MRS. MARY O. WOODMAN. - The subject of this sketch was born on the 14th of March, 1826, in Fenton, Yorkshire, England, and at the age of two years (in 1828) her father sailed for the United States, and landed at New Orleans. Her father, Benj. Green, with his family, came up the river to St. Louis, thence to Naples, Illinois, by the Illinois river, and settled four miles east of Naples, where he still resides. The subject of this sketch received her education in the log school houses of Illinois; the first school she attended was composed of eleven scholars. She was only permitted to go to school a few months in the year. She was married to Henry Oakes, Esq., March 20, 1843. Mr. Oakes was born in Marietta, Ohio, September 3, 1817. He died December, 1864. They had six children, five sons and one daughter, three of whom are now living. Henry was born September 3, 1848; he resides near the old homestead, and has one of the finest tracts of land in the county, and in company with his brother Charles, is engaged in stock raising; they are the largest stock dealers in the county. Charles was born March 7, 1852, and is also possessor of one of the finest farms in Illinois, and at present resides at the old homestead. Royal was born November 17, 1854, and is now attending commercial college at Philadelphia. Her daughter Ann was born February 20, 1844, and died quite young. Benjamin O. was born October 27, 1849, and died in the tender years of youth.
Mrs. Oakes was married to her present husband, Edward Woodman, of Chester County, Pennsylvania, on the 4th of December, 1866. Mrs. Woodman, in connection with her sons, has a farm consisting of four thousand acres of land, most of which is in a high state of cultivation. The old homestead is situated on section 11, near Bluff City, overlooking the valley of the Illinois. The site of the large spacious farm place is on a bluff about sixty feet above the bottom; it is a well known landmark to the most casual observer, for miles around. Here the art of the landscape gardner is brought to improve nature, and the whole place is beautified with evergreens and deciduous shrubs, well constructed walks, flower beds, summer houses, arbors, etc., which are somewhat concealed in the lithographic view by the beautiful shade trees in front. In the rear fine groves afford refreshing shade. Its agreeable hostess, whose social qualities are equal to her business abilities, has had almost the entire management of the large estate until recently, and dispenses her lavish hospitality with courtly grace, so characteristic of the older settlers of Scott county. Mr. Oakes was one of the prominent citizens of the county and was identified with its growth and history during his life. He was widely known and respected for his many good qualities. He was, in short, a public spirited citizen, a good farmer, and an upright business man. In politics he was a democrat, and when the war broke out did his part as a loyal man in supporting the government and giving liberally of his means. He served the people of his neighborhood several years as justice of the peace, but always preferring to attend to the arduous duties of his farm rather than hold office.
Mrs. Woodman is a member of the Protestant Methodist Church. She has lived to see great changes come over Scott County
since she first settled within its limits. The wild, unbroken prairie, decked with its rich exuberance of natural herbage and
flowers, and the belts of timber in which the wild fields were enclosed, have given place to commercial and
educational centers of business and refinement, and beautiful homes, made happy by the merry hearts of thousands who
have since come to possess the goodly land. I view of these improvements she may appropriately say: -