Chasing the Elusive: The Mysterious Disappearance of Burris Doudney Wood I

This is a "Chasing the Elusive" in that I don't know what happened to my third-great-grandfather, but it is also a story that has been passed down through the family.

This blog post is on the first Burris Doudney Wood in the family.  He named a son Burris Doudney, and he also had a nephew named for him.... the nephew became the famous steamboat captain Burris D. Wood who died in 1902.  Burris' son, Burris Doudney Jr. also disappeared mysteriously and is a "Chasing the Elusive" in his own right.

Anyway, I should start at the beginning.

Burris Doudney Wood was the ninth child and second son born to Abinah Belford Wood and Susannah Humphreys, and their last child to be born in New Jersey.  He was born 9 November 1815, probably in Cumberland County, as Abinah did own land in Greenwich Township there, but it is not known for sure.  What is known is Burris made his way to Franklin, Fayette County, Pennsylvania with the family, and was enumerated on a federal census there in 1820 as the free white son under the age of ten in the household of "Biney Woods."

By 1830, the family was living in Saint Clair Township, just south of Pittsburgh, in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.  Burris was again enumerated in the household of Abinah Wood (Ancestry has him listed as Anich) as one of two males aged 10-14 in the household.  (Burris' brother David was listed as the other one).

*Side note here - until 1850, the only people listed on the Census Enumerations were the heads of the households.... everyone else was tallied as a person living in the household, so it makes for interesting research sometimes.*

Burris married Miss Julia Blackford (or Blachford) on 1 May 1838 likely in Allegheny County, as he was living there, but the couple could have been in the neighboring Washington County, where Julia was supposedly born.  No records exist to prove this date as the marriage except for what I like to call "the Wood Book" in my research - it's actual title is History and Genealogy of the Descendants of Abinah wood and Susannah Humphreys.  The family is listed as "Wood Family III" for those interested. Julia was born sometime between 1815 and 1817 in the aforementioned Washington County according to family stories,though not much is known about her parentage.  She may have been the daughter of a John Blackford but that is just hypothetical at this point, so I don't have parentage listed for her.

At any rate, the couple lived in Mifflin Township, Allegheny County, according to the household enumeration done in 1840 for the federal census.  Mifflin Township was south and slightly east of what is now present day Pittsburgh.  It was east of Saint Clair Township at the time Burris lived there and most of the people who lived in the area were shipbuilders (Family stories suggest Burris got his start as a shipbuilder).  Burris was enumerated directly after his brother-in-law John Arehart (who married Emma Wood), which suggests that they were neighbors.  Enumerated in his household was himself, Julia, and their infant daughter, Eliza (or Elizabeth).

In 1842, the couple moved their small family, which by this time also had a son, John Devender (born 23 April 1841) to Lower Saint Clair Township, as Burris had bought property on Brownsville Plank Road.  The land he purchased was bought from Alfred Verner for $150 on 2 Jul 1842, and it is assumed the family lived here for a time.  Brother David ought land that bordered it.  However, Burris (and David) apparently went into debt with Verner in 1846, as the land was seized and sold in a sheriff's sale.  Burris was able to buy the land back in 1847, but had also bought two other properties that year, a parcel of land at the corner of  Carson Street and Joseph Street as well as a parcel of land at Clifton and Joseph Street, both in East Birmingham, Allegheny County.  It is not known exactly which property the family lived at.

By 1850, when the family was enumerated again on the federal census living in East Birmingham and where Burris was listed in the local directory as a Justice of the Peace on Joseph Street, the couple had nearly completed their family with the births of their next four children.  Reumah Anne was born 14 Jan 1843.  Margaret M. was born 18 June 1844. William W. was born sometime in 1847 and the aforementioned son Burris Doudney was born 27 May 1849.  All six children (including Eliza and John) were enumerated along with Burris and Julia on the census.

Also in 1850 Burris purchased one more property, having sold off the rest of his properties.  This parcel of land was situated on Wharton Street and Joseph Street in East Birmingham.  He only owned this land for a little over a year, selling it in June 1851.  It is not know where the family moved, though it is likely the remained in East Birmingham and rented.

In 1852, just after the birth of the couple's final son, George W Wood (born 1 April 1852),  Burris had to deal with a legal issue.  He and one Francis Sellers were plaintiffs in a case  against William C. Aughinbaugh and James Moore.   There was an action of trespass on the case for the recovery of $200 for work and labor done by Burris and Sellers.  The case went to the jury on 6 May 1852 and Wood and Sellers received $101.06.

For one reason or another, Burris decided that life in Allegheny County no longer suited his family.  Because this was the heyday of the steamships, and he had connections to shipbuilding, he decided he was going to pack up his family and moved to Saint Louis, Missouri, which was a hub of activity.  Sometime in the spring of 1854, he traveled via boat to Saint Louis, intent on finding a place for his family to live.  On 10 May 1854 he sent a telegram back to East Birmingham instructing his wife and children, who were packing for the move, to stay in East Birmingham until he sent for them.

It was the last message the family ever received.

Theories as to what happened to him abound.  Family members who were interviewed after the fact were adamant that he did not abandon his family and that he had to have been murdered.  He did have the family's fortune on him, and apparently was involved somehow in another lawsuit, though nothing has come to light in regards to any other legal matters.  Nothing has ever been proven as to what happened to him after 10 May 1854, which has been listed as his death date ever since.

I have been searching fruitlessly ever since discovering this story early in my research.  So far, while certain clues have emerged, nothing can cement any theory.  I did search the Deed record index in St. Louis, Missouri to see if there was any record of property bought there, but nothing was recorded.  Burris' name was used in connection with an advertisement for Genuine Holland Bitters, which ran in local area newspapers as late as 1858 and beyond.  These refer to him as "Mr. B. D. Wood late Justice of the Peace, East Birmingham, P[ennsylvani]a."  Perhaps something was amiss?

Julia, back in East Birmingham, was left with seven children under the age of 15.  Family stories gathered through the years suggest that after Burris mysteriously disappeared in 1854, Julia was penniless.  She was also left to raise her family by herself and ended up making ends meet by working small odd jobs, such as cleaning and laundry, until her children were old enough to support her.  She resided in a boarding house on Washington near Main in Birmingham in 1857 listed as a widow, but had moved to Temperanceville by 1860, likely to be closer to Burris' sisters Susannah Wood Ainsworth and Elizabeth Wood Shaffer, as both of them were living there already.

As was contemporary for the time, Julia relied on her sons to survive, residing with John, William, Burris and George at one point or another throughout the rest of her life. What is fascinating is that she was listed as "Mrs. Woods", a widow living by herself on the 1880 census enumeration.

For the final three weeks of her life, she did live with daughter Reumah at 40 South Diamond Street in Allegheny City.  She died there on 25 October 1885 from bronchial pneumonia.  One of her obituaries lists that she died at son John's home, but the death registration itself gives Reumah's address as where she died.  After a funeral at son John's home four days later, she was buried in section B, lot number 73, grave number 3 at Highwood Cemetery in what is now Pittsburgh.

Sources Used:
 "1820 United States Federal Census," online database, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 15 July 2016), Entry for Biney Woods and household, 1820 U S Census, Census Place: Franklin Fayette, Pennsylvania, Page: 147, NARA Roll: M33_103, and Image: 155; citing Fourth Census of the United States, 1820. (NARA microfilm publication M33, 142 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"1830 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 July 2016), Entry for Abinah Wood (indexed as Anich), Year: 1830, Census Place: St Clair Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Series: M19, Roll: 144, Page: 208, and Family History Library Film: 0020618; citing Fifth Census of the United States, 1830. (NARA microfilm publication M19, 201 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"1840 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 July 2016), Entry for Burris Woods and family, Year: 1840, Census Place: Mifflin Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Roll: 439, Page: 150, Image: 309, and Family History Library Film: 0020536; citing Sixth Census of the United States, 1840. (NARA microfilm publication M704, 580 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"1850 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 July 2016), Entry for Burris D. Wood and family, Year: 1850, Census Place: East Birmingham Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Roll: M432_748, Page: 37B, and Image: 80; citing Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"1860 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 July 2016), Entry for Julia Wood and family, Year: 1860, Census Place: Temperanceville Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Roll: M653_1062, Page: 535, Image: 542, and Family History Library Film: 805062; citing 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.

"1870 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 19 July 2016), Entry for Julian Woods and Household, Year: 1870, Census Place: McClure Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Roll: M593_1294, Page: 111A, Image: 335422, and Family History Library Film: 552793; citing 1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.

Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "1880 United States Federal Census," database online with images, Ancestry.com Operation, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 19 July 2016), Entry for Mrs. Woods, Year: 1880, Census Place: Allegheny Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Roll: 1088, Family History Film: 1255088, Page: 102A, Enumeration District: 028, and Image: 0202 (enumerated as Mrs. Woods); citing Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book 70: 490, Alfred Verner and wife to Burris D. Wood, recorded 10 June 1845; FHL microfilm 8091683.

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book 77: 384-385, Oliver Ormsby and wife to Burris D. Wood, recorded 11 August 1847; FHL microfilm 1497890.

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book 79: 79-80, William Phillips to Burris D. Wood, recorded 1 Nov 1847; FHL microfilm 1497891.

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book 81: 653-655, Elijah Trovillo, sheriff, to William Phillips on behalf of Burris D. Wood, recorder 23 August 1848; FHL microfilm 8091688.

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book 83: 200-201, Burris and Julianne Wood to John Gilbraith, recorded 20 Nov 1848; FHL microfilm 1497892.

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book 86: 281-282, George Duncan and Wife to Burris D. Wood, recorded 30 May 1849; FHL microfilm 8091679.

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book 88: 150-151, Burris D and Juliana Wood to George Hoezel, recorded 12 October 1849; FHL microfilm 1497894.

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book 88: 607-608, Burris D. (B.D.) and Julian Wood to Thomas Elmore, recorded 12 Feb 1850; FHL microfilm 1497943.

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book 93: 337-338, Thomas Elmore and wife to Burris D. Wood, recorded 16 Nov 1850; FHL microfilm 1497944.

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book 96: 400-401, Burris D. and Julian Wood to Theodore Steinike, recorded 20 July 1851; FHL microfilm 1497946.

Atlas of the cities of Pittsburgh, Allegheny, and the Adjoining Boroughs (Philadlephia, Pennsylvania: G.M. Hopkins, 1876); digital images, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 6 April 2018), Plate 110, Temperanceville and part of Chartiers, viewed Elliot Street and the Rolling Mill.

Atlas of the vicinity of the cities Pittsburgh and Allegheny, Penna. : from official records, private plans and actual surveys. (Philadelphia: G.M. Hopkins Company, 1886); digital image, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 3 April 2018), Plate 29, viewed the area of McClure and Ashton.

"A Wonderful Remedy - Mr. B. D. Woods," advertisement, Pittsburgh Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 28 June 1855, Page 2, "Mr. B.D. Woods, late Justice of the Peace, East Birmingham, Pa."; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 10 July 2016); advertisement for Genuine Holland Bitters.

"A Wonderful Remedy - Mr. B. D. Woods," advertisement, Wheeling Daily Intelligencer (Wheeling, Virginia [West Virginia]), 5 April 1858, page 2; online images, Virginia Chronicle : Library of Virginia (https://virginiachronicle.com/ : accessed 15 March 2020), The Virginia Newspaper Project.

"Died," death notices, Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennylvania), 27 October 1888, Page 7 "Julia Wood"; online images, Google News Archives (https://news.google.com/newspapers : accessed 20 July 2016).

Directory of Pittsburgh & vicinity for, 1857-1858 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: George H. Thurston, 1857), 229, "Woods Julia A, widow of Horace, BH Washington N. Main"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (http://digital.library.pitt.edu : accessed 3 April 2018).

Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1861-1862 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: G. H. Thurston, 1861), 338, "Wood Julia Ann, widow Burrows, above Steubenville pike n Wood, T(emperanceville)"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (http://historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 6 July 2016).

Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1862-1863 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: G.H. Thurston, 1862), 334, "Woods Julia A., wid Burris D., Elliott, T(emperanceville)"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 6 July 2016).

Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1863-1864 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: G. H. Thurston, 1863), 367, "Woods, Julia Ann, wid Burris, Elliott n Wood, T(emperanceville)"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 6 July 2016).

Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1864-1865 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: G. H. Thurston, 1864), 348, "Woods Julia Ann, wid Barris, Elliott n Wood's mill, T(emperance)"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digitial Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 6 July 2016).

Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1866/1867 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: G.H. Thurston, 1866), 410, "Woods Julia A, wid Burris, Elliott n Rolling Mill, T(emperanceville)"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 6 July 2016).

Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1867/1868 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: G.H. Thurston, 1868), 455, "Wood Julia Ann, wid Barris, Elliot n rolling mill T(emperanceville)"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 6 July 2016).

Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1868/1869 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: G. H. Thurston, 1868), 432, "Wood Julia, wid Burns, Virgin ay, T(emperanceville)"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 6 July 2016).

Fahnestock's Pittsburgh directory for 1850: containing the names of the inhabitants of Pittsburgh, Allegheny, & vicinity : their occupation, places of business and dwelling houses : also, a list of the public offices, banks, &c, 1850 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Geo. Parkin & Co, 1850), 105, "Woods B.D. justice peace, Joseph, E Bir"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (http://digital.library.pitt.edu : accessed 6 July 2016).

Find A Grave, database with images (www.findagrave.com : accessed 13 August 2016), memorial page for Julia Ann Blanchford sp? Wood, Find A Grave Memorial # 19490418, citing Highwood Cemetery (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), memorial created by William Bozic, photograph by William Bozic.

"The Grim Messenger," Pittsburgh Dispatch (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 1 January 1889, page 8; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 31 March 2018).

"History Overview," Mifflin Township History, 2012 (www.mifflintownshiphistory.wordpress.com : accessed 28 March 2018).

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J.F. Diffenbacher's directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1882/1883 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Diffenbacher and Thurston, 1882), 804, "Woods Julia, wid ________, 8 Howards Row, Beaver av, Allegheny"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 19 July 2016).

J.F. Diffenbacher's directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1883/1884 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Diffenbacher and Thurston, 1883), 844, "Woods Julia A, wid Veris B, 203 Cass av, A(llegheny)"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digitall Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 19 July 2016).

J.F. Diffenbacher's directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1885/1886 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Diffenbacher and Thurston, 1885), 953, "Woods Julia A, wid Berris, Ashland av, n McClure av, A(llegheny)"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 19 July 2016).

J.F. Diffenbacher's directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1886/1887 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Diffenbacher & Thurston, 1886), 991, "Woods Julia A, wid Burris, Ashland av, n McClure av, A(llegheny)"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 19 July 2016).

J.F. Diffenbacher's directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1887/1888 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Diffenbacher and Thurston, 1887), 1008, "Woods Julia A, wid Burris, r Shady av, n Eckert, A(llegheny)"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 20 July 2016).

Jordan, Sarah Strickler. niece of Burris D. Wood, written statement by P.A. Wood, no date recorded; transcribed copy of written statement, privately held by Kelley Wood-Davis, Norwalk, Iowa, 2016. Transcribed by Florence Wood Wolcott and copied by Martha Wood Scudder, who mailed a photocopy to Kelley Wood-Davis in 2001.

Julia Wood entry, Registration of deaths in the city of Allegheny, 1876-1907, volume 3: page 333, Allegheny County City County Building, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

McIlvain, Josephine. "Twelve Blocks: A Study of One Segment of Pittsburgh’s South Side, 1880-1915." The Western Pennsylvania Historical Magazine, Volume 60, No. 4 (October 1977): 351-370.

"Sheriff's Sales," notice of sale of debtor's property, Pittsburgh Daily Post (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 22 May 1846, page 2; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 22 March 2018).

Sidney, J.; J. Neff; S. McRea, Map of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, with the names of property-holders : from actual surveys (Philadelphia and Allegheny City: S. Moody, 1851); digital image, Library of Congress (http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gmd/g3823a.la000699 : accessed 26 March 2018), viewed Lower Saint Clair Township and the area in which the land was located.

St. Louis (City and County), Missouri, Inverted index, W 1804-1891: Year 1854, Negative search; FHL microfilm 8193896.

"Work of the Grim reaper," The Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 27 October 1888, page 4; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 31 March 2018).

Wood, B.D. (St. Louis, Missouri) to Julia Ann Wood, telegram, 10 May 1854; privately held by Kelley Wood-Davis. Norwalk, Iowa, 2016. transcribed copy of a telegram. Telegram sent to Percy A. Wood in 1903 by Harry W. Wood, grandson of B.D. Wood. Transcription date and creator unknown. Photocopy of transcription was mailed by Martha Wood Scudder to Kelley Wood-Davis in 2001.

Wood, J. H.; T. R. Wood; P. A. Wood; and G. E. Wood. History and Genealogy of the Descendants of Abinah Wood and Susannah Humphreys. Andover, Ohio: Press of the Citizen, 1903.

Wood, William Walker. grandfather of Percy A. Wood, not recorded, statement by Percy A. Wood, no date recorded; transcribed copy of statement made by W. W. Wood regarding the disappearance of his brother, Burris D. Wood, privately held by Kelley Wood-Davis, Norwalk, Iowa, 2016. Transcribed by Florence Wood Wolcott and copied by Martha Wood Scudder, who mailed a photocopy of transcription to Kelley Wood-Davis in 2001.