KSGenWeb - The Primary Source for Kansas Genealogy

KSGenWeb Digital Library

Biographical Sketch
of
William T. Wood
Doniphan County, Kansas

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
KSGENWEB INTERNET GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY COPYRIGHT NOTICE:  In keeping with the KSGenWeb policy of providing free information on the Internet, this data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied materiel.  These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other gain.  Copying of the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged.  Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires approval of the file's author.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The following transcription is from a 750 page book titled "Genealogical and Biographical Record of North-Eastern Kansas, dated 1900.  These have been diligently transcribed and generously contributed by Penny R. Harrell, please give her a very big Thank You for her hard work!

Gold Bar

William T. Wood was extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits in Wolf River township and his business methods are practical and progressive and systematic.  He has spent his entire life in the west, and the spirit of progress which dominates this region is manifested in his business career.  Born in Buchanan county, Mo., on the 29th of September, 1840, he is a son of John Wood, who became one of the pioneer settlers of Doniphan county.

His grandfather, Jerry Wood, was of English birth, and crossed the Atlantic to America, becoming a resident of Bedford, Virginia, where the birth of John Wood occurred.

In the spring of 1855 the latter removed with his family from Missouri to Doniphan county, being one of the first white men to make a permanent settlement here.  He pre-empted a tract of land about three and a half miles from St. Joseph, about the time that Missouri was admitted into the Union, and again secured a government claim on coming to Doniphan county, thus becoming owner of the northwest quarter of section 15, Wolf River township. He was a wide awake, energetic and prosperous farmer, meeting with marked success and accumulating extensive land possessions, so that he was enabled to aid all his children in starting out in life by giving to them desirable farms.  He died on the old homestead that he pre-empted, at the age of eighty-four years, and the community lost thereby one of its valued citizens.

In early manhood he had married Miss Nancy Carter, and her death occurred in Doniphan county, in 1878, at the ripe old age of ninety-one years.  Their children were John P., who died in Siskiyou county, California; Mary, the deceased wife of Hugh Robertson; Margaret, the deceased wife of George M. Bromley; Leslie, deceased; and Catharine, the wife of Laborn Jackson, of Atchison county.

No event of special importance to our subject occurred during his boyhood and youth, which was spent upon his father's farm, and in attending the district schools, but hardly had he attained his majority, when the civil war was inaugurated and with patriotic spirit he responded to the call for troops, enlisting in Company F, Fifth Kansas Cavalry, under Colonel Clayton.  He was with that regiment for eighteen months, during which time he participated in the battles of Morristown, Osceola and Locust Grove.

Subsequently he was transferred to Company K, Tenth Kansas Infantry, and made sergeant of the company.  This command was attached to the Army of the Cumberland, and with it he participated in the last battle of Franklin, Tenn., took part in the engagement at Nashville, where Hood's army was almost annihilated, and later he aided in the capture of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely.

He veteranized at Alton, Illinois, and when the war was over was mustered out at St. Louis, Missouri.  He never received a wound, although he participated in many hotly contested engagements, being ever found at his post of duty, whether on the field of battle or on the picket lines.

With an honorable war record Mr. Wood returned to Doniphan county, and soon after began farming for himself.  He purchased a northeast quarter of section 16, Wolf River township, and this proved the nucleus of his present fine farm, which now comprises three hundred and sixty acres of rich and arable land under a high state of cultivation.

In October, 1865, he chose as a companion and helpmate on life's journey, Miss Abbie Literil, a native of Kentucky.  Their marriage was blessed with eight children, namely: John P., who married Lula Sykert and resides in St. Joseph, Missouri; Annie, the wife of Augustus Davis, of Sumner county, Kansas; Nancy, the wife of Frank Chase, of Doniphan county; William H.; George C.; Ida; Hugh and Lula, all with their parents.

In politics Mr. Wood is a stalwart Republican, unswerving in the support of the principles of the party, yet has never sought office. He is ever true to his duties of citizenship and to those of private life.  Actively identified with agricultural pursuits, he is numbered among the representative farmers of Doniphan county and is respected by all who know him.

  Gold Bar

Last update: Saturday, January 17, 2004 15:38:24


The Digital Library of the KSGenWeb is a non-commercial entity dedicated to free access to records of genealogical value. All documents contained herein may be freely copied for personal and library use, as long as the KSGenWeb Statement of Use remains attached. These records may not be published in any format, including electronic (web pages or CD's) and print, without prior written consent of the contributor. In order to insure continued free access, violators of this policy will be vigorously pursued.

We invite all contributions of transcribed records with genealogical value. This could range from wills and letters from your personal family records to indexes of your county's marriage records. There are many, many more examples, of course. Anything you have that you are willing to contribute will be gratefully accepted. For more information, contact Kenneth Thomas, KSGenWeb Digital Library Coordinator at kgthomas5@earthlink.net.

We also accept any non-copyrighted printed materials that you have access to and would like to see transcribed and placed on-line. If the material is copyrighted and you are the copyright holder, please include written permission for use by The KSGenWeb Digital Library. These may be mailed to Kenneth Thomas, 26 Circle Dr., Windsor, MO 65360-1610.

Sunflower  KSGENWEB DIGITAL LIBRARY PAGE
Sunflower  KSGENWEB HOME PAGE


Page Design, HTML Coding and Layout - Copyright©1998-2004 by Kenneth Thomas, All Rights Reserved.
The KSGenWeb Project logo Copyright©1996-2004 by Tom & Carolyn Ward, All Rights Reserved.
For the limited use of the KSGenWeb Project.  Permission is granted for use only on an Official KSGenWeb Project page.
The Official USGenWeb Project logo designed by Linda Cole.