Henry County AlArchives Biographies.....Wood, William March 22 1826 - October 15 1885
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Ann Anderson alabammygrammy@aol.com May 27, 2004, 4:36 pm

Author: Brant & Fuller (1893)
    WILLIAM WOOD, deceased merchant and farmer of Gordon, was born in Washington
county, Ga., March 22, 1826. His father died while William was a mere lad. His
mother then moved to Campbellton, Fla., where she died, leaving a family of
children small and destitute. He and his brothers and sisters were then bound
out, and thus provided with homes. The man with whom William found a home became
involved in a difficulty and killed another. He then fled the country, leaving
William again without the protection even of a foster father. Finding himself
without a home, and one sister dependent upon him for support, he came to
Gordon, Ala., being then ten years of age. He was a poorly clad and a
half-starved boy, and sought employment in any capacity, no matter what, so long
as it provided him with support. This, however, for a long time he failed to
find, until he formed the acquaintance of an old negro man who had bought his
time of his master. This old negro owned a yoke of oxen and gave William the use
of them for a percentage of his earnings. He thereupon began to haul wood to the
town of Gordon, and worked at this business, new and hard to him, with as much
attention as his poor health would permit. He, however, persevered, and at the
end of his year had taken care of himself, and of his sister, and had saved up
$50. He now found employment as porter, or general man of all work, with Henry
Hawley, merchant of Gordon, which position he occupied some six months. He then
entered the store of Louis Bowden of Gordon as clerk, and was so attentive to
business and so industrious that he rapidly grew into the confidence of his
employer. He here permitted his wages to accumulate in his employer's hands
until he had sufficient to purchase a half-interest in the store. This purchase
he made, and remained in partnership with Mr. Bowden until 1854, when he
withdrew from the firm. He then formed a partnership with E. E. and J. D. Pearre
in a general stock of merchandise, continuing in this business until 1858. He
then sold out to his partners in 1850, and in 1859 was elected to the state
senate, serving four years to the general satisfaction of his constituents. By
1861, he had amassed the enormous fortune of $100,000, which, with the exception
of what was invested in lands, was swept away by the war. His health was such
that he could not take an active part in the war, but during that bloody
struggle he looked after the families of those that enlisted and supplied many
of the poor with food and shelter, and after the war was over he found
comfortable homes for many fatherless and friendless children. He afterward
located at Eufaula, but soon the loss of health by his wife caused him to return
to Gordon. He then moved to his farm and continued farming in connection with
his other business until his death. In 1870, he engaged in mercantile business
with Mr. D. Harrell, and in 1874 bought the entire stock, which he managed in
connection with his farming operations. Shortly afterward he formed a
partnership with E. E. Pearre, selling out to his partner in 1877, turning his
attention entirely to farming until 1880, when he formed a partnership with R H.
Walker, this firm opening a store in the town of Gordon and continuing one year.
He then bought out Mr. Walker and ran the entire business alone until 1883. He
then sold his stock to Mr. George Leslie, and this terminated his remarkable
business career. He then devoted his attention to his farm for two or more
years, when his health broke completely down. Then in the hope of recovering his
health he removed to Columbus, Ga., where he died October 15, 1885. By his death
there terminated a long, exemplary and useful life. He was a member of
Caledonian lodge, No. 180, A. F. & A. M. He was married twice; first, April 29,
1856, to Miss Ida Ballard, who was at the time twenty-two years old. She died
June 2, 1857, leaving no children. He was married the second time in August,
1861, to Miss Missouri Pynes, daughter of James and Winnifred (Register) Pynes,
the former of whom was a native of South Carolina, where he grew to manhood and
received his early training. Early in life he came to Alabama with his parents,
who settled in Henry county, near Gordon. He was a farmer, and was elected to
represent Henry county in the legislature, and served for a number of years. He
was a member of the Missionary Baptist church, and died in 1873. Mrs. Pynes was
born in North Carolina, and at an early age came to Alabama with her parents,
who settled in Henry county, and were identified with frontier life. She died in
1861. Mrs. William Wood attained her womanhood in Henry county, and was there
educated. She was married in her nineteenth year, and is the mother of four
children, two of whom survive, viz.: Charlie Alice, single and living at home,
and Winnie L., wife of Captain E. F. Tuttle, whose memoir appears elsewhere in
this work. Mrs. Wood resides in her beautiful home one mile from Gordon,
surrounded by all the comforts of life. She owns a fine plantation which she
operates, enjoys a quasi-retired life, and the respect of all her neighbors and
friends.



Additional Comments:
from "Memorial Record of Alabama", Vol. I, p. 1128-1129
Published by
Brant & Fuller (1893)
Madison, WI

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