Henry Gonzalvo Woods

Henry Gonzalvo (Gon) Woods, early Texas colonist, son of Minerva (Cottle) and Zadock Woods, was born in Troy, Missouri, on February 18, 1816. His parents were among Stephen F. Austin's Old Three Hundred, arriving in Texas in December 1824. Woods was the youngest of six children and lived most of his life as an Indian fighter and rancher. He narrowly escaped capture by Indians in 1828, after his family moved from Matagorda County to the upper Colorado River, nine miles west of John H. Moore's fort.

During the Texas Revolution Woods fought in the battles of Gonzales and Concepción (both October 1835). Although he did not participate in the battle of San Jacinto in April 1836, he served for three months afterward as a Texas Ranger. He fought under Moore against the Comanche Indians at San Sabá Presidio on February 15, 1839, and with Edward Burleson against Vicente Córdova in March 1839. After serving briefly on jury duty for Fayette County in April 1840, Woods served again under Colonel Moore in the expedition following the Plum Creek Fight that fall. In March 1842 he participated in the chase after Mexican general Rafael Vásquez. He rode with his father and his brother Norman Woods to the Salado River near San Antonio in September 1842 and was one of only two Texans to escape the Dawson Massacre on September 18. His father was killed and his brother captured.

Before Norman died on December 16, 1843, in Perote Prison in Mexico, he wrote a letter asking that his brother care for the family left behind. Woods married Norman's widow, Jane, on October 30, 1844, and raised Norman's five children and four of his own. In 1856 the family left Fayette County and moved to Shiloh in DeWitt County, where Woods became a successful rancher and horse-breeder. He built the first sawed-lumber, two-story home in the county and brought in the first cotton gin and the first cook stove to that area. Jane Woods died in 1866 and was buried in the Woods Cemetery in Shiloh.

Woods enlisted in the Confederacy in 1863 and organized and served as captain of the Shiloh Home Guard, although illness prevented him from active service.

The Woods family became unwilling participants in the Sutton-Taylor Feud following the Civil War. Woods was deputized to chase an alleged murderer named John Kerlick in the fall of 1869 and was ambushed and killed by Kerlick on November 28. Woods was buried next to Jane at the Woods Cemetery.

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Henry Gonzalvo Woods and his brother Montraville moved their families to DeWitt County, Texas.

Henry had married Jane Boyd Woods, the widow of his brother Norman.

Norman had died in Perote prison in Mexico City after being wounded and taken prisoner at Dawson's Massacre, Battle of Salado Creek in San Antonio, Texas.

It was in this battle, 18 September 1842, that Zadock Woods, father of Montraville and Heny Gonzalvo was killed.

In DeWitt County the brothers both ranched and farmed until their deaths.

SOURCE: by Marianne Little From The History of DeWitt County, Texas, Reprinted by permission of Curtis Media Company at this website - http://sonsofdewittcolony.org/woodsfam.htm

Son of Minerva Cottle & Zadock Woods. Zadock & Minerva migrated to Texas in 1824/they were one of the "Original Old 300 Colonist/Stephen F. Austin's Colony."

Escaped Indian capture while living near the Colorado River at Moore's Fort (near where La Grange exist today.) October, 1835, fought in the battle of Gonzales and Concepcion.

Served as a Texas Ranger.

Was one of two men who escaped the Dawson Masssacre/September 18, 1842. (36 Texians were dead on the field, 15 captured (one of which was his brother Norman) and only 2 escaped.)

His brother, Norman and the other prisoners were taken to Perote Prison in Mexico, where Norman died on December 16, 1843.

Henry Woods honored Norman's last request; he married Jane, Norman's widow on October 30,1844 and raised the 5 children of that union.

Henry and Jane had 4 children of their own.

He was a rancher, bred horses, built the first 2 story sawed lumber home in DeWitt County,brought into his home the first cook stove, and brought into the county the first cotton gin.

Henry Woods was deputized in 1869 to chase John Kerlick, who had been accused of murder. Henry was ambushed and killed by Kerlick on November 28, 1869.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Aug 26 2021, 18:42:28 UTC

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