Early Texans DNA Project

1816 - 1869 (53 years)

Woods - Henry Gonzalvo Woods - Brief bio

Henry Gonzalvo Woods was the son of Minerva Cottle and Zadock Woods. Zadock and Minerva migrated to Texas in 1824. They were part of the "Original Old 300 Colonists of Stephen F. Austin's Colony." They escaped capture by Indians while living near the Colorado River at Moore's Fort (near where La Grange exists today).

In October 1835, [Henry] fought in the battle of Gonzales and Concepcion. He served as a Texas Ranger and was one of two men who escaped the Dawson Massacre on 18 September 1842. Thirty-six Texians died on the field and fifteen were captured. One of the captured was Henry's brother Norman. Norman and the otehr prisoners were taken to Perote Prison in Mexico. Norman died there on 16 December 1843.

Henry Woods honored Norman's last request; Henry married Jane, Norman's widow on 30 October 1844 and raised the five children of that union. Henry and Jane had four children of their own. He was a rancher, bred horses, built the first two-story sawed-lumber home in DeWitt County, brought into his home the first cook stove, and brought into the county the first cotton gin.

Henry Woods was deputized in 1869 to chase John Kerlick, who had been accused of murder. Henry was ambushed and killed by Kerlick on 28 November 1869.

Linked to Henry Gonzalvo Woods