- John WOOD, one of the pioneers of Green County, was born
February 13, 1818, in the city of
- Philadelphia. When he was quite young his parents moved to
Northampton County, and lived a short time, then moved to Center
County and remained until fifteen years of age, then moved to
Preble County, Ohio. There Mr. WOOD was employed on public works
for some time. When sixteen years old he took a contract to grade
on a turnpike from Hamilton City to Eaton, a distance of twenty-four
miles.
- It was 1839 that he first came to Wisconsin and located in
Green County. He first engaged in the
- lead mines for six months, near Monroe, then engaged with
Vansant, Deniston & Irion to operate their saw mill, and
continued in their employ three years, then went to Browntown,
and in company with William BROWN and Henson IRION, erected a
saw mill.
- In 1844 he was married to Clarissa, daughter of Joshua and
Hannah (WHITCOMB) WOOD. In
- 1850 he left his family at Mr. WHITCOMB's and went to California
across the plains, and was about five months on the trip. Upon
his arrival, he engaged in mining. In 1852 he sent home money,
and his people purchased a tract of land on Section 31, Albany
Township. He continued to mine in California until 1856, then
started on his return, not across the plains, but across the
Isthmus, thence to New York. On his arrival here he settled on
his land on Section 31, and now has the place in good state of
cultivation, and is engaged in mixed farming.
- Mrs. WOOD died in 1865, leaving seven children, six of whom
are now living: Robert Emmett,
- John Q., Flora A., Anson C., Joshua W., and Frank. His second
wife, to whom he was married in 1868, was Jane MILLER, widow
of John BELL. Formerly Mr. WOOD was a Whig, but became a Republican
upon the organization of that party. Religiously, he has no settled
belief.
-
- Taken from "History of Green County, Wisconsin,"
(c)1884 Union Publishing; p. 709.
-
- Courtesy of Cathy Kubly.
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