My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM A. WOOD has been prospered since he came to this country, over forty years ago, and has been a resident of Randolph County during that entire period, with the exception of two years. While assisting in the development of township 4, range 6, he has acquired a comfortable property and is still actively engaged in farming, owning two hundred and sixty acres of land on section 35, and as a stock breeder has on his place thirty head of fine Jersey cattle.

The father of our worthy subject, James Wood, was a native of Ayrshire, Scotland, where his mother, who prior to her marriage was Miss Jane Humphrey, was also born. They both died many years ago in their native land. The father was a dyer and shoemaker by trade, and besides rearing a family of thirteen children, he and his good wife performed the part of parents to three other children, one of whom is Hugh Wilson, Sr., (whose sketch will be found elsewhere in this Record). The parents were both members of the Established Church of Scotland.

William Wood, of this sketch, who is also of Scotch birth, was born in Ayrshire, September 13, 1833, and received a good education in the common schools of his native land. He came to America in the year 1852, and passed two years in Maryland and Kentucky. Then coming to Illinois, he located on his present fine estate, which was at that time in a wild condition, and at once commenced the improvement of his farm, which is now in all respects one of the most desirable in the neighborhood. It is supplied with ample buildings for every purpose, including a comfortable dwelling, good barn, etc., and the machinery for operating the farm is of the most modern style. Mr. Wood is engaged in mixed farming, and is particularly successful as a stock-grower, owning thirty head of Jersey cattle, beside having eight milch cows.

The marriage of our subject with Miss Susan, daughter of John Rusk, was celebrated in 1853. Mrs. Wood is a native of Scotland, where her birth occurred June 13, 1830. They are the parents of two children, William A., Jr., and Mary. They have also taken into their hearts and home fourteen other children, among whom were Mary, David, Lizzie and Belle Rusk, John Beard, Eliza Rusk, Perry C. Fillis, James and William McGuffey, James Wood, and an infant who died. He and his wife possess in an eminent degree those genial social qualities that attracted friends, of whom they have many, and their charming home is the center of that true hospitality that knows so well how to welcome and speed the parting guest.

When first locating here, Mr. Wood owned eighty acres of land, but, being industrious and possessed of marked foresight and sound judgment, before long had accumulated two hundred and sixty acres, placing the entire amount under improvement. His farm was found to contain a fine coal vein, which he opened up and mined very successfully for about twenty years. He has, however, given up this line of work and devotes himself entirely to farming.

Our subject is a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and though called upon many times to accept office, has always refused to do so. He is a particularly healthy and robust man, and in the past forty years has never had occasion to seek the advice of a physician. He is a stanch Republican in politics. Mr. Wood has given his children a good education. His son is a graduate of Monmouth (Ill.) College, and he also took a course of study in the University of Michigan. In 1878 he went to Colorado, at the same time visiting California, Washington, Arizona and Canada. When a little over fourteen years of age, the son entered the Union army, serving through the entire war, and was with General Sherman on his march to the sea.