He married Miss Laura Bennett, a well-known star of the old variety days; they had one daughter.
Mr. Woodson’s singing of “That Old Gray Mule of Mine” was a classic.
His last engagement was with Cleveland’s Minstrels in 1891.
Harry Woodson was born in Richmond, Va., January 15, 1852; he died at Amityville, Long Island, N. Y., August 30, 1898.
W. S. Belknap, prominent as a bass singer with Haverly’s Mastodon Minstrels; Barlow, Wilson, Primrose and West’s and other minstrel organizations, died at Louisville, Ky., February 15, 1900; age 48 years.
Billy O’Day (Geo. F. Day), who excelled as a “rough wench,” commenced “acting up” late in 1871 at Frank Wild’s Varieties in Buffalo, N. Y.; remained one year at $12 per — not $12.00 per year; but perhaps you have guessed it.
Afterwards he was with Shay’s Quinciplexal Minstrels, and joined Billy Wild; known as O’Day and Wild, the “Ebony Kings,” the partnership continued two years. He then played variety engagements, and was three years at Harry Enoch’s in Philadelphia.
In 1890 O’Day and Jerry Cunningham were partners, and remained so for one year. Mr. O’Day has since that time played white- and black-face characters in several prominent dramatic organizations, including Rufus, in “Held by the Enemy” and Decatur in “Alabama,” not forgetting Uncle Tom in the latter’s Cabin.
I most forgot to say that about 1873 Mr. O’Day appeared as “Master Willie” with the San Francisco Minstrels in New York, and sang “There’s A Letter In The Candle.”
Mr. O’Day was married at Johnstown, Pa., October 13, 1892, to Miss Mary Eagel, a non-professional.