Sarah (Lizzie) Elizabeth Countryman Woody
Born: January 6, 1853 in Yuba County California on Dry Creek.
Father: Horace Countryman, born Sept 8, 1824 in Cleveland OH Died in Columbus (Stillwater MT) at age 64, on January 15, 1898.
Mother: Elizabeth Payne, born Dec. 16, 1829. Died on Sept. 29, 1870 in Deer Lodge MT
Married: Franklin Hargrave Woody on December 10, 1871 in Missoula
Died: July 15, 1919 after a 3 month illness.
Cause of Death: Paralysis Agitans or Parkinson’s Disease
Children: Frank, Born: Dec. 1 1872, Died: Aug. 16 1945
Alice Mary (Allie M.) Born: July 2 1874, Died Jan. 24 1965
Rose Anna, born Dec. 19, 1876, Died Oct. 3 1878
Flora Payne, Born Nov. 3, 1879, Died: Early 1950’s
Ruth Emma, Born: Jan. 19 1881, Died: Feb. 14 1881
Rachel, Born: Aug. 25, 1884, Died: Oct. 4 1884
Robert Thomas, Born: Oct 17, 1885, Died: April 10, 1889
Beth Thomasine, Born: March 30 1889, Died: Feb. 24 1899
Rebecca, Born: Unknown, Died: Unknown
One of Missoula’s first school teachers The first Sunday school teacher The wife of Frank Woody who was the first postmaster and first mayor of Missoula At the time of his death, Frank Woody had lived in Montana longer than any white man. At the time of her death Lizzie lived at 328 West Pine Street.
1853 Sarah Elizabeth Countryman born in Yuba County CA to Horace and Elizabeth Countryman
1855 when Sarah was 1.5 years old the family moved via Isthmus of Panama to New York. From New York to Wadena Iowa 1
860 family moved to Marysville California (the trip took 6 months) 75 wagons, 5 women, 3 children. Horace Countryman was the captain of the outfit. According to a great grandson, Sarah fell into a camp fire and was badly burned. She lost the end of her little finger and injured her hip so that she walked with a limp and had to use a cane for the rest of her life.
1865 moved to Virginia City Montana. Horace put up the first quartz mill at Summit, built the Masonic Hall in Virginia City and a mill and Masonic Hall at Philipsburg. Horace rode from Stillwater MT (now Columbus) to Helena to carry the news of the massacre of Custer and his men. Sarah was a teacher in Philipsburg. She had few students but they were lively. In Iowa the teachers boarded with families on rotation. In Philipsburg, Sarah lived at home but at noon she was besieged to go home with the students for lunch. She went with a different student every day so that no one would have hurt feelings.
1869 the family went to Salt Lake City so Sarah and her brother could attend St. Mark's Episcopal school under the care of Bishop Tuttle. It took three weeks to travel from Philipsburg to SLC. Sarah was ill at that time.
1870 In March Sarah and her father came to Deer Lodge MT. Bitter cold trip. On another stage a group of Chinese men froze to death. The rest of the family joined them in June.
1870 on July 5th Sarah took the school at Missoula. It was the second term held at the school. In a letter written by Sarah Woody, she stated “There were 6 women in Missoula at that time.” This may be inaccurate. There appear to have been many more women living in Missoula at that time. The women wore heavy, linsey clothing in the winter and calico dresses in the summer. Almost all the clothes were handmade, with calico selling at 50 cents a yard. Sunbonnets were the popular millinery wear.
1870 Summer Mrs. Woody organized the first Sunday school. Among her pupils were Catholics, Presbyterians, Episcopalians and Methodists. Adults as well as children attended her classes.
1870 Sept. Sarah's mother died in Deer Lodge and Sarah went back until the next spring.
1871 In the spring Sarah returned to Missoula.
1871 December 10 Sarah married Frank H. Woody. The Rector from Deer Lodge came to town to perform the ceremony.
1872 Dec. 1, Son Frank was born.
1874 July 2, Daughter Alice Mary was born.
1876 Dec. 19 Daughter Rose Anna was born.
1878 Oct. 3 Rose Anna died of morphine poisoning.
1879 Nov. 3 Daughter Flora Pyrena was born
1881 Jan. 19 Daughter Ruth Emma was born
1881 Feb. 14 Ruth Emma died of croup
1884 Aug. 25 Daughter Rachel born
1884 Oct. 4 Rachel died if scarket fever
1885 Oct. 17 Son Robert Thomas born
1889 March 30 Daughter Beth Thomasine born
1889 April 10, Robert died of scarlet fever
1899 Feb. 24 Beth Thomasine died of spinal meningitis
A Daughter named Rebecca was born and died young. No dates are known. Sarah and Frank were married for 45 years