H. M. WOOD

WOOD

Posted By: Jake Tornholm (email)
Date: 4/20/2020 at 13:48:16

H. M. WOOD was born in Erie county, New York, October 18, 1830. His ancestors were among the early settlers of New England. His father, James Wood, a native of Massachusetts, was a son of Thomas Wood, who was born in Worthington, that State. The mother of H. M. Wood was Esther (Moon) Wood, a native of Rutland, Vermont, and a daughter of Nathan Moon, also a New Englander. James Wood was born in November, 1790. and Esther, his wife, in July, 1798, and they were married in western New York. They had a family of eight children, four sons and
four daughters. One son, John M., served in the late war as a member of Company C, Thirty-second Iowa Infantry. He is now a resident of Erie county, New York. The parents both died in Erie county, New York, each at about the age of eighty-five years- The mother was a consistent member of the Free Will Baptist Church. The father was a man of intelligence, keen judgment and marked business ability. He cleared some 300 acres of land, conducted a tavern and store and bought and drove cattle, and thus did an extensive business. He was a Whig, and
was active in the political campaigns of his day. He served as county Supervisor, and in 1846 as a member of the State Assembly, performing his public as well as his private duties in a conscientious and earnest manner. In early life he was a member of the Methodist Church, but subsequently united with the Free Will Baptist, and was a deacon in that church at the time of his death. He was a Royal Arch Mason, and a veteran of the war of 1812.

H. M. Wood was reared in his native county, and received his education in the common schools. He assisted his father on the farm and in the hotel and store. In 1851 he went to Wisconsin, and after remaining there a short time went to Will county, Illinois. In the fall of 1852 he settled in Jackson county, Iowa, near Maquoketa, not long afterward returning to Erie county, New York. In 1863 he came west again, this time settling in Black Hawk county, Iowa; thence, in 1867, to Dallas county. After one summer spent there he came to Adams county and settled on wild land, where he has since continued to reside. He now has a fine farm of 120 acres. His two-story residence is located on a natural building site, and is surrounded with ornamental trees and shrubs, making an attractive home. He has a good barn, orchard and grove, and other
substantial improvements.

Mr. Wood has been married three times. November 7, 1852, he wedded Miss Celestia Ward, a native of Wyoming county, New York, and a daughter of Hanibal Ward. She died near Maquoketa, Iowa, in November, 1853, leaving twin daughters, Connelia and Cordelia. The former is now the wife of John Wolf, of Kansas, and the latter died at the age of seven years. In February, 1854, Mr. Wood married Mariett Goodell. who was born in Erie county, New York, daughter of Isaac Goodell; she bore him two children, viz.: Margery M., who died at the age of
four years, and Mary L., wife of William Wolf, of Nebraska City, Nebraska. His second wife died at Waterloo, Black Hawk county, Iowa, November 9, 1863. He was married to his present wife in Black Hawk county, Iowa, in February, 1864. Her maiden name was Julia A. Benight. She was born in Vigo county, Indiana, near Terre Haute, daughter of Guy JR. and Harriette (May") Benight, both natives of New York, and the latter reared and educated in Clark county, Illinois. Both died at the home of Mrs. Wood, the father in Black Hawk county in 1864, and the mother in April, 1880. By his present companion Mr. Wood has had three children, two of whom are living, namely: Esther I., wife of Rev. G. W. Palmer, who has charge of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Persia, Iowa, and Nellie Frances, wife of S. M. Richie, of Douglas township, this county. Both Mrs. Palmer and Mrs. Richie are accomplished ladies, and have been successful teachers.

Mr. Wood affiliates with the Republican party, and for seven years has served as township clerk. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has been a class leader for twenty years; has also served as steward, both district and recording. He was made a Mason in Instruction Lodge, No. 275, of Corning, Iowa, in 1872. Such, in brief, is a sketch of the life of
one of Adams county’s well-known citizens.