History of Texas, Together with a Biographical History of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson Counties. Page: 314

81 ITR PTXS

good state of cultivation, and his residence
'is built on the bluff, overlooking the entire
valley, and presenting one of the finest views
in Texas.
Mr. Wood was married April 26, 1854,
near where he now lives, to Martha, a daughter
of Silas and Jane (Craft) Glover. The two
families were intimately acquainted in Alabama,
and the fathers were both engaged in
splitting rails. They were able to split about
800 a day while working together. Our
subject and wife have eight children, namely:
George W., who resides four miles below his
father, in Bastrop county; James F., married
Mattie Manor, and is engaged in farming
near his father; William M., married Mattie
Poe, and resides in the same locality; Mary
Ellen, wife of Spence Poe, a farmer of Travis
county; Henry E. married Mary Poe, and is
a blacksmith by occupation, at home; LeeE.,
married Bulah Busbey, a farmer of Bastrop
county; Mattie Lou, wife of Edd Burlespn, a
merchant of Webberville; and Walter W.,
who married Mollie P. Steward.
Politically, M'r. Wood votes with the Demacratic
party; socially, is a Master Mason;
and religiously both he and his wife are
members of the Baptist Church.
OBERT S. SHANNON, a prominent
l^ ~physician of Travis county, is a son
of Thomas Shannon, who was born in
/ Kentucky, in 1795. The latter moved
to Indiana when it was yet a Territory, locating
near Hanover, where he followed farming.
He was a Whig in his political views,
and was a member and Elder for many years of
the Associate Reformed Church. He was engaged
for years in the breaking up o/the comnmon
use of liquors. lis death occurred about

1873. Thomas Shannon was a son of George
and Ann (Reed) Shannon, natives of Pennsylvania.
The father located near Lexington,
Kentucky, in an early day, was a farmer and
surveyor by occupation, and his death
occurred. in Indiana. The Shannon family
came from Ireland to America in an early
day. The mother of our subject, nee Elizabeth
Spear, was a native of Kentucky and a
daughter of Robert and M. Spear, both now
deceased. The Spear family are of Scotch
descent. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Shannon
had seven children: Robert S., the subject of
this sketch; George, who lived at Rome until
of age, resided at Kansas City for a time, and
after starting on a journey to Fort Scott on
business he has never been heard of since,
and it is supposed he was murdered by
Indians, as they were then numerous; Martha,
wife of David Moore, a native of Pennsylvania,
and at one time was Superintendent
of Public Institution in Pennsylvania, after.
ward went to Mississippi, where he engaged
in teaching; Lowry of Hanover, Indiana;
Sarah, wife of John Matthews, also of that
place; James, deceased in infancy; and John,
who died at the age of twenty-two years.
Robert S. Shannon, our subject, was born
near Hanover, Indiana, September 11, 1823.
He was engaged at farm labor until eighteen
years of age, after which he spent two years
in a preparatory school, and then entered the
Hanover College, graduating at tht institution
in 1848. In August, same year, he
went to Salem, Mississippi, and engaged in
teaching, in company with David Moore.
They began with only six pupils and in
March, 1853, they had over a hundred. At
this time Mr. Shannon entered the Medical
Department of the University of Pennsylvania,
at Philadelpia, remained there until
March, 1855, and then came by way of

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