"Hardesty's Biographical Atlas of Tyler County West Virginia"
H. H. Hardesty, 1872

J. C. UNDERWOOD - was a son of William and Hannah (Willis) Underwood, 
whose history has just been given. He was born in Tyler county, May 2, 
1821, and was married in Harrison county, Virginia, that part now 
included in Doddridge county, West Virginia. The date of his marriage was 
January 5, 1843, and his chosen bride was Rachel Ash, born in Doddridge 
county, November 6, 1824. Their children were twelve: Martha, born March 
11, 1845, lives in Doddridge county; Francis M., January 29, 1847, died 
January 23, 1865; Harriet A., September 3, 1848, lives in Grafton, Taylor 
county, this State; Irvin M., August 21, 1851, is a minister of the 
United Brethren Church, and stationed in Maryland; Christopher C., April 
15, 1853, lives in this district; Hannah, March 25, 1855, died May 15, 
1864; Matilda E., February 4, 1858, lives in Doddridge county; George W., 
May 23, 1860, lives in Grafton; Sarah C., January 30, 1862, lives in 
McElroy district; as does James M., born May 28, 1864; Mary C., born June 
16, 1866 and Azor J., born April 27, 1869, live at home. Adam and Hannah 
(Hughes) Ash were the parents of Rachel Ash. Her father, born October 5, 
1801, died July 27, 1845; her mother’s birth was on 2d of February, 1805, 
and she died Christmas Day, 1871. Jonathan Hughes, father of Mrs. Ash, 
was a lieutenant in the 1812 war, and his son Jacob served in the same 
war. J. C. Underwood was three years a soldier in the Federal army, war 
of 1861, enlisting August 14, 1862, and received an honorable discharge 
July 15, 1865. Francis M., his son, enlisted August 1 1863, and his term 
expired March 8, 1864, in the 4th Virginia Cavalry, was taken sick at 
West Union, sent home and died on the date before given, before he was 
eighteen years old. J. C. Underwood was four years school commissioner, 
and is a farmer in McElroy district, with his post office address at 
Shirley, Tyler county, West Virginia.

Submitted by Rosalie Markins.