Indiana McCaslins

In the 1850 US Federal Census for Smyrna, Jefferson, Indiana, 44-year-old Kentucky-born farmer Joseph Woods owns $1,500 worth real estate. He and his 38-year-old Kentucky-born wife Mary [Snodgrass] Woods have in their household their Indiana-born children, 16-year-old Martha, 14-year-old James, 10-year-old William [sic Wilmer], 8-year-old John, 6-year-old William [yes, the census taker recorded two Williams], 4-year-old Lewis and one-year-old Joshua. James, the older William, and John have all attended school in the past year.

In the 1860 US Federal Census for Pawnee County, Nebraska Territory, 52-year-old Kentucky-born farmer Joseph S Woods owns $700 worth of real estate and $350 worth of personal property. He and his 50-year-old Kentucky-born wife Mary [Snodgrass] Woods have in their household their Indiana-born children, 18-year-old farmer John, 16-year-old William, 14-year-old Lewis, 10-year-old Joshua, and the 8-year-old twins, Mary A and Stephen C. Also in their household is their 5-year-old granddaughter Anabel [sic] McCasland, daughter of John F C McCasland/McCaslin who is living with his brother Jeremiah Newton and sister-in-law Elizabeth [Woods] McCasland three residences away. The Woods also have a border, 21-year-old Ohio-born physician Alexander Stewart. Dr Stewart owns $100 worth of personal property, but no land.

Nebraska Volunteers, 1861-69 Given Name: Joshua D Surname: Woods Company: A Regiment or Battalion: 1st Reg. Cav. Rank: Private Residence: Pawnee City, Nebraska

The 1st Regiment Nebraska Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War It was initially organized to protect the Nebraska Territory from Indian attacks, but primarily served in the Western Territory before being reorganized and sent to the frontier. When the war started, US Regular Army troops were withdrawn from Fort Kearny and Fort Randall to serve in more threatened areas, but at the increased risk to Nebraska settlers from Indian attacks. The Federal government requested that the Nebraska Territory form one volunteer regiment with some companies supposed to stay behind to protect the territory. The territorial legislature met in special session in Omaha and agreed to raise the requested local defense force. Thus, the 1st Regiment, Nebraska Volunteer Infantry was organized at Omaha between June 11 and July 21, 1861, with the future govenor of Nebraska and the Wyoming Territory, John Milton Thayer, as its first colonel. However, the promise was reneged, and the regiment was sent eastward in August to fight the Confederacy. Serving in the forces under Ulysses S Grant, the 1st Nebraska Infantry participated in the successful attack on Fort Donelson in Tennessee and then fought at the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862. It then participated in several minor engagements in Missouri and Arkansas. The regiment was redesignated the 1st Regiment Volunteer Cavalry on November 6, 1863. It was transferred to the frontier to keep the Plains Indians in check. It was amalgamated with the 1st Battalion Nebraska Veteran Volunteer Cavalry in 1865, and mustered out of the Union Army in 1866.

In the 1870 US Federal Census for Township 2, Pawnee, Nebraska, 42-year-old Indiana-born blacksmith John McCaslin owns $3000 worth of real estate and $500 worth of personal property. He and his third wife 27-year-old Virginia-born M.G. [Mary G Morton] McCaslin have in their household their Nebraska-born children, 8-year-old Willie who is attending school, 4-year-old Jos. [Joseph] and 7-month old May. The census taker has recorded that her birth month is October, but her father stated that she was born in November in his pension application.

Recorded on the same page is the information for the parents of John's second wife, Charlotte Woods Cochran. Forty-six-year-old Kentucky-born hotel keeper J. S. [Joseph S] Woods has $10,000 worth of real estate and $800 worth of personal property. He and his 61-year-old Kentucky-born wife Mary [Snodgrass] Woods have in their household their 21-year-old Indiana-born hotel clerk son J.D. [Joshua] Woods, and their 14-year-old Indiana-born school girl granddaughter, A. B [Annabel] McCasland, who is John McCaslin's daughter. The Woods have twenty-one people living in their hotel.

On 26 Feb 1878, Josna D [sic] Woods marries Lizzi [sic] Holden in Tecumseh, Johnson, Nebraska.

In the 1880 US Federal Census for Dorchester, Saline, Nebraska, 31-year-old Indiana-born physcian J D Woods and his 27-year-old wife Massachusetts-born Licia [Lizzie] [Holden] Woods have in their household their 4-month-old Nebraska-born daughter, Mable L Woods. The adults are literate and speak English. Joshua's parents were born in Kentucky; Lizzie's parents were born in Massachusetts; Mable's parents were born in Massachusetts [sic].

In the 1900 US Federal Census for Hay Springs, Sheridan, Nebraska, 51-year-old Indiana-born Doctor Joshua D Woods and his 44-year-old [sic] Massachusetts-born wife Lizzie S [Holden] have been married for 21 years. Lizzie has born two children, and both are living. These Nebraska-born children are 19-year-old student Lulu M [Mable L on the 1880 census] and 5-year-old Beulah B. Everyone except Beulah is literate and speaks English. Joshua owns their home free of mortgage.