William H. Wood is one of the enterprising merchants of Highwood, where he is engaged in the drug trade, having a large and well appointed store, in which he carries a select line of drugs and druggists’ sundries. He was born in New Haven, April 12, 1878, a son of Enoch H. and Anna (Southall) Wood. The father, a native of Nova Scotia, spent his boyhood and youth in that country to the age of twenty years and there learned the blacksmith’s trade, after which he removed to New Haven. He secured employment in the blacksmith shop of the New Haven Wheel Company and his ability was such that he was soon promoted to the position of superintendent of the blacksmithing department and continued in that position for many years. At length he retired and returned to Nova Scotia, where his last days were passed. His wife was born in Birmingham, England, and in young womanhood came to America, settling in New Haven, where she was married. Her death occurred in 1915.

  William H. Wood is indebted to the public schools of New Haven for the educational privileges which he enjoyed, passing through consecutive grades to the high school. His textbooks, however, were put aside when he reached the age of fourteen years that he might make his initial step in the business world. He became connected with the retail drug business in New Haven and in 1896 he saw an opportunity, as he believed, for the establishment of a successful drug business in Hamden. He therefore opened a drug store on Dixwell avenue in Highwood and built up a big business. In 1916 he, in partnership with his brother-in-law, Wm. H. Whitman, erected a fine large modern building at No. 812 Dixwell avenue in Highwood for his drug store and the Dixwell Theater. He installed modern equipment and everything necessary to the trade and is enjoying a very extensive and gratifying patronage.

  In 1898 Mr. Wood was united in marriage to Miss Clara M. Beebe at New Haven, a native of that city, where she passed away, leaving two children, Hattie and Ruth. Mr. Wood afterward married Miss Lillian Russell, of Orange, Connecticut, a daughter of Edward and Kittie (Bishop) Russell, who were natives of Orange.

  In his political views Mr. Wood is a stalwart republican. For twelve years he served as a member of the school board and did everything in his power to advance the interests of education. In 1902 he was appointed postmaster of Highwood and when the Highwood postoffice was discontinued, being made a branch of the New Haven postoffice, he was retained as superintendent of the Highwood branch. He belongs to Day Spring Lodge, No. 30, F. & A. M., of which he is a past master, having occupied the chair in 1902; also to Pulaski Chapter, R. A. M.; Crawford Council, R. & S. M.; and New Haven Commandery, K. T., and he is also identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.

  Mr. Wood belongs to the New Haven Druggists’ Association, the State Pharmacy Association and the National Association of Retail Druggists and he is regarded as one of the progressive business men of Highwood, who, starting out in a small way, developed a trade of extensive proportions, placing him with the leading merchants of his district. He is also a prominent figure in local political circles and is widely and favorably known in his section of the county, his substantial qualities and marked characteristics well fitting him for the position of leadership to which he has attained.