WOODSON BIOGRAPHIES, Henry County, Missouri
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WOODSON, Chesley G.
source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - 
page: 328
residence: Walker Twp

Chesley G. Woodson. Nearly four score years have elapsed since Chesley G. 
Woodson of Walker township was brought to Henry County by his parents. Far back 
in 1839 this county was largely an unpeopled waste with here and there a lone 
settler's cabin in the timber tracts along the streams. The nearest trading point 
was Boonville, on the Missouri River, or Jefferson City. The pioneers of those 
faraway days would drive to either of these cities with ox teams and the trip 
required a week's time in the making. For a long time the pioneers would of 
necessity have their milling done at Boonville or Jefferson City until Cook's mill 
was erected on Grand River. During the days of his young manhood, Chesley 
Woodson shot many deer and wild turkeys and he recalls that his father killed a 
bear on Bear Creek. Various settlers operated grist mills by horse power and 
some of them ground their corn meal by hand. The main commodity which the 
settlers had to sell were hides and furs. These they would take to Boonville and 
exchange for salt and groceries sufficient to last for several months. Mr. 
Woodson has a distinction which few men possess. He served in both armies 
during the Civil War, having first enlisted in the Confederate Army and later 
through force of circumstances over which he had no control he was compelled to 
serve in the Union Army. Mr. Woodson was born on February 25, 1837, in Hancock 
County, Kentucky, and is the son of Shadrich and Agnes (Gates) Woodson, the 
former of whom was born in Virginia and the latter in Kentucky. Shadrich 
Woodson came to Missouri in 1838 and after a year's residence in Johnson County 
he came to Henry County and entered a tract of Government land in Walker 
township. He cut and hewed the logs for his two room cabin and spent the 
remainder of his days on the farm which he broke up and placed in cultivation. He 
was a hunter and killed a great deal of game which was very plentiful in those 
early days. He died December 4, 1852, at his home in Walker township. Of the 
children born to Shadrich Woodson and wife three are living: Jonathan, residing 
with Adam H. Woodson, his nephew; Mrs. Elizabeth Steele, who makes her home 
with William Steele in Walker township, and Chesley G., subject of this review. 
Chesley G. Woodson was reared to young manhood under primitive conditions and 
enjoyed the frontier life to the utmost. He grew up a strong and sturdy lad who 
was skillful with axe or gun and knew how to till the soil. He served for two 
years in the Southern Army during the war between the States and after his term 
of service expired he went to St. Louis. While in that city he became a member of 
the 87th Missouri Regiment of the Federal Army under Capt. A. J. Smith and 
served for one year with the Union forces. After the expiration of his term of 
service he returned home. After his marriage he settled down to active farm life 
and accumulated a total of one hundred sixty-six acres. Of late years Mr. Woodson 
has retired from active farm life and is now making his home with his son, Adam 
H. Woodson. The marriage of Chesley G. Woodson and Mary Ann Harness took place 
on March 1, 1866. Mrs. Mary Ann (Harness) Woodson was born in Franklin County, 
Missouri, February 10, 1839, and was a daughter of Adam Harness, a pioneer of 
Henry County, concerning whom an account is given elsewhere in this volume. 
Mrs. Woodson died on March 31, 1898. The following children were born to 
Chesley G. and Mary Ann Woodson: Chesley A., deceased; Nancy Agnes, deceased; 
Adam H., and Mary Elizabeth, wife of J. M. Hull, a biography of whom is given in 
this volume. Adam H. Woodson was born February 7, 1869, and has achieved a 
splendid success as an agriculturist in Walker township. He is owner of three 
hundred twenty-four acres of well improved farm land upon which he has placed 
all of the buildings and fencing. Mr. Woodson has resided upon his farm for the 
past thirty years. He is a Democrat in his political faith as is his father, and has 
served as school director of his district. The other members of the Woodson 
household are Chester D. Hull and wife, nee Olga Robinson, who are keeping house 
for Adam H. Woodson. Mr. Hull was born August 29, 1894, the son of J. M. Hull of 
Davis township. He was married September 26, 1917, to Olga Robinson, the 
daughter of Thomas and Mary (Moreland) Robinson.

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