Mary Ramsey Wood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Ramsey Wood
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Wood on July 26, 1907
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| Born | May 20, 1787/circa 1810 |
| Died | January 1, 1908 (aged 120 disputed) |
| Resting place | Hillsboro Pioneer Cemetery |
| Known for | Supposed oldest living person |
| Spouse(s) | Jacob Lemons (died in 1839) John Wood (died in 1867) |
| Children | 4 |
Mary Ramsey Wood (also known as Mary Ramsey Lemons Wood) was an American pioneer. She was born on May 20, 1787, or around 1810, and died on January 1, 1908. She was often called the "Mother Queen of Oregon."
When she passed away, many people believed she was the oldest living person in the United States, supposedly at 120 years old. It was said she traveled to the Oregon Territory on the Oregon Trail when she was 66. However, there is some evidence that her age might have been exaggerated. She may have been closer to 96 or 98 when she died.
Contents
Her Early Life and Family
Mary Ramsey was born on May 20, 1787, near Knoxville, Tennessee. Her father, Richard Ramsey, was a brickmaker, and her mother was Catherine Gann. Mary grew up in Tennessee with her nine brothers and sisters. Her parents came from England and settled in Tennessee, where they raised their large family.
Mary's family was quite wealthy. Her father built the first brick home in Knoxville. When she was young, Mary Ramsey even danced with General Andrew Jackson. Her father had fought alongside him in the War of 1812.
At age 12, Mary joined the Methodist church. In 1804, she married Jacob Lemons in Tennessee. They had four children: Mary Jane, Isaac, Nancy Ellen, and Catherine Bridgette. The family lived on a farm in Tennessee. In 1837, they moved to Alabama, and then to Georgia the next year. Jacob died in 1839. In 1849, Mary Lemons moved to Missouri.
Journey to Oregon
In 1852, Mary Lemons moved to the Oregon Territory with her daughters Nancy and Catherine and their families. She rode her horse, Martha Washington Pioneer, for the entire journey along the Oregon Trail. At 66 years old, she was a midwife and even helped deliver at least one baby during the trip.
The family arrived in Oregon in 1853. They settled in Washington County in Hillsboro, located in the Tualatin Valley. On May 28, 1854, Mary married John Wood in Hillsboro. John built the first wooden hotel in Hillsboro, called the Commercial Hotel. Mary worked there, helping to run the saloon inside.
Around 1865, Mary and John sold the hotel to Mary's daughter Catherine. John Wood passed away in 1867. After that, Mary Wood worked as the postmaster for Hillsboro. She later retired and lived with her daughter. In 1879, she got typhoid and lost sight in her left eye.
In 1904, Mary testified in a court case about an old land document. People were amazed by how sharp her memory was. In 1907, she was honored as the first "Mother Queen" of Oregon. This special ceremony was led by important people like former Senator George Henry Williams. Because she was very frail, a large photograph of her was used to represent her at the event. This story was shared across the country.
Mary Ramsey Wood, often called "Grandma" Wood, died on January 1, 1908. At the time, she was believed to be 120 years old and the oldest living person in the United States. She was also called the "oldest Methodist in the world." Mary Wood was buried at the Hillsboro Pioneer Cemetery. News of her death and her amazing age was reported widely.
A newspaper story from 1908 claimed her age was real. It said her daughter had found a family Bible record that showed Mary was 120. However, this letter was later lost, and the relatives could not be found again.
The Mystery of Her Age
Many old and new sources say Mary Wood was 120 years old when she died. But according to official United States Census records and modern research, this age claim is probably not true.
If Mary Ramsey Wood had lived to be 120, she would have been the oldest person in the world at that time. She would also be the oldest American ever recorded. However, the Guinness World Records says the oldest American was Sarah Knauss, who lived to be 119.
What Do Records Show?
Census records suggest there might be a difference between Mary Wood's claimed age and her real age. Three U.S. census records for Hillsboro list a Mary Wood. The information in these records matches parts of Mary Ramsey Wood's life story.
- The 1860 Census shows a Mary Wood, age 50, living in Hillsboro. This record also lists John Wood, age 71.
- The 1880 Census for Hillsboro lists a Mary Wood, age 69. This Mary Wood was born in Tennessee and lived with her daughter, Catherine Smith. Her parents were from England.
- The 1900 Census lists a Mary Wood born in May 1809, making her 91. She lived with her daughter Catherine Reynolds, who was 67. This Mary Wood was also born in Tennessee, and her parents were from England. However, this Mary Wood could not read or write, even though Mary Ramsey Wood was known as a "great reader."
If the Mary Wood in these census records is the same person as Mary Ramsey Wood, then she would have been between 96 and 98 years old when she died. This is different from the claimed age of 120.
Her Lasting Impact
Mary Wood's hotel, located at 2nd and Washington streets, burned down in 1912. Today, the HART Theatre is on that spot. The nearby Hillsboro Civic Center has a special plaque in its plaza that tells about Mary Wood. In 2005, people suggested naming a fountain at the civic center after her.
January 1, 2008, was named Mary Ramsey Wood Day by the City of Hillsboro. A local historian named James Andrew Long helped make this happen. Even today, news stories about Mary Wood mention the debate about her age. However, they often still state her age as 120 years at her death.
