The Pleasanton Herald, December 4, 1914

Died: November 29, 1914

AN OLD CITIZEN HAS PASSED OVER.

Col. Henry H. Woy, one of the pioneer and best known citizens of Linn county, died at the home of J. Frank Smith, in this place, Sunday, November 29, at 8:20 p. m. Funeral services were held at the Congressional church in Mound City Tuesday afternoon, December 1, at 2 o’clock, conducted by Rev. E. N. Gause and Col. Ed. R. Smith, a life-long friend, after which all that was mortal of this grand man was escorted to the cemetery by his comrades of the G. A. R. posts of Pleasanton and Mound City. The Grand Army of the Republic service was given at the grave by officers of Montgomery post, Mound City. The pall bearers were members of Jewell post and Eureka chapter, A. F. & A. M. of this place, deceased being a member of both orders.

The principal address at the church was made by Col. Ed. R. Smith who since Col. Woy located in Linn county in 1870 has been a warm friend of deceased. Mr. Smith has delivered many funeral orations on the death of prominent citizens and pioneers of Historic Linn and his intimate acquaintance with the people of this community and his ability to say the good things of a departed friend on such occasions has been a source of much comfort to the sorrowing relatives. The address on this occasion was one of Col. Smith’s best; it was an unusually strong tribute of one friend paid to the memory of another, and the large assembly of friends and relatives of Col. Woy much appreciate the kind words spoken by one who had known the departed almost a half century.

H. H. Woy was born in Carroll county, Ohio, November 17, 1840. He was one of a family of fourteen children. Two of them died in infancy the remaining twelve living until a ripe old age, Col. Woy, second child of the family, being the first to answer the Great Master’s call. The remaining brothers and sisters are scattered to many states of the Union, and only one sister, Mrs. Alice Fox, of Clinton, Ill., could be present, she arriving a week before her brother passed over and gave him much comfort.

Deceased had been married three times-the first union when a young man, his girl wife dying of typhoid fever a few months after the wedding. He enlisted in Co. F, 57th Ohio Inft., and was with Sherman in his march to the sea, and also was in the siege of Vicksburg. After close of the war he went to DeWitt county, Ill., where on November 25, 1865, he was married to Miss Louisiana Hume. Soon after this Mr. and Mrs. Woy came west, locating in Bates county, Mo., living there a few years. In 1870 he moved to Sheridan township, Linn county, locating on the farm near Linton where he resided and which he owned at the time of his demise. He lived in Mound City a number of years and was often honored with the election of mayor of that place, and held many other positions of honor and responsibility.

His second wife, died in Mound City in 1904 and in June 1906 he was married again to Mrs. Lia Marsh. Shortly after the latter marriage they moved to the farm near Linton where they lived until Nov. 3rd when they came to Pleasanton. On July 17th he was overcome by heat while working on the farm and became very ill and was in a critical condition for about two months when he recovered enough to be able to be up and about a little but was still very weak. His age and weakened condition from a complication of ailments made his case such that the physicians gave him no encouragement.

In order that every care and comfort possible could be rendered to him, he and Mrs. Woy came to Pleasanton Nov. 3rd and made their home with Mr. and Mrs. J. Frank Smith. He fully realized for several weeks that his time was nearing the end and talked very freely about it to his wife and near friends.

Col. Woy was one of the pioneers of the county. He was known to almost every resident of this section and had a host of warm friends. All his neighbors respected him and in all his dealings he was fair and square with everyone. He was kind to those about him, very much devoted to his home and home life and was in every way a splendid citizen. His many public acts while three times mayor of Mound City and also for seven years a member of the board of county commissioners will leave their impression on the community for years to come. He was always on the side of the better things, morally and socially, and was held in high esteem by all who knew him.