Alfred Lorenzo Wood

BALLOU, WOOD

Posted By: Kent Transier (email)
Date: 1/5/2010 at 15:30:48

A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1896

Hon. Alfred Lorenzo Wood, the present member of the Legislature from Madison county, and the editor of the Winterset Reporter, Winterset, Iowa, is a young man of marked ability an one who has through his own efforts worked his way to the front and has already distinguished himself. We take pleasure in here referring biographically to him.

Alfred L. Wood is a native of the Green Mountain State. He was born in Montpelier, Vermont, February 14, 1863, son of Samuel L. and Lucinda (Ballou) Wood, the former a native of Massachusetts and the latter of Vermont. Samuel L. Wood was the superintendent of a whaling vessel, and spent about fifteen years of his life on the water, in that time visiting many of the different ports and islands of the world. After retiring from the sea he spent several years in lecturing on his travels and experiences. In 1872 he removed with his family to Iowa, their first location here being in Keokuk. In 1875 they took up their abode in St. Charles, Madison county, where they settled permanently and where he still resides, his wife having passed away in 1884.

Alfred L. was the fourth born in their family of six children, - three sons and three daughters. He attended the common schools and also took a course in Simpson College, at Indianola, Iowa. His early boyhood days were spent in hard work on a farm, and as farming was not congenial to his taste he sought other occupation, first working at the trade of shoemaker, then teaching school for a while and finally began work in a printing office. In 1883 he established the St. Charles Watchman, which he edited and published for some time. During the latter part of 1884 and the first part of 1885 he lived in Dakota, where he published a paper, and with this exception has been in Madison county since he came here with his parents, as above stated. Returning from Dakota to St. Charles, he established the St. Charles Reporter, the paper which he has since conducted successfully. Although yet a young man, Mr. Wood has had twelve years’ experience as n editor. During this time he also served four years as Postmaster of St. Charles, this being the only office he ever sought. In 1895 he moved his press to Winterset and now calls his paper the Winterset Reporter. It is a six-column quarto paper, neat and well printed and is fresh and newsy.

Mr. Wood has always taken an active part in political matters, local, State and national, and has done much to further the interests of his party in Madison county. He is a Republican. In 1893, in recognition of the services he had rendered, he was honored by election as Representative from Madison county to the Iowa State Legislature, and while a member of that body his services were such that they reflected credit on himself and also on his constituency. He served on important committees and in other ways proved himself a most valued member of the House. In 1895 he was re-elected to the same position with an increased majority. Taking into consideration the success Mr. Wood has already attained, it is but natural to expect that he will receive still higher honors, as he is now only fairly launched out in his career.