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I'm just beginning this interesting process. Another branch of the Wood family of Boatland may be farther along. None of the sons and daughters of Porter Wood and his wife Hattie Roberts are still living. Four grandchildren are living, as well as several great-grandchildren. Porter Wood (1875-1913) was the only son of Jeremiah Wood (1830-1904) and Jane Harmon. Porter's father had a general store in Boatland for many years and was the pioneer postmaster. The postoffice was in the Wood family for more than 75 years. Porter died prematurely when he was thrown from his horse. His wife, Hattie, became postmistress after his death. She was succeeded by her daughter, Edna Hillery, in 1942, until the1949, when the post office was consolidated with Jamestown. Jeremiah had six daughters and Porter. He and his wife Hattie, whose double first cousin was Tennessee's Governor Albert H. Roberts, had seven children: Roy, Wilma, Frank, Eugene, Edna, Casper, and Shelley, all of whom are now deceased. Roy opened a business in Nowata, Okla. Wilma became an x-ray technician in Nashville. Frank was a Southern Baptist minister and evangelist. Eugene, my father, was an educator and also provided assistance to blind students and workers. Casper, working as a mining inspector between college semesters, was killed in an ambush at a mine in Fentress County, and Shelley served WW II and was a college professor. Having served 20+ years as Public Relations Director at Middle Tennessee State University and later as director of Development Communications and Marketing there, I currently write a weekly column in the local newspaper, the Murfreesboro Daily News Journal.
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