Elizabeth was the daughter of German immigrant William Humrichouser and Pennsylvania native Rachel Elizabeth Thompson, who married circa 1821, likely in Pennsylvania. Ten children are currently attributed to William and Rachel—Andrew (b. 1822), Susan (b. 1825), Jacob (b. 1827), Christina (b. 1827), Henry (b. 1829), Louisa (b. 1833), William (b. 1834), Elizabeth (b. 1836), Isaiah (b. 1842), and Agnes (b. 1848). An eleventh child is attributed to Rachel—a son named Samuel, born in 1819, whose father’s surname seemingly was Ritter.

A fellow Find-A-Grave contributor sent information regarding yet another sibling for Elizabeth--"Leah Caroline Humrichouser was baptized at Trinity United Church of Christ Reformed on 11 March 1831. Her memorial number is 193068936." Great work, people!

Elizabeth’s parents and five of her older siblings appeared on the 1830 Census, which placed the family in West Manchester, York Co., Pennsylvania. Only the head of household, William Humrichouser, is noted by name as well as by age (30-39). The female 20-29 was wife Rachel, who would have been about 22 years old. The five children with them were twins Andrew and Christina, aged about 8, Susan, about 5, Jacob, about 3, and Henry, about 1.

By the time the 1840 Census was taken, indeed by the time daughter Elizabeth was born in 1836 in Ashland County, Ohio, the family had relocated to Ohio. That decade’s census caught up with the family in Milton, Richland Co., Ohio, the county just to the west of Ashland, County. This would be the last census that only noted the heads of household. William Humrichouser was engaged in mining, and was about 43 years old. Rachel was about 32 at that time. Four more children had joined the family, bringing their brood up to nine—twins Andrew and Christina, about 18, Susan, almost 15, Jacob, about 13, Henry, about 11, Isaiah, about 8, Louisa, about 7, William, about 6, and Elizabeth, about 4.

The family was dealt a cruel blow six years later in 1846 when they lost three of their children—Jacob, Louisa, and William Jr. The dark cloud returned on 27 Sep 1849 to claim husband, father and breadwinner William Humrichouser, aged 51.

Elizabeth’s mother Rachel, widowed, aged 47, appeared as head of household on the 1850 Census. The family was living in Ashland, Ashland Co., Ohio. With her were four of her seven surviving children—Harry (aka Henry), 19, Elizabeth, 15, Isaiah, 9, and 2-year-old Agnes. Daughter Susan had married Michael Miller in 1845, daughter Christina had married John Miller in 1846, and son Andrew was out on his own.

Five years after that census, Elizabeth married Norman Smith Woodward on 1 Sep 1855. In the spring of 1852, Norman had gone to seek his fortune during the California Gold Rush, returning to Plymouth, Indiana with several thousand dollars-worth of gold. In San Francisco, Norman met his future brother-in-law Henry Humrichouser and he and Norman made their way back to Plymouth together via Panama, which didn’t yet have its canal. Henry’s sister Elizabeth came from Ohio for a visit, and cupid’s arrow found its way to her and Norman Woodward.

According to Elizabeth on the 1900 Census, she and Norman had seven children together—Hattie May (8 Jul 1856 – 31 Dec 1862), Fannie Belle (Dec 1860 – 16 Mar 1942, married Charles E. Read on 29 Jan 1878), Lillian “Lille” (ca. 1863 – 24 Jul 1941, first married Milton C. Gunckel on 31 May 1881, second married Richard Hamilton Street on 27 Aug 1906), Charles E. (Apr 1867 – unconfirmed 20 Nov 1931, twice married, wives names were Carrie M. and Florence G.), Pearl Agnes (7 Aug 1870 – 23 Apr 1940, married Charles A. Wilding), Daisy M. (Apr 1873 – 1957, never married), and Norman Lester (5 Aug 1871 – 20 Feb 1872).

Norman’s first venture upon returning from California was partnership in a drugstore with H.B. Pershing in the spring of 1855. After a year at that, Norman sold his half to Pershing and opened Plymouth’s second bakery. In March 1856, a fire in Plymouth destroyed most of the business district, Norman’s bakery included. After that, Norman opened a small grocery store in Plymouth.

The 1860 Census placed the family in Plymouth, Marshall Co., Indiana. Norman Woodward (W.S. Woodward on the record), 30, was busy with his grocery business. Elizabeth, 22, was home with their two young daughters—May (aka Hattie), 4, and 1-year-old Fannie. Living with the family was 60-year-old Amarilla Woodward, noted as a housekeeper, but she was also Norman’s mother.

In the spring of 1861, the Civil War erupted. Elizabeth’s brother Isaiah answered the call. He was nearly killed during the Battle of Chickamauga, taking nine bullets, two of them to the head. Incredibly, he recovered and eventually returned home to his family.

Sadly, the Woodward family lost daughter and sister Hattie on New Years Eve, 31 Dec 1862. She was only 6 years old.

On Christmas Eve, 24 Dec 1866, Elizabeth would learn of the death of her mother Rachel at age 64.

The 1870 Census had the family zoned into Center Township, which was basically Plymouth proper. Norman Woodward, aged 40, had gotten into the saw mill and lumber business, the firm being Woodward, Oglesbee & Company. Elizabeth, 33, was at home with Fannie, 12, Lillie, 8, Charles, 4, and 3-month-old Pearl. Norman’s mother Amarilla, 72, was still living with the family, and the family had hired a live-in servant-girl in the person of 17-year-old Lucy Sprague.

The year after that census, the family welcomed son and brother Norman Lester on 5 Aug 1871. Sadly, they lost him six months later on 20 Feb 1872. So very sad for this family.

The 1880 Census notes an address at 19 Center St. in Plymouth for the Woodward family. Norman, aged 52, was noted as a stock dealer. Elizabeth, 44, was keeping house. Still at home with their parents were Lillian, 17, Charles, 14, Pearl, 9, and 7-year-old Daisy. Daughter Fannie had married Charles Read on 20 Jan 1878.

With the loss of the 1890 Census, we have to fast forward to the 1900 Census to check in with the Woodward family. They were still at their Center St. address in Plymouth. Norman, 72, was noted as a farmer. He had retired from active business in 1891 after a number of endeavors. Elizabeth, aged 62, reported that she had had seven children, but that only five had survived to that census, a sad reminder of the loss of daughter Hattie and son Norman. By that decade’s census, only daughter Daisy, aged 27, was still living at home. Daisy was a journalist of some note, and would never marry. She accompanied sister Lillie to Europe on a dramatic interpretive reading tour Lillie gave, Daisy reporting on their venues.

Four years after that 1900 enumeration, Elizabeth departed this world on 1 Mar 1904, two days shy of what would have been her sixty-eighth birthday.

Elizabeth’s husband Norman lived another dozen years without his helpmate and companion, living with his various children until three days before Thanksgiving, passing into the light on 27 Nov 1916 at age 88.