My Genealogy Hound

George W. Wood, a member of the law firm of Gallenkamp & Wood, was born in Springfield, Ill., December 28, 1840, and is the son of George and Eliza (Wiley) Wood. The father was born in England in 1808, and immigrated to America with his parents when but nine years of age. They located in Boston, Mass., but the father of our subject afterward went to New York City, and from there to Springfield, Ill., in 1832. He is a tailor by trade, and followed that in early life, but later was engaged in the clothing business. He is now a citizen of Decatur, Ill. The mother was born in New York City in 1810, and is still living. George W. was reared and educated in Springfield and Decatur. He enlisted from Decatur in 1861, joining Company I, of the Seventh Regiment of Illinois Cavalry, for a period of three years. He served out his enlistment, reenlisted, and was finally mustered out at Springfield, Ill., in October, 1865. In December of the same year he removed to Union, Franklin Co., Mo., where he has since resided, and where he has filled various city or municipal official positions. He was married in 1870 to Nellie Evans, of Belleview, N. Y., and to them were born three children. Mrs. Wood died in 1876, and in 1877 Mr. Wood married Miss Virginia Jeffries, of Franklin County, daughter of Gen. Jeffries. To this union were born three children. Frederick Wortmann, merchant, of Beemont, is the son of Herman and Mary (Weaver) Wortmann, both natives of Westphalia, where they grew up, married and reared a family of six children, three sons and three daughters. The father was a farmer by occupation, and died in the old country at the age of fifty-five. The mother afterward married Peter Quest, who also died in Germany. In 1858 the mother came to America, and died in St. Louis at the age of sixty-six. Our subject was born in the year 1862, and received his education in Germany. In 1853 he sailed for America, landing at New Orleans at the end of seventeen weeks. At the end of a month he reached St. Louis, and, after working at the cooper’s trade for about two years spent the next three years on a farm in St. Charles County. In 1859 he came to Franklin County, locating on his farm, and eight years later built a good storehouse at Beemont, and engaged in merchandising. In 1883 he sold the stock and rented the house, but in 1886 again returned to merchandising. In connection with this he also owns 200 acres of good land. In 1856 he married Miss Catherine Grose, who bore him six children: Caroline, Sophia, Anna, Henry, William and Frederick. In 1869 his wife died, and he afterward married Mrs. Henrietta Flottmann. He is now living with his third wife, Christina Gaupp, who bore him one child, a daughter, named Lizzie. During the war Mr. Wortmann served in Company I, of enrolled militia, for some time, and later in Capt. Cleves’ company of cavalry. He is a Republican in his political views, and a member of the Evangelical Church, of which his wives were also members.