My Genealogy Hound

Capt. D. J. Wood, an old resident and miller of Covington, Tenn., was born in Albemarle County. Va., June 6, 1825, and is one of a family of thirteen children, three of whom are now living, born to N. L. and Nancy (Key) Wood, both natives of Virginia. The father was born about 1770 and came to Maury County in 1825, where he remained one year. From there he removed to Tipton County, and engaged in agricultural pursuits, he died about 1835, leaving a widow without means to educate her children as best she could. The mother was born about the same time as her husband and departed this life in the fall of 1877. Our subject received a good academic education at Mountain Academy, under Dr. Holmes. April 19, 1855, he married Mattie A. Gracey, a native of North Carolina, born in 1835, and the fruits of this union were two children: L. G. and Mariana, wife of J. L. McNeely. In 1847 our subject enlisted for the war with Mexico, and after a service of one year returned home. He started even with the world and in twelve years had accumulated $25,000. In the spring of 1861 Mr. Wood raised the first company for the Confederate Army that went out from Tipton County. He was promoted to the rank of captain and remained out one year with his company, and then raised another company, which he shortly turned over to Col. Green. He was with Gen. Forrest a few months, when he was obliged to retire from active duty on account of ill health, but did much for the Confederate cause by organizing companies. He came out of the war $5,000 in debt, but this was paid off in a few years, and he began again to accumulate. In 1873 he assisted to build the “Covington Flouring Mills,” and in 1878 he built the flour-mill at Covington and has since been engaged in that business. The firm is known as Wood & Co. They have recently put in considerable new machinery, and the mill is now in fine running order. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, of which he has been an elder for many years.