ENOCH A WOOD, b 6 Dec 1811

WOOD, PAYNE, SCARBOROUGH, HUDSON, KELSO

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 2/28/2005 at 18:11:59

Dr. Enoch A. Wood, the oldest pioneer now living in the country and the founder of Sabula, is an intelligent, jolly old gentleman with the right use of all his mental faculties, public-spirited, well informed and a favorite all over the country with both young and old. He was born in Knox County, Ohio, Dec. 6, 1811, and is the son of James and Margaret (Payne) Wood, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Cumberland, Md.

The father of our subject served as a soldier in the War of 1812, under the command of Gen. Hull, and witnessed the surrender of Detroit in 1813. After the war he emigrated to Knox County, Ohio, where he was one of the first settlers. He took up a tract of Government land, which he cleared and cultivated, and from which he constructed a comfortable homestead. The parents spent their last years in Sabula, Iowa. Their family included ten children, only three of whom are now living, namely: Enoch A., our subject; Capt. Jeremiah Wood, of Davenport; and Lorinda, Mrs. Scarborough, of Sabula.

The subject of this notice was reared and educated in his native county, spending his boyhood days on the farm. Then he became a clerk in the store of his father at Danville, where the family remained until 1831. In the fall of that year they removed to Cass County, Mich., settling in Edwardsburg, where the father established a store, and Enoch A. again officiated as clerk. Leaving the Wolverine State in 1836, they all came to this county, settling on a tract of land in Union Township while Iowa was still a territory. Indians still roamed over the country; wild game was plentiful, and the streams abounded with choice fish, enough of which could be caught in a few minutes to supply a good-sized table.

After the Wood family had resided for a year in this county, Enoch A., in company with others, laid out the town of Sabula, where he has since made his home. His has been a busy and energetic life, and since 1837 he has been engaged in farming, merchandising, milling and various other enterprises by which he could turn an honest penny. For several years he and his brother Jeremiah were partners in the mercantile business. The latter finally took to the river, and is one of the most popular captains on the Mississippi.

Mr. Wood served as Town Trustee of Sabula a number of years, and later was Mayor of the city three terms. During its early establishment he officiated as County Commissioner several terms. At one time he was solicited by his party to become their nominee for the Iowa Legislature, but declined. When thirty-two years of age he was married, in February, 1843, to Miss Harriet Hudson, the wedding taking place at the bride's home in Sabula. Mrs. Wood was born in 1818, and is the daughter of Benjamin and Harriet Hudson, natives of Connecticut, but spending their last years in Sabula. Of this union there were two children, only one of whom is living, Ella A., who is the wife of David Kelso, an attorney of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, having his headquarters at Parsons, Kan.

Besides his Sabula property, Mr. Wood is the owner of 160 acres of fine farming land in Union Township; also of a two-thirds interest in a saw and flouring mill situated on the Elk River, and run by his partner, William Struve. He also has an interest in 300 acres of land in Clinton County. Although not a member of any religious organization, he contributes liberally to the support of the Gospel, and especially to the Congregational Church, of which Mrs. Wood is a member in good standing. Politically, he was an old-line Whig until the abandonment of that party in 1856. Since then he has been a warm supporter of Republican principles. He signalized his patriotism during the late war by contributions of needed supplies of blankets, etc., for the Union army, and by the encouragement of enlistments and other measures which would assist in furthering the Union cause. Among the people of this region he is looked upon with kindly affection, and his name will be held in remembrance long after he has been gathered to his fathers.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois.)