Lattin B.V. Wood departed this life on Oct. 5, 1887, at the age of 41 and was judged immediately --- if not by his maker then by the editor of The Chariton Democrat, self-appointed to the task. Here is the text of Mr. Wood's obituary from The Democrat of October 6:
"Lattin Wood died at his residence in the west part of this city, yesterday afternoon. For years the deceased has been leading an existence that was a living death. A complication of diseases had taken hold upon him, and for years his strength had been destroyed, and his hope of recovery dead.
"He was not a bad man to others. To himself he had been his own worst enemy. A good intellect and fine physique were wrecked years ago by the seeds which dissipation had planted. All too late for this world he repented and reformed. We draw a veil of charity over his many faults, and remember the good traits that were smothered by his lack of strength to resist. The living should draw many useful lessons from his death."
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This fine tombstone in the Chariton Cemetery marks the graves of the unfortunate Mr. Wood's survivors --- his wife, Charlotte (1853-1904), his two children --- Lilian (1873-1931) and Walter (1878-1935) --- and his mother, Leah (1822-1910).
Lattin is not here, nor his his father, John A. Wood, who had predeceased his son by seven months, dying on March 16, 1887, age about 67, after running a rusty nail into his hand accidentally and contracting "blood poisoning."
Chariton Cemetery records contain no mention of their burials and the graves of their kinfolk are located in a newer section, not opened until about 20 years after their deaths.
This suggests that they were buried, most likely together, in what now is known as Douglass Pioneer Cemetery, still in use in 1887 but already on the road to wrack and ruin and by time Charlotte died, in 1904, ruined entirely.
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The Wood family, natives of New York, had arrived in Chariton ca. 1872-73 after a brief stay in Illinois. John A. Wood is identified in the 1880 census as a horse trainer although a few years earlier, newspaper reports show, he had been fined for operating a gambling house.
His son, Lattin, identified in the 1870 New York census record as a butcher, is identified in the 1880 Iowa census as an alcoholic --- the first time I've seen that. Here's the census entry.
It may be that Lattin's family objected to their loved one being held up as a bad example by The Democrat's editor on Oct. 6. For whatever reason, a more favorable version of his obituary was published as follows on Oct. 13:
"Lattin V.B. Wood was born Jan. 10, 1846, in Ulster county, N.Y. At the age of three years he removed with his parents to Dutchess county in the same state. He was graduated from Eastman Business College in 1865. He removed to Iowa in 1873 and died in Chariton Oct. 5, 1887. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. J.H. Aughey. He leaves a widow and two children, a son and daughter, to mourn his loss.
"Leaves have their time to fall
And flowers to wither at the north wind's breath,
And stars to set --- but all,
Thou hast all seasons for thine own, O, Death!"
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The Wood survivors continued to live together in Chariton until Charlotte's death in 1904, then Lillian and Walter cared for their grandmother until she died during 1910. Neither of the children married.
Lillian died at age 58 on Oct. 25, 1931, of complications after a severe leg fracture had resulted in its amputation. She was described in her obituary as, "gentlewoman in every sense of the word. She was extremely honest and ambitious, and led an upright life. From early childhood she had endured more hardships than fall to the lot of the ordinary mortal, but her burdens were all borne without a murmur, and it can truthfully said that her life has inspired those who have come in contact with her to better thoughts and deeds. She has now entered into the rest which she so richly deserved."
Lillian also was a member of the Woodman Circle, auxiliary of the Modern Woodmen of the World, which explains the family's fine tombstone.
Walter, a painter and paper hanger by trade, died four years later, on Sept 2, 1935, at the age of 57. Friends saw to his burial, but no one remained to see that his year of death was inscribed on the tombstone.
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