Biography - William Wood
William B. WOOD, farmer, P. O. McVey. The father of this gentleman, Alfred WOOD, was born in Tennessee in about 1817; emigrated to Montgomery County with his parents in about 1820; during his life, he followed the occupation of a farmer; he died in about 1847; his wife, and mother of our subject, was Malinda BAKER; she was born in Arkansas in about 1812, and died in about 1852; she was the mother of seven children, of whom William B. WOOD was the oldest child. He was born in Montgomery County April 2, 1842; his early life was spent in receiving such an education as the common schools of his native county afforded, and in assisting in tilling the soil of his father's farm; he remained at home to the age of nineteen, when he embarked on his career in life as a farm hand; he continued as a hired hand until he was twenty years of age, when he rented a farm of forty acres in Pitman Township, where he commenced farming on his own account; her remained here about six months, and removed to Honey Bend and commenced farming on the old homestead farm; in 1862, he bought thirty-five acres in Pitman Township, of timber land; upon this farm he remained only about one year, when he sold out and bought forty acres of the same farm he is now residing on; here he has since remained, engaged in farming. In 1862, February 27, he married Miss Mary E. MILLER; she was born in Montgomery County March 18, 1845, and died June 11, 1864; she was the mother of one child, Julia A.; she was born August 16, 1863; is at home. On March 15, 1866, he married Miss Hiley A. ROGERS; she was born in Macoupin county September 15, 1843; she is the mother of four children - Nancy M., born May 4, 1867; Alfred B., born October 13, 1869; William E., born February 24, 1872; Nellie, born February 10, 1876. Mr. WOOD is now serving the people in his third term as Justice of the Peace; himself and wife are members of the Methodist Church; politically, is identified with the Republican part. In 1865, he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Forty-ninth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry; he served one year and twelve days.
Extracted 20 Nov 2016 by Norma Hass from 1882 History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 2 Biographical Department, pages 270-271.
