John Billings Rood

John Billings Rood was born about 1830 in the Welsh part of England.  According to his death certificate William and Mary Rood were his parents. The Billings in his name may indicate his mother's maiden name, as many English names were hyphenated. It is not known if John came over with his parents to the United States or not, but he was in living in Houghton County, Michigan for his marriage in 1859.
Below is the marriage record and a transcription:

County of Houghton Township of Portage

I hereby certify that on the 18th day of November. 1859 at the house of George Churches in said Township John Rood of said Township and Martha M Wells did enter into a marriage contract which was Solemnized in presence of George Churches and Mary Ann Turner attending witnesses and I further certify that previous to performing the above marriage I ascertained that both parties were of sufficient age to contract the same, and there was no lawful impediment to hinder them from entering into said contract given under my hand this eighteenth day of Nov. 1859

George Churches [LS]
Mary Ann Turner [LS]

James H SIawson Justice of the Peace

John was married on Nov. 18, 1859, to Martha Ann Wells who came over on a ship from Australia at age 16 (1859). Martha Anne (Elizabeth) Wells was the daughter of William and Mary Wells and was born April 21, between 1842 and 1844 in Australia. After John and Martha were married they appeared on the 1860 Census in Houghton County, Michigan in the same household with William Carson and Michael Hayes.

1860 census, Houghton County, MI, Township of Portage, page 127

About 20 households down was George Church who was listed on John’s marriage certificate. George was listed in the same boarding house along with Margaret Rood who may be related to John Rood. George Church or Churches helped organize Schoolcraft Township and served as the Treasurer and Justice of the Peace, so he may not have been related to the Rood. George Churches was married on the 1870 census, and had died by 1876; his wife Elizabeth and children were on the 1880 Census with Valentine Churches.

Rood - Wells Houghton, MI to Clay County, MN

John Rood emigrated from England to Houghton County, Michigan and married Martha Ann Wells from Australia. They lived in Houghton County before moving to Clay County, Minnesota where their children grew up and married. This blog is about this family and their descendants.