the tiny panes in the small windows and the ventilation and heating were equally poor, the scholars sitting near the fireplace suffering from the intense heat and those near the windows shivering with the cold.
On the 17th of October, 1847, Mr. Wood was united in marriage to Miss Melinda Corey and two years later he came west, settling in Corey Grove, Polk county, Iowa, on the 22d of June, 1849. They continued to live there for eighteen months and in the spring of 1851 removed to Story county, locating on the farm where Mr. Wood still lives. It is situated on the northeast quarter of section 16, Indian Creek township, and was originally school land. When he first settled here all grain had to be hauled to Oskaloosa, that being the nearest milling point, and it required two weeks to make the trip, owing to the distance and the poor roads, which in many instances were little more than wagon tracks across the prairie. Such conditions as these could not exist long, however, in a community where such enterprising men as Mr. Wood resided, and very shortly he and his cousin, Christopher Wood, together with Nathan Webb erected a steam mill, adapted to both grist and saw mill purposes, just north of Iowa Center. This was the first steam mill built in Story county and all of the lumber and machinery had to be hauled in wagons from Keokuk. It was of great assistance to the settlers, however, and did much to simplify living conditions being in operation for many years. Mr. Wood has ever been a progressive man, always ready to aid every movement which would in any way tend to better conditions in the community and such men always succeed, and he has not been the exception. At one time he owned thirteen hundred acres of land, which he has now divided among his children, every acre of which was acquired through his thrift, tireless energy and firm determination to win. Work was very scarce in Iowa in the early days and wages very poor. He arrived here with a sick wife and five dollars in money, but undaunted by conditions and ever hopeful he cheerfully walked eight miles to obtain two days' work and at another time he went nine miles for three days' work, for which he received eight bushels of wheat, which provided them with their bread that year.
Mrs. Wood died on the 29th of March, 1862. There were three children by this marriage but Cory died in 1863. Those living are Curtis A. and James H., two of the most prominent and successful live-stock coin-mission merchants in Chicago. Mr. Wood was again married, his second union being with Miss Louisa Ingersoll, a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of David Ingersoll. One child was born of this union, Carrie, the wife of Edwin Pizer, of St. James, Minnesota. Mrs. Wood passed away on the 3d of February, 1870, and on the 8th of the following December Mr. Wood married Mrs. Julia (Addis) Hull, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. They had one daughter, Queen, who is now the wife of E. P. Summers, of Oregon City, Oregon. On the 8th of May, 1874, Mrs. Wood died and later Mr. Wood married his fourth and present wife, formerly Mrs. Sarah Davis, a daughter of John M. Griffith, who came to Story county