksgiving celebrations.

Refrigeration fro the food consisted of an ice-box on the back porch, cooled by ice harvested from the Missouri River and stored in the ice-house on the farm. Butter and milk were kept cool in a well and were drawn from the well on a rope-and-bucket arrangement. Cooking was done on a wood-burning stove. This method of cooking is a long trip to the microwave ovens of today. The food was grown entirely on Grandfather's farm. Chicken, pork and game were included. Vegetables included such staples as potatoes, carrots and corn. Dessert was primarily cake and pie and fruit cobbler. Jams and jellies were also made from fruit.

After-dinner entertainment consisted of card games such as Bunco, Rook and dominoes. Ours was a musical family. Aunt Faith, was was a music instructor at Morningside College, played the piano, and father would play his "fiddle". At times, the rest of us joined in singing. We played classical records on Aunt Faith's crank Victrola.

Grandpa Franklin died in 1936 and my mother and father continued the family Thanksgiving celebrations at their farm home. For several years before Grandpa died, the Thanksgiving was sometimes held at Grandpa's house and sometimes at our house on the farm.

From interview with Joyce (granddaughter): As soon as Homer married, Frank and Emma moved to town and lived with daughter Faith. Franklin continued to walk to the farm everyday. He took care of the garden and orchard - planted fruit trees, raspberries, grapes, etc.

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Oct 25 2020, 0:40:23 UTC

Franklin Ephraim Woodford, born in Cooper County, Missouri, on May 5, 1848 was the youngest of the four boys in the Luther Woodford family. He was in his sixth year when the family, in a covered wagon drawn by oxen, arrived in the vicinity of Sergeant Bluff in 1855. The family home was the log cabin built by Luther Woodford the previous year. Frank, as he was called, attended the school at Sergeant Bluff, which his father helped to establish, and the Methodist Church to which his father was one of the chief promoters and contributors. Into the vicinity of Sergeant Bluff, in 1864, there came another family in a coverd wagon drawn by oxen. This family came from New York state. It was the Lafayette Foster family. The Woodford and the Foster families became well acquainted as they worked together for church and school and other community interests. Franklin E Woodford and Emma Foster were married March 16, 1875. Their first home was the original Woodford log cabin. In this cabin, on March 23, 1878, their first child, Pearl Alice, was born. In that same year the family moved into the newly built residence on the farm. In this house, which was later remodeled, were born another daughter, Faith Foster, March 17, 1883, and the son, Homer Lafayette, September 17, 1887. All three children attended school at Sergeant Bluff and were members of the Methodist Church. Homer L Woodford and Nina B Prescott, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George W. Prescott, also pioneer residents of Sergeant Bluff, were married November 24, 1909. That year Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Woodford retired from active farm life and moved to the new home which they had built in Sergeant Bluff.

From interview with Joyce (granddaughter) As soon as Homer married, Frank and Emma moved to town and lived with daughter Faith. Franklin continued to walk to the farm everyday. He took care of the garden and orchard - planted fruit trees, raspberries, grapes, etc.

Homer and his father operated the 320-acre farm southeast of Sergeant Bluff, which was past the original Woodford homestead, on a partnership basis for a number of years. Homer eventually purchased the farm and continued operation until 1947, at which time he took Jack Cook in partnership, which is continuing at the present time. Early in the farming operation Homer began livestock feeding and has successfully raised hogs and fed cattle in large number. The land is very productive and has been maintained excellently with best farming methods of crop rotation and fertilization of the land.

Thanksgiving memories by Doris Woodford Nash (granddaughter) My first recollections of family Thanksgivings are of being at my Grandfather's Sergeant Bluff residence. These celebrations were family affairs and, naturally, included my father and mother and my sisters, Joyce and Pearl. Also included were Grandfather and Grandmother's daughters, Pearl and Faith. Later, Pearl's husband, Elkanah Buchner, was a guest. Luther, Grandfather's brother, and daughter Ethel, and various friends of Faith from Morningside College were also frequent guests. Later, the family increased and my sister, Jean, and brother, Homer Jr. came to Thanksgiving celebrations. Refrigeration fro the food consisted of an ice-box on the back porch, cooled by ice harvested from the Missouri River and stored in the ice-house on the farm. Butter and milk were kept cool in a well and were drawn from the well on a rope-and-bucket arrangement. Cooking was done on a wood-burning stove. This method of cooking is a long trip to the microwave ovens of today. The food was grown entirely on Grandfather's farm. Chicken, pork and game were included. Vegetables included such staples as potatoes, carrots and corn. Dessert was primarily cake and pie and fruit cobbler. Jams and jellies were also made from fruit. After-dinner entertainment consisted of card games such as Bunco, Rook and dominoes. Ours was a musical family. Aunt Faith, was was a music instructor at Morningside College, played the piano, and father would play his "fiddle". At times, the rest of us joined in singing. We played classical records on Aunt Faith's crank Victrola. Grandpa Franklin died in 1936 and my mother and father continued the family Thanksgiving celebrations at their farm home. For several years before Grandpa died, the Thanksgiving was sometimes held at Grandpa's house and sometimes at our house on the farm.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Oct 25 2020, 1:16:00 UTC