Woods Family Mystery
I am searching for information regarding a Susan or Tabitha Willard, probably born in the 1840's, married to William Henry Woods.They were my great-great grandparents and the family information stops there.The story is that they died in a house fire around 1871 or 72, possibly in Elizabeth IL (or vicinity).There are even suspicions that they might have perished in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.They left orphans, Alice Anna (b. 1863), Sarah Francis (b. abt. 1865), and William Henry (b. 1870).The girls were taken in, but my great-grandfather was put in aGerman/Lutheran orphanage in Chicago where he lived until he ran away at the age of 14.According to family lore, an uncle Clint Willard used to go visit him there.I have been unable to locate information on Clint, but suspect he must have been the brother of my great great grandmother.Jess Willard supposedly fits into the story too, but I
have yet to find out where.
If you have any information or leads to share, it would be greatly appreciated.I have promised my grandmother (Cora Belle Woods Neustel, daughter of the younger William Henry Woods), now nearly 96, that I would try to find out what happened to her grandparents.
Thank You,
Zoe Ann