Dennis S. Sattler, the Uncle of Mary Margaret Bracewell Woods, was the fourth president (1913-14) of the Business Circle of Chicago, Illinois. This business luncheon group was formed in 1908 to foster better business relations and improve the community. The Business Circle of Chicago changed its name in 1917 to the Central Lions Club of Chicago. Lions Clubs International was created in 1917 at a meeting of delegates from mens clubs across the United States hosted by the Business Circle/Central Lions Club of Chicago.

Ray Herman Bracewell was the father of Mary Margaret Bracewell Woods. He was associated with the Burlington Iowa Public School System for 35 years (1919-1954), first as high school and college principal and for 17 years as Superintendent of Schools. Prior to that, as acting principal in Springfield, Illinois, he opened a new million dollar high school in 1918. He became nationally recognized through his work with school administration organizations. He played a major role in the establishment of a local junior college in 1920, and

The surname "Woods" is of English, Scottish and Irish derivation, and was a topographical name for someone who lived in the woods. However, did you know our family surname "Woods" is derived from a partial translation of the French surname "Brisbois"? Our direct French-Canadian ancestor and his brother came south from Quebec to fight in the American Civil War and Americanized their family name from "Brisbois" to "Woods". Our family genealogist, Frank Woods, has details on their military service in the Civil War, descendants, where they're buried, etc.

We very recently found a fragile little notebook of old religious newspaper clippings, notes and writings from our Uncle Francis, Fr. Francis F. Woods. Grandma Woods (Anna, the mother of Francis, Norbert and Helen) wrote inside the notebook that it was written while Francis was attending St. Charles College, near Baltimore, Maryland, in 1925-27. He then went on to study in Rome, Italy, where he was ordained a Priest on September 24, 1932.

When you’re in Schenectady, at 3 Douglas Road, ask to see the notebook, it’s in the living room. While just a very simple little school lined notebook, it really is a family treasure. It is in Uncle Francis’ handwriting. It even includes some little pictures drawn by our Dad, Norbert, when he was only about 3 or 4 years old. These were probably mailed to Francis, Dad’s big older brother, while he was away at college. We’re lucky to still have the notebook as it was in a box of partially burned papers from the attic fire at Aunt Helen’s house about 25 years ago.