Absalom Woodward, Sr. and Unknown

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Husband Absalom Woodward, Sr. ¹

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 1833 - ? Armstrong Co, PA 2
         Buried: 

       Marriage: 

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   Other Spouse: [Unk] Carrothers (      -      ) 3

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Wife Unknown ³

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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Children

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• They had no children.

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General Notes: Husband - Absalom Woodward, Sr.

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He was among the earliest emigrants to the southeastern part of Plum Creek township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, which was then in Armstrong township. He came hither from Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, in 1788, and settled near what is now Idaho. The first assessment list of Plum Creek township (1811) contains his name as the only inn-keeper. He is spoken of as a hardy and energetic man and an enterprising and public-spirited citizen, and the various records in which his name appears substantiate this.
At the first court held in the county, in December, 1805, the petition of "sundry inhabitants of this county, setting forth that a bridge was much wanted across Crooked creek in Allegheny township at or near the place where the road from Absalom Woodward's to Sloan's ferry crossed that creek and praying the appointment of viewers," was presented, and they reported the following March that a bridge was much wanted, but the probable expense ($450) was too much for one or two townships to bear. This was the first application for a county bridge made to the first court held in the county. As no agreement could be reached at the time Mr. Woodward in September, 1806, made what must have been a very large offer for the times: to advance the money that might be appropriated for the structure. Though the matter was carried through all the formalities and reported favorably, it is not shown whether the bridge afterward constructed was erected at public or private expense. On Sept. 21, 1814, the county commissioner issued an order for $137: $33 for repairing the bridge across Crooked creek at Mr. Woodward's house, and on Sept. 24, 1818, another petition from the inhabitants of Plum Creek township appears in the court records, for steps to be taken toward replacing the bridge, which had been swept away by the flood in February.
The second school-house within the limits of the township was erected on land belonging to Mr. Woodward, about fifty rods east of what was known as Idaho mill, in the southeast part of the township. He was also active in religious matters, giving largely of his means to the aid and support of church work. He built a log church near Smith Bend.
The ancient map of Armstrong county shows a tract of 290 acres in Plum Creek township to have been "seated by him; a tract of 157.5 acres survey (sic) to him" and seated by George Smith; a tract of 302 acres surveyed to George Campbell and subsequently owned by Mr. Woodward. He came to own 191 acres of the Robert Elder tract (afterward owned by his son Robert). On March 18, 1823, he conveyed to his daughter Mary, wife of David Reynolds, the consideration expressed in the deed being "good-will and affection," a tract which had been conveyed to him by James Carnahan. On Jan. 11, 1858, 111 acres, 24 perches of this tract was conveyed by her son Alexander Reynolds to Martin John.
Absalom Woodward died in 1833. He was survived by eight of his thirteen children, two of whom died in early life. [HAC 1914, 392]

1 Editor, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Her People Past and Present (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1914), Pg 386, 392, 507.

2 Editor, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Her People Past and Present (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1914), Pg 393.

3 Editor, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Her People Past and Present (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1914), Pg 507.