Biography - P Wood
CAPT. P. C. WOOD. This gentleman may be counted among the old residents of Montgomery, for he was born in East Fork Township, August 22, 1835. His father, Thomas Wood, was a native of South Carolina, who was born in 1801, and there grew to mature years. In 1823 he came to Bond County, Ill., but only remained there until the following year, when he made a settlement in Montgomery County. He located on section 9, where he took up land from the Government and built a log cabin, 18x18 feet, cutting the trees for the house from his farm. He improved his place, cleared it of the brush and timber with which it was covered, and there received his final summons in 1858. He was a soldier in the Black Hawk War.
Our subject's paternal grandfather, Thomas Wood, Sr., was of English descent, and was also a native of the Palmetto State, where he grew to manhood and was married. He died in Montgomery County, Ill. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Anna Ellis, and was a native of Kentucky, where she was born in 1805. She came with her parents to Bond County, Ill., in 1816, when but eleven years of age. Her father, John Ellis, was a native of North Carolina, but removed to Kentucky about 1790, and was with Daniel Boone at one time. After coming to Illinois, in 1816, he located in Bond County, three miles north of Greenville, where he built the first log house. He was one of the earliest settlers in the county, and died on the place where he had at first located. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was a descendant of the French Huguenots.
Our subject is the second son among eight children, three sons and five daughters, the three sons being the only survivors. The mother died in 1881. Mr. Wood's early schooling was received in the log schoolhouse of early times, and he assisted his father in improving the farm until his marriage. He selected for his wife Miss Elizabeth Barry, a native of Montgomery County, Ill., their union being celebrated in 1857. She was the daughter of John Barry, but did not long survive after her marriage. She died in 1858, leaving a child that died a few years later.
In 1861, Mr. Wood enlisted in Company A, Twelfth Illinois Infantry as a private, for three months. At the end of that time he re-enlisted in the Twenty-sixth Missouri Infantry as a private and was promoted first to be Corporal, then Lieutenant, and finally Captain. He was in the service three and one-half years, and was with Grant and Logan most of the time. He was slightly wounded twice. As an officer and a soldier, he acquitted himself with bravery, and was ever to be found at the front. He was in the battles of Corinth, Luka, Vicksburg, and many others of minor importance. He was honorably discharged in 1864 and mustered out at Vicksburg, after which he returned to Montgomery County.
Since then Capt. Wood has been actively engaged in tilling the soil, and has met with substantial results in his life's work. Thorough-going and progressive, he has prospered in all his enterprises, and is now classed among the most substantial and successful citizens. In politics, he is a Republican, and one of the first in the county. He is at present School Trustee, has been School Director, served as Deputy Sheriff four years, and has held other responsible positions. Socially, he is a member of Hubble Post No. 403, G. A. R., of Hillsboro, and was also a member of the Masonic fraternity for some time.
Extracted 04 Dec 2016 by Norma Hass from 1892 Portrait and Biographical Record of Montgomery and Bond Counties, Illinois, pages 233-234.
