Select Biographies of Burris D. Wood’s Descendants
(This is not a complete list)
Barbara Anne Greene Bozic Storey
Barbara Anne Greene was born August 12, 1940 to Homer Ross Greene,
Jr. and Ruth Virginia Miller. All of her life it was remembered that she and her
father's half-sister Viola were born on the same day so birthdays were
celebrated together. Barbara was a graduate of Bellevue High School and
Pennsylvania State University, where she was a member of Phi Mu. She took a
job as a high school teacher at Baldwin High School in
the Baldwin-Whitehall School District which is in the
Pittsburgh area. She married William Joseph Bozic in
June of 1963 at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Mt.
Lebanon, Pennsylvania. William was the son of Joseph
Francis Bozic and Marija Rosa Matunovic and was a
Colonel in the Medical Corps in the 99th ARCOM. The
couple had three children before Barbara left her
husband on February 2, 1977 with a divorce shortly
thereafter. She moved into an apartment at 532
Eastwind Drive, North Palm Beach, Florida where she
made a living as a World Geography teacher at the
Marshall Benjamin Private School. Among her students were the children of
golfer Jack Nichlaus, Businessman and University of Florida President
Marshall Criser, and Secretary of State Warren Christopher. She married
Milton Edward Storey, who did service in the US Navy during WWII. The
couple devoted much time to visiting the sick at PBG Hospital and trying to
help those who had problems with alcohol. Barbara was always doing for
others and became a devote Methodist who lived her faith. She was stricken
with blood cancer and suffered without showing it before her death on
September 14, 1994 Palm Beach Gardens Hospital, in Palm Beach Gardens
County, Florida. ~ Written by William Bozic jr.
Homer Ross Greene Junior
Homer Ross Greene, Jr. was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on 27
January 1911 to Homer Ross Greene and Isabelle G. Wood. He graduated from
the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in social work. He eloped in West
Virginia with Ruth "Virginia" Miller, who was the daughter of Charles Baum
Miller and Mark Boyd. Homer served in the Red Cross in South Carolina
during World War Two and after the war he returned to Pittsburgh where he
lived with his family on Means Ave in Bellevue, in Pittsburgh's North Side. Due
to a political scandal involving his father, who was exonerated of all charges,
Homer Ross Greene, Jr. moved to North Palm Beach, Florida where he served
as the Director of Red Cross for Palm Beach County. He worked very hard
through hurricanes and camps to train youth. He enjoyed swimming and golf.
Homer was the father of two children. Homer was a non-smoker but died of
lung cancer at the Renova Health Center in Lake Park, Florida on 8 March
1999. His wife was a heavy smoker whose favorite brand was "Virginia Slims".
Both Homer and his wife Virginia are interred in Royal Palm Memorial Gardens
in West Palm Beach, Florida. ~ Written by William Bozic jr.
Charles Wesley Chapman Wood
Charles Wesley Chapman Wood was born on 24 March 1875 in
Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, which would later become the North Side of
Pittsburgh. He was the second son of John Devender Wood and Carrie C.
Doerr He was the second son and the fourth of seven children Charles was
named for Captain Charles Wesley Chapman, the captain of Company K, a
regiment in the 63rd Pennsylvania Volunteers. This was the same company
that Charles' father, John, served with during the Civil War. Captain Chapman
was killed in a skirmish in 1862, and it can be assumed
that the captain and John were friends, for John's
second son bore his full name. Little is known about his
life except for what can be gleaned from census reports
and city directories from Pittsburgh and the surrounding
area. Beginning at age 16, Charles worked most of his
life at a series of blue-collared jobs. He worked as a
puncher and melder in the iron mills and learned the
trade of stove-making and repair. He also was an axle
turner, salesman and a general laborer. He moved
around every few years, living in rented houses and
rooms. Charles married Birdie Boggs Fielding on 23 April 1901 in her father’s
house at 54 Norwood Avenue, Allegheny City, Pennsylvania. She was the
daughter of James and Sarah Fielding. Charles and Birdie would have five
children; Mabel, John Devender, Robert Wesley, Marian, and Charles
William. Little is known about the later years of his life. He died on 9 April
1941 in his rented home at 1220 Trimble Avenue on the North Side of
Pittsburgh and was buried in Highwood Cemetery in Pittsburgh. Birdie died in
the same house on 23 December of the following year and was buried beside
him. ~ Written by Kelley Wood-Davis
Charles William Wood
Charles William Wood was born on 1 April 1918 on the North Side of
Pittsburgh to Charles Wesley Chapman Wood and Birdie Boggs Fielding Wood.
His father was the youngest son of John Devender Wood and Caroline Doerr,
while his mother was the daughter of James and Sarah Fielding. Charles was
the youngest child of the couple, and grew up with older siblings Mabel, John,
Robert, and Marian. Growing up, Charles, who was
known as Chuck, was a member of the McClure Avenue
Presbyterian Church where he would meet a young
woman by the name of Elizabeth "Betty" Pfieffer. They
would meet as young teenagers, but it wasn't until 23
November 1943 that they would marry at the church,
while he was home on leave. He was a sergeant in the
Army, and saw action in the China - Burma Theater
during World War Two. The couple had four children,
all who were born in Pittsburgh. Laura was born on 17
December 1946 and in an accident during her birthing,
she never was more than an infant mentally. She died
as a young woman on 4 June 1967. The other three married at least once and
had children of their own. Charles worked most of his life for the Western
Telegraph Company, which would later become part of AT&T and raised his
family with Betty in Allison Park, Pennsylvania. When he retired, the couple
moved to Valrico, Florida, where they lived in a trailer park for seniors. On 7
September 1989, Chuck was having surgery on his heart when complications
arose and he died on the operating table. He was cremated and his ashes were
scattered by his pastor. To this day, no one in his family knows exactly where,
as it was a secret his pastor was sworn to keep. ~ Written by Kelley Wood-Davis
Isabelle Wood Timmie Greene Koch
Isabelle G. Wood was born June 29, 1884 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny
County, Pennsylvania, to George Wood and Josephine Sproul. She was first
married on January 3, 1903 to Walter Timmie in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
They had one daughter, Viola Isabella, but the marriage did not last. Isabelle
then married Homer Ross Greene, a Texan who had spent some time in Indian
Country as well. He had been a cowboy, a realtor and a politician. He was also
the Director of Lands, Buildings, Rivers, and Harbors for Pittsburgh, member of
the cabinet of Pittsburgh’s Mayor Lawrence, and Democratic Party Chief of
Pittsburgh's North Side. Homer was also instrumental in the creation of Point
Park as well as Allegheny County's North and South Parks. To this union, two
children were born, Homer junior and Alice, and Homer helped to raise Viola.
Homer Greene retained custody of all three children when their marriage
ended. Isabel then married a Mr. Koch and was a housewife at their home
on 23 East General Robinson Street for the remainder of her life. She died
October 29, 1945 of acute bronchial pneumonia in Pittsburgh and was buried
in Highwood Cemetery. Her gravestone simply reads “Our Mother.” ~ Written
by William Bozic jr.
John Devender Wood
John Devender Wood was born on 23 April 1841 in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania. He was the eldest son of Burris Doudney Wood and Julia
Blackford and second of seven children, the others being Elizabeth, Reumah
Anne, Margaret, William W., Burris and George. Like most young men of his
time, John fought in the Civil War, mustering in as a private on 1 August 1861.
In time, he was promoted to the rank of corporal and then to sergeant of the
63rd Pennsylvania Volunteers, company K. John fought
in a number of battles, including Malvern Hill,
Petersburg, Williamsburg, Chancellorsville, Yorktown and
Gettysburg. He mustered out with the rest of the
regiment at the end of the war. His only injury would be
rheumatism in his feet, which he received from the
trenches of Petersburg, which would develop steadily as
he got older to the point where it was quite painful at
times to walk. He married Carrie C. Doerr (or possibly
Doen) on 27 February 1868 at the U.P. Church
Temperanceville, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Carrie was
born 27 December 1848 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The couple had seven children; Harry Weaver, Amelia
Minich, Maggie Julia, Charles Wesley Chapman, Augusta Burgdolf, May Carrie
and John Devender junior, who died in infancy. John wore many occupational
hats in his lifetime to provide for his family. He began as a riverman before he
went on to work as a roller in the iron and steel mills that Allegheny County
and Pittsburgh in general would become famous for later. He and Carrie and
their family would live in what was once Allegheny City, but is now the North
side of Pittsburgh. Because of the rheumatism in his feet that steadily
worsened, as an older man he applied for and received a veteran's pension from
the United States government. After his death, his widow received a benefit as
well, which would support the elderly Carrie as well as the couple's daughter
May. He died 31 August 1890 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and was buried in
Highwood Cemetery in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His wife survived him by
seven years, as she died 23 August 1898 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and is
also buried in Highwood Cemetery. ~ Written by Kelley Wood-Davis
Harry Weaver Wood
Harry Weaver Wood was born on 15 December 1868 in Allegheny City,
Pennsylvania to John Devender Wood and Caroline Doerr. He was their eldest
child. He lived on the North Side of Pittsburgh for his entire
life, working first as a roller in the iron mills and then as a
detective with the Bureau of Detectives. On 25 July 1891, he
married Eva Wittmer. She was born 20 August 1873 in
Pennsylvania to German immigrants, though not much else is
known about her. The couple had seven children, Anna,
Viola, Elva, Harold, Hilda, Clifford, and Nellie. Harry was a
member of both the Allegheny Council Number 145 Royal
Arcanum and the Superior Lodge Knights of Pythias. On
Valentine’s Day of 1927, Harry died. Three days later, his
services were held in his home on 3451 Fleming Avenue on
the North Side of Pittsburgh. He was then buried in
Highwood Cemetery in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Eva passed
away in 1959 and was also buried in Highwood Cemetery. ~ Written by Kelley
Wood-Davis
Margaret Wood
Margaret Wood was born on June 18, 1844. She was the fourth
surviving child of Burris Doudney Wood and Julia Ann Blachford. Margaret
was also known as Margret. On July 3, 1862, at age eighteen, Margaret
married Benjamin Jordan in a ceremony performed by Reverend Beard at
Fairchance, Pennsylvania. Benjamin was born on April 03, 1842 in
Morgantown, West Virginia, and was the son of John Jordan, a wagon maker
who emigrated from Germany about 1800, and Sarah Bowman. Benjamin
served in the Civil War as a Private in Captain Gilmore’s Company of the
United States Cavalry and was discharged from the United States Military
Hospital at Grafton, Virginia in 1863. Margaret and Benjamin had seven
children: Albert, John, Laura, Annie, Ella, George, and Charlie. Benjamin died
on December 20, 1915, at age seventy-three of endocarditis. He is buried at
White Rock Cemetery, Fairchance, Pennsylvania. Margaret died on July 16,
1916 of diverticulosis. She was buried at White Rock Cemetery on July 18,
1916, seventy-two years and one month after her birth. ~ Written by Ellen
Hunter