Children of Abel & Sarah Giles Woodin

The 1900 Bureau County, Illinois, US Federal census ED 14, sheet 11, Dwelling 202, Family 219, for Sarah Giles Woodin Raisbeck reads that she had 13 children with 7 living. The following is my account of the seven living children. Please share your research!

Martin Luther Woodin was born 8 August 1873, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England. On 22 December 1897 in Seneca, LaSalle County, Illinois, he married Eugenie Luella Couch 1878-1959, my great-aunt. Martin Luther died 7 September 1931 in Marseilles, LaSalle County, Illinois.

Wilma Irene Woodin, "Billie" Thank you for sharing your family

One of their children was Wilma Irene Woodin, 1922-2016. Thank you to Wilma Woodin Morey’s family for all these beautiful photos. Wilma was my 1^st cousin 1x removed.

Walter Abel Woodin was born October 1869 in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England. According to Wilma’s notes, I read “Left home at an early age. Last known to be in eastern U.S.”  Using computer and digital records, I have possibly found two wives for Walter Abel. At this time, May 2020, I find no children. An estimated death date is between 1940 and 1957 in Maryland. Again, I am unable to find any death notices. See my online trees at Ancestry.com or MyHeritage.com for more details.

Mary Ellen Woodin was born 4 December 1865 in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England. The family came to American in 1880. Mary Ellen married first Charles William Van Tassell, 1855-1905, on 28 November 1884 in LaSalle County, Illinois. According to Wilma's notes, “Mary Ellen & Charles homesteaded in North Dakota Lived in Sod hut (Soddie) first few years. He died after just a few years.”

Mary Ellen married second to William Hopton, 1868-1956, exact date unknown, the year was 1907 in North Dakota. Wilma writes, “A widower with several children she helped raise.” According to the 1910 Burleigh County, North Dakota, US Federal census, ED 25, sheet 15B, Dwelling 307, family 307, Mary Ellen had no children. According to the 1920 census, the family had moved back to Marseilles, LaSalle County, Illinois. Mary Ellen died in Marseilles on 24 September 1942. William Hopton continued to live in Marseilles near the Woodin family until his death.

Ann Woodin was born April 1862 in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England. She came to America about 1880? Ann was married to George Edwin Stoney on 3 July 1883 in LaSalle County, Illinois. Hopefully records of this marriage will be found in the LaSalle County court house. When did George travel to America? When did the family and their three children return to England? A son was born in England in 1895. The family is enumerated in the 1901 and 1911 census in England. Ann died in Lincolnshire, England, in 1912. A death certificate for her would be helpful.

Mary Alice Woodin was born 26 October in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England. In January 1881, Mary Alice married Ruben James Haynes, 1857-1927, in Bromsgrove. The family of six came to America about 1889 or 1890. The last child was born in LaSalle County, Illinois. Mary Alice died in Marseilles, LaSalle County on 10 March 1926.

Woodin, Hopton & Haynes family lived in Marseilles, LaSalle Co., IL

Jane Woodin was born January 1855 in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England. Jane married Emanuel James, 1852-1913, in Yorkshire, England on 12 December 1881. Jane died January 1918 in Derby, Derbyshire, England. The exact dates for birth and death need to be verified.

Eliza Woodin was born October 1851 in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England. This information is from the 1861, 1871 England census and the Civil Registration Birth Index. This is about as much as I know in records for her. BUT, here is the conflict. I can produce index records from Ancestry that offer a suggestion that her husband was Harry Barley. These are indexes only, not the actual records. Most of the trees offer someone else. If I follow the records for this other name, I have no connection to the middle name given to her. Also, some of the records offer a surname of Wooding or even a father, Joseph Wooding. I am able to find both Abel Woodin and Joseph Wooding in the same early England census records. From my research, I believe these are two separate families. Please offer records, beyond indexes or indexing of records to help verify this family. THANK YOU!!!

Sarah Raesbeck Woodin 1831-1908

Who is Sarah Raesbeck Woodin? According to the photo she is “Dad’s Mother.” This photograph is one on many from the Wilma Woodin Collection. Wilma Woodin Morey, 1922-2016, was my mother’s cousin or my first cousin once removed. So, “Dad’s Mother” would be the mother of Martin Luther Woodin, 1873-1931, or the wife of Abel Woodin, 1827-1887.

With the use of online computer digital images, I was no closer to identifying Sarah than the paper copies I received in the early 1990s. Maureen Taylor, The PhotoDetective,  tells me that every photograph wants to tell me a story. So, Sarah what is your story? What records are now digitized that Wilma did not have access to years ago?

Sarah Giles was baptized 2 November 1831 in Bromsgrove, Worcester, England according to the Family History Library Film Number 321128. The index for the baptism date is 1831 and several census records agree. The 1841 and 1851 English Census records approximate 1832. So, when the quarantine is over, this will need to be verified (May 2020). Her father is listed as James Giles; her mother is listed as Mary Giles. The 1861 English Census reads that Mary’s father is Richard Lewis.

Sarah Giles married Abel Woodin on 9 June 1851 in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England. According to digital records, the family crossed the Atlantic in 1880. Abel died 1887 and was buried in LaSalle County, Illinois. Sarah married a second time to John Raisbeck on 17 September 1890 in Grundy County, Illinois, Illinois Marriages FHL film 001415756. View the 1900 United States Federal Census, John, Sarah and Thomas were enumerated in Bureau County, Illinois. Thomas was born in 1881 in Illinois. Thomas’ obituary reads that he was born in Braceville, Grundy County. At this time, my further research reveals that Elizabeth Wilson was the mother of Thomas and Rachael Raisbeck. Sarah was still married to Abel Woodin in 1881. Family papers reveal Sarah’s death date as 1908, as of May 2020 I am unable to find an obituary or any document.

For me, the photo question has been answered, Sarah was born Giles, married first time Abel Woodin, married second time John Raisbeck.

My connection, Sarah Giles was the mother-in-law of my great aunt, Eugenie Luella COUCH 1878-1959. See my tree, Roots Digger (Under Construction), on Ancestry.com for the source citations; or, see my tree, Roots Digger 2020, on MyHeritage.com.

Thank you Wilma for your many, many hours putting together this family for future generations!