Abram Wood, along with John Hurst, came to the mouth of North Fork about 1815 to 1820 from Tennessee, having moved there from Kentucky. After coming to Marion County, Abram settled on a fine farm on Crooked Creek (where Earl Wood now lives) after buying the squatter's right from a Shawnee Indian for a pony, a gun and $25. He later got a patent to the land, paying 50 cents per acre.
Abram and his first wife, a Yates, had three children: William, John and Nancy, all of whom were born in Kentucky. Later, he married a sister of Pioneer Shelt Williams. To this union were born: Derl Wood, who married Sarah Adams, was killed by bushwhackers during the Civil War; Abe, who married a daughter of Daniel Wickersham, Tom, who married Leb Keeter; Katy, who married James Gage who was treasurer of Marion County 1842-1846; Clara, who married Jackson Blythe for whom Blythe Township was named; Rebecca, who married Elder Frank Treat and moved to Indiana years ago; Rachel, who married John McVey; and Missouri, who married John Estes, Jr.
William Wood, who came to Marion County with his father Abram, first married Rachel Williams. To this union were born: Marion; Polly Ann, who died young; Nancy, who married James Phillips, son of John Phillips; and A. S. "Bud", who married Caroline "Katy" Estes. "Uncle Bud", as he was known, was said to be the first white child born in what is now Marion County.
William and his second wife, Margret Rea, had Joseph Wood. Joseph married, first, Emily Summers and to this union were: John Bishop; Mary, who married Thomas Ervin; Jim "Doc", who married Missouri "Sue" Hutcheson. (One of their children, Rex Wood, who married Cecil Beavers, still lives at Flippin.) Other children of Joseph (Uncle Joe) were: Charlie, Fanny, Lena, Albert, W. D. (Uncle Bill) who married Martha Kemp; Henry "Squire" Wood, who married Ora Reynolds; Sol; Ammy, who married George Ward; and Dora, who married Albert Williams. Joseph later married Sarah Pickle and to this union were born: Brun, who married Willie Graig; Margaret, who married Elmer Wooten; Jessie, who married Pat Doshier; Kate, who married Ernie Wilson; and Jeff and Lisa, who died at an early age.
Another son of William Wood was John "Foot" Wood, who married Martha Weast, daughter of Adam Weast. Their children were: Jack, who married Georgie Barnett; Mels, who married Clara Gipson; Walter, who married Eddie Briggs -- their children who still live in Marion County are: Ervin, Katheryn Reed and Nellie Keeter.
Another son of John Wood was Hard, who married first Cordelia Messick. Their children were: Daisy, Floyd, George and Troy. Hard married, the second time, Cora Parnell and their children were: Helen (Mrs. Hammon James); Lucian, who married Vena Marberry; Melba, who married "Tex" Taft; Bessie, who married Jerry Miller; Glenn; and Lee.
John's other children were Oscar, Hattie, Ambrose and Ellie.
Nivenard "Nin" Wood, son of William, married Mary Weast, daughter of Adam Weast. Their children were: Derl, who married Cassie Ervin -- and their daughter, Mrs. Tollie Wooten, still lives in Marion County; E. B., who married Ida Alford (their children were: Loy, who married Ross Barnett; Willa, who married Bert McCracken; and L. A., who married, first, Lena Rose and, second, Blanche King; Lyle and Vera, who died in childhood); Lee, who married Della Mathews (their children were: Corbin, who married Etta Frame; Jinks, who married Lela Ott). Lee later married Dora Mathews. Children by this marriage were Nin, who married Ruth Wise; Irma, who married Arleigh Keeter; Russell, who married Elsie Treat; Thurman, who married Norma Johnson; Bernard, who married Helen Marberry; Earl, who married Neva Briggs; Leonard, who married Nellie Fitzpatrick. Most of Lee's children still live in and around Marion County.
Other children of Nin Wood were: William, who married Etter Gipson; Alice, who married a Brooks; Maggie, who married Silas Estes; and Kitty, who married John Bowman.
Other children of William Wood were: Charles Derl, who moved to Texas; Lucinda, who married Henry Atterberry and moved to Texas; and Matilda, who married James Holland. To this couple were born: Arby, who married Tom Baker; Fonce, who married Lea McAfee; Bub, who first married Rachel Burch and later married Minnie Flippin; Alice, who married a Roberts; Lou, who married Bob Lee; Donnie, who married, first, Scott Barnett and, second, Francis Pangle; Lydia, who married Theodore Poynter; and Rachel, who married William Hurst.
Reprinted with permission from History of the Marion County edited by Earl Berry, Copyright 1977