Ella Abercrombie Wood

Ella Abercrombie Wood

Ella Abercrombie Wood Campbell, 1852-1925

• Father: Green Wood b. 31 Jan 1792, d. 12 Feb 1866
• Mother: Evelina Alexander Barnes b. 23 Oct 1806, d. 2 Apr 1888

• Ella Abercrombie Wood wrote to an unknown person .
• About 1837, portraits were painted of Green and Evelina Wood by an unknown artist (estimated date based on their apparent ages in the portraits). If a third portrait, of a young girl, was painted by the same artist, at the same time, it would have been of daughter Lizzie Green, as her descendants believe. The painting is today, however, in the family collection of descendants of youngest daughter Ella, so identity of the original of that portrait is uncertain.
• She was born on 31 January 1852 in near Danville, Montgomery County, Texas, at Greenwood plantation.
• She was the daughter of Green Wood and Evelina Alexander Barnes.
• Green Wood wrote to Bolling Hall Jr. on 18 June 1852, ". . . That young Daughter of ours grows finely & I think is about as nigh perfect in beauty as it is possible to be, regret that you can't all see her, it is worth a trip across the Gulf. . . ."  
• On Thursday, 8 July 1852, Green Wood recorded: "Mrs Wood & Ella, Mr Powell & Wm B. Wood all left for Huntsville at 5 oclock this morning," and on the following day, "Mrs Wood & all the rest returned from Huntsville."
• On Tuesday, 14 October 1856, Green Wood recorded: "Mrs. Wood, Mr. Powell, and Ella and Wood [Powell] started on a visit to Mr. Fisher, C. Abercrombie's, and Mr. McGar and Colonel Yoakum." [It is an educated guess that Mr. Fisher was the father of Horatio White Fisher who married in 1862 John Comer Abercrombie's daughter Sallie.]
• On Thursday, 17 June 1858, Green Wood recorded: "Mrs Wood, Mr Powell with Ella & Wood left for Sour Lake this morning."
• On Wednesday, 21 July 1858, Green Wood recorded: "Mrs W. & Mr Powell & children got home from the Sour Lake. All well."
• On Thursday, 18 August 1859, Green Wood recorded: "Mrs. Wood, Ella, Mr. Powell and Campbell left for Kellum Springs in company of Mrs. Scott and Miss Ella Scott," and on Saturday, the 27th, "Mrs. Wood and all others got home from Kellum Springs."
• On Sunday, 9 October 1859, Green Wood recorded: "Mrs. Wood and Mr. Powell and Ella returned today from a visit to friends on the Brazos and on the way got from the traps three fine Buffalo fish; one weighed twelve pounds."
• She and Campbell Wood, Sarah Anne Harris, Eliza Stocks Wood, Charles Harris Wood, Willis Eason Wood, Elizabeth Ames Wood and Powell Wood were enumerated in the census of 1 June 1860 in the household of Green Wood and Evelina Alexander Barnes in Montgomery County, Texas; next to William Barnes Wood.
• On Wednesday, 27 June 1860, Green Wood recorded: "Mrs. Wood, Mr. Powell, Ella and Wood Powell and Wm B. W. and wife and daughter all left for Sour Lake." And on Monday, 1 July, "Bob returned from Sour Lake with the Waggon and six mules, left all well." On Monday, 9 July, "Started Bob with waggon and six mules to Sour Lake to bring the Bagage." And on Sunday, 15 July, "Mrs. Wood, Mr. Powell and the rest returned from Sour Lake. Mr. A. W. Speight and Lady came also.
• She was Letters of Guardianship granted to Evelina A. Wood, Montgomery Co TX Probate Documents, Black Box Documents 1857-1867, Vol III p 92 packet 510. on 25 May 1868.
• She and Evelina Wood, Evelina Alexander Barnes, Campbell Wood, Eliza Stocks Wood, Elizabeth Ames Wood and Powell Wood were enumerated in the census of 1 June 1870 in the household of William Barnes Wood and Cornelia Josephine Mitchell in Danville, Montgomery County, Texas.
• She married Douglas McQueen Campbell, son of John Wesley Campbell and Ann Williamson Clark, on 12 December 1872 in Montgomery County, Texas.
• Ella Abercrombie Wood and Douglas McQueen Campbell appeared in the census of 1 June 1880 in Montgomery County, Texas. Other members of the household included Ann Williamson Clark, Sarah Patterson Campbell, Emeline Campbell, John Wesley Campbell and Evelina Alexander Barnes Emma was the daughter of Douglas' widowed brother John W., and Sarah and John W. were the children of their deceased brother Marcus.
• Evelina Wood wrote (from Willis) to her grandson Wood Powell on 12 April 1887, ". . . Ella is assisting Mrs. Woolridge in preparing for Maud’s wedding (the only daughter) She marries on the 14, next Thursday night. A Mr. Watson who stands well in Willis. he is a dry goods clerk in T.W. Smith’s store. Ella assisted in making ten large cakes yesterday & they are finishing them this morning. Ella’s afternoon will be devoted to icing & embossing them. she had several cakes baked here & will prepare some of the meats in her kitchen. Mrs. W. knows very little about such things. Billie & Josie will be in to the wedding. Dr. W. lives across the street
  from us. I expect to witness the ceremony. . . ." ". . . Ella is assisting Mrs. Woolridge in preparing for Maud’s wedding (the only daughter) She marries on the 14, next Thursday night. A Mr. Watson who stands well in Willis. he is a dry goods clerk in T.W. Smith’s store. Ella assisted in making ten large cakes yesterday & they are finishing them this morning. Ella’s afternoon will be devoted to icing & embossing them. she had several cakes baked here & will prepare some of the meats in her kitchen. Mrs. W. knows very little about such things. Billie & Jos". . . Ella is assisting Mrs. Woolridge in preparing for Maud’s wedding (the only daughter) She marries on the 14, next Thursday night. A Mr. Watson who stands well in Willis. he is a dry goods clerk in T.W. Smith’s store. Ella assisted in making ten large cakes yesterday & they are finishing them this morning. Ella’s afternoon will be devoted to icing & embossing them. she had several cakes baked here & will prepare some of the meats in her kitchen. Mrs. W. knows very little about such things. Billie & Josie will be in to the wedding. Dr. W. lives across the street
  from us. I expect to witness the ceremony. . . ." ". . . Ella is assisting Mrs. Woolridge in preparing for Maud’s wedding (the only daughter) She marries on the 14, next Thursday night. A Mr. Watson who stands well in Willis. he is a dry goods clerk in T.W. Smith’s store. Ella assisted in making ten large cakes yesterday & they are finishing them this morning. Ella’s afternoon will be devoted to icing & embossing them. she had several cakes bak.[Letter in possession of B. M. Henwood, descendant of Wm Wood Powell, transcription copyright 2007 R. E. Reichardt.]
• Ella Abercrombie Wood and Douglas McQueen Campbell appeared in the census of 1 June 1900 in Houston, Harris County, Texas, at 1104 San Jacinto Street. Other members of the household included Evelyn Lee Campbell.
• In 1907, Ella Abercrombie Wood was living in Houston, Harris County, Texas, at the time her brother Campbell began his Memoir.
• The following appeared on 25 July 1908 in the Galveston Daily News: Miss Julia Lee Wren is in Houston visiting her cousin, Miss Evelyn Campbell, daughter of Mrs. Douglas Campbell.
• Ella Abercrombie Wood and Douglas McQueen Campbell appeared in the census of 15 April 1910 in Houston, Harris County, Texas, at 1006 San Jacinto Street. Other members of the household included Evelyn Lee Campbell.
• She was keeping a boarding house, accordig to the 1910 census.
• On 24 July 1913, Robert Micajah Powell wrote to Ella Abercrombie Wood: 4440 Maryland ave, July 24th. Dear Ella, Your letter just arrived. My anxiety relieved. Oh !! These little mothers! They are the source & fount of new life & inspiration. They bring grand mothers in their KingDom. There is brightness & joy & all the new love centres on one little mite of humanity. Bess joins in love and congratulations. I read your letter inclosing the clipping, Campbells letter was so kind & sweet of him. It informed old friends & comrades that I am still living where I lived. Some of the old boys have seen it, written me nice letters. Had a card from Campbell this morning in your letter -- Florence is living happily in her Kentucky home, where the Stork is expected some months latter -- Bessie will go to her about the first of August. We have had a long dry hot spell -- But there has been rain, the temperature moderated. The heat distresst me, but I got through all right -- am in fairly good health -- Regret the hard times in Lina's life. Tell her there is too much for her to live for & she ought to have more regard for her health -- Trouble & sorrow seem to persecute Robert Hill & family -- poor Lizzie, not much sunshine in her life -- Captain Hill wrote me about Robert -- a sad letter -- Our Babies keep well. They are a noisy & an enterprizing gang -- I never see or hear from Woods children, they walk on the other side of the street to avoid me -- Glad Evelyn gave her daughter the Traditional name -- Congratulations to Papa Doc -- Love to all, Your Bro Mike.
• Ella Abercrombie Wood died on 25 February 1925 at age 73 in Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.
• Eddie Sue Goree, niece of John and Douglas Campbell paints a sorry picture of her uncles, but it is important to note that her knowledge and/or memory of her Campbell family was quite imperfect. For example, while there is hard evidence that Ann Campbell and sons Clark (and family), John, and Douglas settled in Montgomery County after leaving Louisiana in the mid-1850s, she states that "they settled at Clear Creek, near Galveston, and called their plantation 'Killiecrankie' after a place in Scotland."

• Last Edited: 31 Jul 2010