Interim Report on John Hood (1799-1843)
and his wife Letitia Smith Hood (c. 1803-1887)
Author: John J. Hood
Version Level: First Revision
Version Date: August 26, 2000





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EARLY YEARS (1799 to 1818)

John Hood was born in Fredericktown, Washington County, 
Pennsylvania in 1799 where his father, Archibald Hood, 
had settled some years earlier.(1)  The name of his mother 
is unknown to us at this time.

John received a practical education from his father who 
operated a tannery and saddlery shop in Fredericktown.  
As Smith Hood tells us, "[Archibald Hood] taught his son, 
John, ...beginning at the age of ten years.  Father and son 
would work in the shop all winter and in the early spring 
travel throughout Greene and adjoining counties selling 
their saddles and harness[es].  Some trips would require a 
week or ten days."(2)  It is unclear whether or not John 
Hood received a formal education.  In Crumrine's history 
of Washington County, PA, he states that there was a log 
school house erected in Fredericktown around 1810.  
Fredericktown is known to have a library as early as 
March of 1796.  However, it's not certain as to where 
Archibald Hood was living between the years 1801 and 
1819, therefore it's also not certain where (or if) 
his son John would have had an opportunity for a 
formal education.  Regardless of that, John Hood, 
at the very least, knew how to write his name as 
deeds on record in the Greene County, PA show that he 
signed his name.

THE SMITH FAMILY

Smith Hood tells us that, "They [Archibald and John Hood] 
soon learned the good places to stop for good food and a 
clean bed [when they were traveling and selling saddles 
and harnesses], and one of their choice places to stay 
was with a farmer by the name of Smith.  [John] Smith [of 
Waynesburg] had a very attractive fifteen year old daughter, 
named Letitia.  John Hood fell in love with her and they 
married."(3)  Letitia was the youngest daughter of John 
Smith and Lettice Cline Smith of Franklin Township, Greene 
County, PA.  Her age as recorded in census records created 
during her lifetime yield a birth year range from 1801 to 
1805.  Her father moved from Harford County, Maryland with 
his brothers in 1774 and was an Indian fighter during the 
Revolutionary War.

About the time that John would have been courting Letitia, 
members of the Smith family began leaving Greene County, 
PA for Tyler County, WV.  John Smith's son, John Jr., left 
for the area around Middle Island Creek in Tyler County in 
1818, and his father followed him to Tyler County in 1819.  
John and Letitia were most likely married in 1819, as John 
Hood is taxed as a married man for that year.(4)  What's 
not certain is where they were married.  John Smith may 
have left for Tyler County after his daughter was wed, 
meaning that they were married in Greene County (and no 
marriage records were kept by Greene County at that time).  
The other scenario is that John Smith may have moved with 
his daughter to Tyler County, meaning that John may have 
married her in Tyler County (Tyler County records have 
not been checked yet for this marriage).  It is not known 
whether or not Letitia received any kind of formal education.  
Deeds in Greene County that she signed with her husband were 
marked with a "/" or an "X", indicating that she did not know 
how to write.  However, young women at that time were taught 
how to read but not how to write.

THE YOUNG BUSINESS MAN: THE YEARS IN JEFFERSON (1819 to 1828)

John and Letitia set up their home and shop in the village 
of Jefferson in Jefferson Township of Greene County sometime 
in the year 1819.  Tax records show that they did not own any 
land nor the house in which they lived, but that they did have 
one cow and John was taxed for his occupation (saddler). 

Although they had a modest beginning, the tax records show that 
they quickly began building wealth.  By 1820, John owned his 
own horse.  The 1820 census for John and Letitia shows that 
there were two men between the ages of 16 and 26 living in 
the household.  One of these men would have been John, and 
the other may very well have been an apprentice or an employee 
as the census states that both of these men are engaged in 
"manufacturing".

In 1821, John appears to have gained enough wealth to purchase 
a lot with a house on it in the village of Jefferson.  The tax 
records describe this house and lot as being, "...of E. Luse."  
This may very well have been Eleazar Luse, who served as a 
witness for a deed for John Hood some years later.  There is 
no deed recorded in the Greene County courthouse for the time 
when John Hood bought this house and nor is there one for when 
he sold it.  Nevertheless, it would be of great interest to 
discover if Eleazar Luse recorded a deed for when he first 
bought this lot and to determine where it was located as this 
would be the location where many of John and Letitia's 
children were born.  John and Letitia's first child, John 
Smith Hood, was born in May of 1821, so he may or may not 
have been born in this house.  It would, undoubtedly, be 
the location where the other sons and one daughter would 
have been born (William in 1822, Alfred in 1825, Maria in 
1826 and James in 1827).

In 1822, John Hood had purchased another horse, was still 
living in Jefferson and appears to have started dealing 
speculatively in land.  In March of 1822, he purchased from 
William and Polly Pryor (heirs of the Robert Kelley estate) 
a 1/8 interest in an undivided tract of land known as the 
"Buffalo Flats" for $90.  He then sold this land in March 
of 1823 for $100 to George Rex (a return on investment of 
11%).(5)

John Hood obtained other tracts of land in Greene County 
between 1822 and 1828 while he was living in Jefferson.  
He warranted a 400 acre tract in Wayne Township, and he and 
Joseph Adamson jointly owned a 107-acre tract in Center 
Township that was situated on the Ten Mile Creek.  Around 
1826 or 1827, he purchased a five-acre tract of land in 
Jefferson Township from a man named Strawn.(6)

The year 1828 saw John Hood selling much of the property 
that he had acquired.  In March of that year, he and Joseph 
Adamson sold the tract that they owned in Center Township.  
In August of 1828, he sold the tract in Wayne Township that 
he had warranted (he had purchase it from the Greene County 
Treasurer in June of 1828 as he had forgotten/neglected to 
pay the tax on the property).  And at some point in 1828, 
he also sold the five acre tract he held in Jefferson Township 
and as well as their house and lot in the village of Jefferson 
has been sold by that time.(7)

BUSINESS IS STEADY: THE WAYNESBURG YEARS (1828-1832)

From deeds in the Greene County courthouse, it can determined 
that John Hood and family moved from Jefferson to somewhere in 
or around Waynesburg in August of 1828.  On August 2, 1828, 
John Hood is recorded as being "of Jefferson Township" when 
he purchases 1/2 of lot #138 in Waynesburg, and then on 
August 21, 1828 he is recorded as being "of Waynesburg" 
when he sells his tract of land in Wayne Township.

Although it's known when John Hood moved from Jefferson to 
Waynesburg, it's not known exactly where he lived in 
Waynesburg.  Tax records for the 1/2 of lot #138 that 
he owned was vacant, and he sold it at a time when he 
was known to be living in the vicinity.  He apparently 
sold this lot by 1830.(36) 

In December of 1828, John Hood bought a tract in Franklin 
Township that contained 12 acres and 96 perches of land.  
Even though he held this land until he moved to West Virginia, 
this is not where he lived as there is no tax paid for a house 
or a cabin on this land.(37)

The 1830 Greene County, PA census record for the John Hood 
household paints a picture of a home with a growing family 
that has a number of employees or apprentices or servants 
living with them.  The census show four young, white males 
in the home, and it would safe to conclude that these are 
John and Letitia's four sons: John Smith, William, Alfred 
and James.  There are also two young females listed and we 
would be safe in concluding that these are John and Letitia's 
daughters Maria and Margaret.  In addition to the family, 
there are three white males between the ages of 15 and 20, 
and one white male between the age of 20 and 30, all of 
whom may have been employees or apprentices.  There is also 
an additional female between the ages of 20 and 30 who may 
have been a servant for Letitia.  Lastly, there was a free 
Negro in the household between the ages of 10 and 24 who may 
have been an employee or a servant.

The tax and land records during this period make it appear as 
though John Hood stopped dealing in land and focused solely on 
his saddlery business.  Tax records during this period show him 
as living in Franklin Township (but never showing a house or 
cabin), working at his trade, owning a 121/2 acre tract of 
land, and owning a horse (or two) and a cow (or two). 

BUSINESS EXPANDS: THE WEST VIRGINIA YEARS (1832 to 1843)

John Hood and family moved from the Waynesburg area to 
Blacksville in present-day West Virginia late in 1832 or 
very early in 1833 (Blacksville is 13 miles due south of 
Waynesburg and abuts the Pennsylvania-West Virginia border).  
His home was located on lot number 258 on the Blacksville town 
map.  John Hood ran a general store in Blacksville and with 
his son, John Smith Hood (now about 11 years old), continued 
the saddler trade (the son taking up the trade as did his 
father).  This store that John Hood operated is mentioned 
in a literary piece entitled "The Road to Morgantown".  
"The Road to Morgantown" is the earliest example of the 
folk literature in Monongalia County, written about 1832.  
Robin Darrah, a resident of Miracle Run in western 
Monongalia County, is giving directions to a stranger 
on how to get to the county seat and adds a great deal 
of superfluous information.  Along with illustrating the 
garrulous nature of some backwoodsmen, the account gives 
sidelights on living conditions of the day and the people 
mentioned were real men and women living in the area at 
that time.  At one point in the middle of this piece, 
Robin Darrah utters: "John Hood's got the best store in
Blacksville." (8) 

Apparenly not content with simply operating a store and a 
saddlery business, it is said that John Hood started the 
large wholesale and grocery and provision house of Hailman, 
Hood and Company of Pittsburgh in 1836.(9)  Judging from 
court records, John Hood is  either loaning money or issuing 
credit to suppliers or customers ay this time.  He files his 
first lawsuit in Monongalia County Chancery Court on April 11, 
1835 against Thomas Reynolds and Joseph McCormick.  The suit 
concluded on September 17, 1835 with the court ordering each 
of the defendants to pay John Hood the $50 they owed to with 
"legal interest" dating from March 24, 1834 (interest to 
accrue until it is paid) along with the court costs. (10)  

Once more, John Hood appears to have been dealing speculatively 
in land.  In 1836, he received a land grant for 171/2 acres of 
land on a branch of Day's Run in Monongalia County (although 
Day's Run may be in present-day Marion County).  He made no 
improvements to the property (i.e., clearing it, erecting 
buildings on it, etc.), and sold it by 1838. (11)

It was around this time that John Hood and family moved again: 
"After a few years in Blacksville, John Hood again moved to 
what was then known as Jimtown, located on the Monongahela 
River, at the mouth of Scott's Run in Cass District, Monongalia 
County, West Virginia." (12)  It was in this vicinity that John 
Hood and his business partners began operating a store on 
December 5, 1837.  (13)  

Although he apparently moved to Jimtown (or thereabouts) in 
1837 or so, John Hood did not cut his ties in the Blacksville 
area.  Core (1979) states that in 1839, John Hood of 
Blacksville (italics added) was one of a number of people 
who bought stock in the Dunkard Creek Turnpike.  In this 
same year, Core says that John Hood, with William Launtz 
(Lantz?), was operating a store at Blacksville.  Tax records 
show that John Hood retained ownership of his lot in 
Blacksville as late as 1839. (14)

What is surprising to this author (John J. Hood) is that 
John Hood opened his store at Jimtown in December of 1837, 
a few months after the Panic of 1837 (a financial crisis) 
began.  For a man who had never been to court while living 
in Pennsylvania and had only been to court once in (West) 
Virginia before 1837, we now see him in court quite often 
after 1837, both suing others and being sued.  These 
lawsuits may have been after-shocks of the Panic of 1837.

The first suits were filed by John Hood singularly.  On 
September 17, 1838, John Hood filed one suit against John 
Williams for a $69.19 debt due him and another one against 
Zephaniah J. Cannon for a $100 debt.  John Hood won both 
cases, with John Williams being ordered to pay John Hood 
the debt with 6% interest from July 1, 1837, and with 
Zephaniah Cannon being ordered to pay his debt to John 
Hood with 6% interest from April 1, 1838. (15)

On September 11, 1839, the Merhcants and Mechanics Bank 
of Wheeling filed suit against John Hood, Morgan L. Boyers 
and James W. Hailman, "...merchants in trade and business 
under Hood, Boyers & Company".  The bank may have tried to 
overwhelm the defendants by citing a large number of counts 
against them in their suit.  The judge overseeing the case 
dropped all of the counts save for one on September 16, 1839 
and allowed the case to proceed.  The case was finally 
resolved on April 9, 1841 when the judge ruled in favor 
of the bank and ordered Hood, Boyers & Co. to pay their 
debt to them of $175 with 6% interest from May 13, 1839. 
(16)

The last suit in this flurry of lawsuits in which John Hood 
was involved from 1837 to 1840 was when James W. Hailman, 
John Hood and Morgan L. Boyers, "...merchants trading under 
the firm Hailman, Hood & Company", brought suit against 
Abraham Brookover for indebtedness on April 16, 1840.  The 
judge sided with the plaintiff, ordering Abraham Brookover 
to pay Hailman, Hood & Co. $84.50 with 6% interest from 
August 7, 1839. (17)

After residing in the vicinity of Jimtown, John Hood and 
family moved one more time: "About the year 1840 he moved 
to Lowesville at the mouth of Indian Creek in Grant District, 
Monongalia County.  There, he erected a good home, a frame 
building large enough for a general store and saddler shop." 
(18)  Core (1979) notes in his history of Monongalia County 
that John Hood was sworn in as a Justice of the Peace for 
Monongalia County in 1840. 

The 1840 census for Monongalia County, (West) Virginia show a 
family where the children are "leaving the nest".  There are 
only two young males in the household, one surely is their 
son James and the other may be their son William.  Their son, 
John Smith, is known to have left home long before 1840 to 
study the saddler's trade in Waynesburg.  Their other son, 
Alfred, received formal schooling at schools in Waynesburg 
and Pittsburgh, and he most likely had left home by this 
time.  There is also only one daughter in the age bracket 
of 10 to 15 years when there should be two daughters (Maria 
and Margaret).  Could Maria have been at school?  Working as 
a servant in another household?    

His years at Lowesville in the early 1840's appear to be the 
zenith of his career.  One source has said that, "He was a 
man of excellent characteristics, and took a deep interest 
in all movements for the material development of the section 
wherein he resided."(19)  His son, Alfred Hood, said that his 
father was, "...one of the most remarkable and successful 
business men [sic] that southwestern Pennsylvania has ever 
produced....  He operated two or three large farms, ran 
several lines of huckster and peddling wagons....He also 
ran a line of trading boats on the Monongahela and Ohio 
rivers, and operated several large saddlery and harness 
shops, whose products he sold throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania 
and Virginia.  In connection with these different lines of 
business he engaged in numerous other enterprises, one of 
which was buying large quantities of whiskey, which he 
shipped west and sold.....He possessed rare organizing 
powers, good judgement and fine executive ability.  At 
the time of his death he was entering upon a wider career 
of business that promised abundant prosperity to himself 
and usefulness to the commercial interests of western 
Virginia and western Pennsylvania.  Prudent but energetic 
in his enterprises and enthusiastically hopeful in whatever 
he engaged, his untimely death was severely felt in the 
Monongahela valley from Pittsburg to Fairmont."(20)  By 
1843, John Hood's land holdings at Lowesville (on the 
Monongahela River at the mouth of Indian Creek) consisted 
of four tracts of land that amounted to 397.5 acres of 
land.(21)

THE FAMILY AFTER JOHN HOOD'S DEATH: 1843 AND AFTERWARDS

John Hood died unexpectedly on March 21, 1843 at his home at 
Lowesville.(22)  John Hood's eldest son, John Smith Hood, was 
the only heir of legal age, so he moved back home with his 
mother and siblings from where he was living in Granville 
(in Grant District of Monongalia County).(23)  John Smith 
Hood took charge of the farm, store and shop, and also aided 
his mother in caring for the family.(24)  John Hood died 
intestate and it appears that John Smith Hood and William 
Lantz (one of John Hood's business partners) were named as 
executors of John Hood's estate.  John Hood's dealings were 
so extensive that it appears that it took them until 1850 to 
finally settle the estate.(25)

One of the tasks associated with settling the estate was 
engaging in lawsuits of those who owed the estate money.  
On September 14, 1844, Hood, Boyers & Co. filed two suits,
one against Peter Davis, John H. Bowlby and Matthias W. 
Davis, and the other suit against Peter Davis and Robert 
Tibbs.  The case against Davis and Tibbs lasted until April 
14, 1846 when two bills of exception were filed, and this is 
the last mention of this case.  In the other case, it dragged 
on from one court date to another until the plaintiff agreed 
that they would renounce their claim against John H. Bowlby 
and Matthias W. Davis if they (Bowlby and Davis) agreed to 
pay their share of the court costs.  Once that obstacle was 
removed, the case was finally concluded on September 13, 
1848 with the court ordering Peter Davis to pay Hood, 
Boyers & Co. $519.39, with 6% interest on $340.58 of that 
amount from the date of judgement.(26)    

Although John Smith Hood was settling the estate, all was not 
amicable in the family regarding the handling of it.  His next 
youngest brother, William, came of legal age late in 1843.  
Since he had apparently been living at home all of this time, 
he may have believed that he could conduct business in the 
name of the estate.  We can be reasonably certain that son 
William attempted to seize some or all of his father's estate, 
as we find Letitia and all the other siblings taking William 
to court and suing him.(27)

On September 8, 1847, Letitia Hood (widow of John Hood), John 
S. Hood, Alfred Hood, Maria Hood, James Hood, Letitia Hood, 
Caroline Hood, and Joseph C. Hood filed suit in Monongalia 
County, (West) Virginia Chancery Court against William Hood.  
To settle this dispute, the court named three commissioners to 
divide up the land formerly belonging to John Hood, deceased 
(except for the Dunkard Creek land).  The court named James 
Evans, Esq., Edwin W. Tower and Joshua Lowe to serve on this 
commission, and directed them judge the land by its quantity 
and quality.  Letitia Hood was to receive 1/3 of the land as 
her dower interest; John S., Alfred, Maria, James, Letitia, 
Caroline, Joseph C. and William ("children and heirs") were 
to each receive 1/8 of the remaining land.(28)

The commissioners returned with their report to the court on 
April 7, 1848.  Lot #1 was a 100-acre tract that was to go to 
Letitia Hood, widow of John Hood.(29)  Lot #2 was a 27-acre 
tract that was to be received by John S. Hood.  Lot #3 was a 
57-acre tract that was to go to Alfred Hood.  Lot #4 was a 
34-acre tract to be received by Joseph Hood.  Lot #5 was a 
54-acre tract that was to go to Maria Hood.  Lot #6 was a 
58-acre tract  that was to be received by James Hood.  Lot 
#7 was a 38-acre tract that was to go to Letitia Hood.  Lot 
#8 was a 14-acre tract that was to be owned jointly by 
William and Caroline Hood.  The court ordered that the 
costs of the case were to be borne receiving the land 
partitions in equal proportion except for Letitia Hood, 
widow of John Hood.(30)

It was around this time that John Smith Hood had started his 
family, and it appears that he built a home for his wife and 
family on his mother's land.(31)

In the 1850 census of Monongalia County, (West) Virginia, 
Letitia Smith Hood is listed as the head of her own household.  
Her younger children, James, Letitia and Joseph, are living 
with her.  The estimated value of her wealth that was reported 
to the enumerator was $2,500.

As mentioned earlier, the year 1850 marks the date when all 
matters concerning the estate of John Hood were (or seemed 
to be) concluded.  However, it may appears that the heirs 
believed that William Lantz (one of the apparent executors) 
may have cheated the estate.  Letitia Hood, et al (heirs of 
John Hood, deceased) filed suit in Monongalia County Chancery 
Court on April 11, 1851 against William Lantz, et al.  For 
some reason (that was not recorded), the heirs of John Hood 
made the motion that the case be dismissed, and the judge 
acceded to their request on January 31, 1855.(32)

In the 1860 census of Monongalia County, (West) Virginia, 
we find Letitia Smith Hood listed with the family of her 
son, James Hood.  Her son, Joseph, is still single and 
living with her.

We find nothing in the written record on Letitia Hood 
until the 1870 census of Monongalia County, West Virginia.  
At this time, we find Letitia Smith Hood listed in the 
household of her son Joseph Hood (or to put it more 
appropriately, Joseph Hood and family was now living with 
his mother on the old John Hood farm).  The value of her 
personal property was estimated at $200, and the value of 
her real estate holdings was valued at $3480 (which was 
quite a lot for that time).

The value of her Letitia Smith Hood's real estate holdings 
roughly correspond to what has been found in the 1872 land 
tax records (for property held in calendar year 1871).  She 
is in one possession of a 116-acre tract of land on the 
Monongahela River (at the mouth of Indian Creek) that is 
has an assessed value of $1,392.(33)  She is also listed 
as joint owner with her son John Smith Hood of a 54-acre 
tract of land near the Monongahela River.  The assessed 
value of this land in 1872 was $864.  This 54-acre tract 
was sold sometime between 1874 and 1884.(34)

In the 1880 census of Monongalia County, West Virginia, 
Letitia Smith Hood is listed as  living in the household 
of her son, James Hood.  The tax records indicate that she 
was living at the old John Hood homestead until her death.

Letitia Smith Hood died on September 10,1887.(35)  The cause 
of death is recorded on her death record as simply being 
"Old age".  She lies buried next to her husband in the 
cemetery at Lowesville where the Mount Hood Methodist 
Episcopal (South) Church used to stand.  

Since Letitia Smith Hood died intestate, an inventory of 
her estate was made and recorded in the Monongalia County 
courthouse (on August 7, 1888).  The items that she owned 
of highest monetary value were her livestock: one colt, 
one cow and one heifer.  Aside from her livestock, she 
appears to have been prepared to have company overnight 
(grandchildren, perhaps?) as she had four beds, a bedstead, 
linen, blankets, a comforter and a quilt.  It appears that 
her kitchen was equipped with everything that a housekeeper 
might have desired at that time:  table and chairs, a 
cupboard, dishes, a kettle and pot, a copper kettle, 
table spoons and tea spoons.  Lastly, there are items 
that suggest that she was living in comfort and wealth 
for her time; items such as a mirror, a clock, a watch, 
a desk and two carpets.

Since Letitia retained ownership of the homeplace until her 
death, the heirs had to decide among themselves how to settle 
this matter.  This apparently was handled better than when 
John Hood died in 1843, as none of the heirs have been found 
suing each other in the court records.  The land is listed 
"J.S. Hood and others" in the tax years following Letitia's 
demise.  By 1889, John Smith Hood had purchased the interests 
of his brother, Joseph, and his sister, Maria Trippett.

THE CHILDREN OF JOHN AND LEITITA (SMITH) HOOD

1.)  JOHN SMITH HOOD
Born May 31, 1821 in Jefferson, Greene County, PA.  He married 
Mary Maria Smythe, Feb. 4, 1844 in Monongalia County, WV.  He 
was farmer and a mill owner is Lowesville.  He died June 30, 
1901, Lowesville, Monongalia County, WV and is buried at the 
Mt. Hood cemetery in Lowesville.  He will be the subject of a 
report such as this in the future.

2.)  WILLIAM HOOD
Born Nov. 18, 1822 in Jefferson, Greene County, PA.  Court 
records in Monongalia County show that there was a William 
Hood & co. in existence as early as 1851.  One source has 
said that he was involved in the mercantile business in 
Worthington, Marion County, WV, but that he lost everything 
in a flood in 1852 that nearly wiped out the entire village.  
He later moved to Shinnston and ran a creamery and dealt in 
coal land.

William Hood was said to have been a private in the Confederate 
army and was held prisoner at Camp Chase, Ohio.  This author 
has searched for service records for William Hood but has 
found none.  He may have given assistance to the Jones 
raiders during their raid into WV in May of 1863, and for 
that he may have been sent to Camp Chase.

Married Hannah Pindell Coombs (1st spouse).  Died near 
Shinnston on Feb. 3, 1899.

3.)  ALFRED HOOD
Born Aug. 14, 1825 in Jefferson, Greene County, PA.  Married 
Sarah Straight (1st) June 10, 1846.  Alfred moved to Rivesville 
in Marion County and became a farmer and stock dealer.  Died 
Dec. 18, 1899

4.)  MARIA HOOD
Born Jan. 4, 1826 in Jefferson, Greene County, PA.  This author 
has questions about her date of birth, as it only five months 
after that of her brother, Alfred.  She married Phillip Lowe 
(1st), April 7, 1849.  She later married a Mr. Trippett.  
She died Feb. 13, 1921 and is buried at Mt. Hood.

5.)  JAMES HOOD
Born October 20, 1827 in Jefferson, Greene County, PA.  He 
married Martha Hough, April 1, 1850 in Monongalia County, 
WV.  He was a merchant in Lowesville, and also served a the 
postmaster (when Lowesville had a post office).  He died 
April 30, 1909 and is buried at Mt. Hood.

6.)  MARGARET HOOD
Born about 1827 or 1828, Greene County, PA.  She never married, 
dying at 15 years of age on Sep. 21, 1841 at Lowesville(?), 
Monongalia County, WV.  She is buried next to her parents in 
the Mt. Hood cemetery.

7.)  LETITIA HOOD
Born Sept. 22, 1832 at Waynesburg, PA or Blacksville, WV.  
She married Jacob Huffman.  They are said to have lived at 
the old John Hood place in Lowesville, taking care of Letitia 
Smith Hood in her old age.  She died April 7, 1896 and is 
buried in the Mt. Hood cemetery.

7.)  CAROLINE HOOD
Born about 1833-1835, Blacksville, WV.  She never married, 
dying at 15 years of age between 1848 and 1850 at Lowesville
(?), Monongalia County, WV.  She is buried next to her parents 
in the Mt. Hood cemetery.

9.)  MARY ELLEN HOOD
Born 1836?  Died 1837? This unfortunate child died when only 
one year old.  Her dates of birth and death can only be 
surmised, using gaps in the birth years of the other children 
as clues.  She is buried next to her parents in the Mt. Hood 
cemetery.

10.)  JOSEPH A. HOOD
Born May 20, 1841 at Hamilton, Monongalia County, WV.  He 
married Columbia Robey (1st), Nov. 11, 1868.  He was a 
merchant in Lowesville.  


NOTES
(1) Alfred Hood identifies the town as "Frederick", but 
tax records from that time leave no doubt that Archibald Hood 
was in Fredericktown.
(2) Smith Hood narrative (1948).
(3) Ibid
(4) Greene County tax list
(5) Greene County tax lists and deeds
(6) Ibid
(7) Alfred Hood (1895) states that John Hood spent the last 
twelve years of his life in West Virginia (which would make 
it around 1831).  The tax records in Greene County show that 
he was present in Franklin Township in 1832, but had definitely 
left the area by 1833 (stating the he had, "Moved to Blacksvell
 [sic]").  John and Letitia's daughter, Letitia, was born in 
September of 1832, and in some census records she claims to 
have been born in Pennsylvania and in others that she was 
born in Virginia. 
(8) "The Monongalia Story" by Core
(9) Alfred Hood (1895).  The author (John J. Hood) has found 
where a Hailman and a Lazear jointly owned a lot in Waynesburg, 
and a Jesse Lazear was a witness on a deed for one of John Hood's 
land deals.
(10)  From Monongalia County, WV Chancery Court Book No. 1.  
John Hood won this case by default as the judge stated that 
the defendant Thomas Reynolds was, "...still failing to appear...".
(11)  From Sim's Index and tax records
(12)  Smith Hood (1948)
(13)  Core (1979) mentions this store twice, but it is somewhat 
confusing.  On page 158, Core says that John Hood and Company 
start a store in the vicinity of Hamilton on December 5, 1837.  
Then, on page 359, Core states that Morgan L. Boyers, with John 
Hood and Company, started a store in Jimtown December 5, 1837.  
It appears that something of importance occurred on December 5, 
1837, but just exactly where it occurred and who the major 
players were still needs to be straightened out.
(14)  More research needs to be done regarding the dates of 
ownership of his Blacksville and Cass District holdings.
(15)  Law Order Book 1, p. 196
(16)  Law Order Book 1, p. 224.  Morgan L. Boyers is known to 
have resided in Grant District of Monongalia County, WV.  It's 
uncertain the residence(s) of James W. Hailman at this time.
(17)  Law Order Book 1, p. 257
(18)  Smith Hood (1948)
(19)  Found in Callihan (1912), from a biographical piece on 
C.P. Hood (son of William Hood [1822-1899] and grandson of 
John Hood [1799-1843]),
(20)  Alfred Hood (1895)
(21)  Monongalia County tax records
(22)  Both Alfred Hood (1895) and Smith Hood (1948) cite the 
date of death for John Hood as being March 21, 1843, and both 
state that John Hood was in his 45th year of life when he died.  
Alfred Hood (1895) identifies the place of his death as 
"Laurelville" in Monongalia County, West Virginia, but  
Smith Hood identified the place of death as his home in 
Lowesville ("Laurelville" may have been an older name for 
Lowesville; places called "Laurel Flats" and "Laurel Point" 
are not far from Lowesville).
(23)  In his biography that appeared in the Biographical and 
Portrait Cyclopedia of Monongalia, Marion and Taylor Counties, 
John Smith Hood only mentions the approximate year that he 
moved to Lowesville.  The author (John J. Hood) has made the 
connection that he came home to handle his father's affairs 
and settle his estate. 
(24)  Smith Hood (1948)
(25)  The Cornerstone Genealogical Society in Waynesburg, PA 
has an unidentified document in the Hood vertical file that 
appears to be a record of settled accounts (year-by-year) for 
the estate of John Hood, deceased.  More work needs to be done 
in the estate records and court order records in Monongalia 
County on this matter.
(26)  Law Order Book 2
(27)  In Smith Hood's narrative, he goes to great lengths to 
emphasize how the heirs of John Smith Hood (who died intestate) 
were in agreement about how to divide up the estate and settled 
the matter peaceably.  He may very well have known about the 
fight between William Hood and the rest of the heirs of John 
Hood, and this may what have prompted him to make such a 
statement regarding John Smith Hood and his heirs.
(28)  Chancery Order Book 2, p. 59
(29)  Tax records leave little doubt that this was the John 
Hood homestead that she received, being at the point where 
Indian Creek flows into the Monongahela River.
(30)  Chancery Order Book 2, p. 72
(31)  This is my best guess as to what the situation was at 
this time.  Smith Hood claims that John Smith Hood lived with 
his mother until 1861.  The census records show that Letitia 
Hood and John Smith Hood had their families living in separate 
dwelling houses.
(32)  Chancery Order Book, p. 202.  More research needs to be 
done on how the John Hood estate was settled, as well as what 
role William Lantz (or Launtz) played in the settlement of the 
estate and in John Hood's business activities while he was 
living.
(33)  There can be little doubt but that this is the old John 
Hood homeplace in which she is living.  In the column under 
how the land is held, her's states that it is "Life", while 
most everyone else is listed as "Fee".
(34)  More research can be done on this point regarding the 
acquisition, sale and possible use of this tract of land.
(35)  The date on her grave marker matches the date listed on 
her death record.  
(36)  Tax records also show that he had sold this lot by 1830. 
What is perplexing is that the deed recorded in Greene County 
when John Hood sold this lot is dated March 10, 1835.  What 
can explain this?  Was this a copying error by the county 
clerk?  Was it really sold by 1830, but no contract written 
until 1835?
(37)  As with the lot in Waynesburg, there is a discrepancy 
between the tax records and the deed.  The tax records show 
that John Hood held this 12+ acre tract only as late as 1832, 
and the tax records mention that it was sold to James Golden.  
The deed recorded for the sale of this tract from John Hood to 
James Golden is dated April 1, 1837.  Again, what could explain 
this difference?

RESOURCES

*History of Monongalia County, by Samuel T. Wiley, Kingwood, 1883
*Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Monongalia, Marion and 
Taylor Counties, published by Rush, West and Company, 
Philadelphia, 1895 (Although this is a "vanity" history book, 
Alfred Hood (1825-1899) of Marion County wrote, by far, one of 
the better histories of the Hood family)
*The Smith Hood narrative, written by Smith Hood (1861-19??) 
using, "..his personal memory and facts gained from others, 
and from records in the Bibles of John Smith Hood and wife 
Maria Smythe Hood on Feb. 20th 1948"
*Washington County, PA, Crumrine (1882)
*Greene County, PA personal and property tax records for 
various townships, 1815 through 1840.
*Greene County, PA deeds
*Census records, 1820 and 1830 Greene County; 1840, 1850, 
1860 1870 and 1880 Monongalia County
*The Monongalia Story, Vol. III, Earl Core, McClain Printing 
Co., Parsons, WV, 1979
*Chancery and Law Order Books, Circuit Clerk's Office, 
Monongalia County, WV
*Monongalia County, WV land tax records
*Sim's Index to Land Grants in West Virginia
*Genealogical and Personal History of the Upper Monongahela 
Valley West Virginia, by James Morton Callihan, Lewis Historical 
Publishing Co., New York, 1912
*Gravemarkers at the cemetery in Lowesville which used to be 
the site of the Mt. Hood M.E. Church, South


John J. Hood
PO Box 248, McDonald, TN 37353
e-mail: thetnhoods@cs.com