Maricopa County AZ Archives Biographies.....Wood, Luther J. 1866 - living in 1896
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com March 5, 2005, 5:58 pm

Author: McFarland & Poole

p. 490-491

  LUTHER J. WOOD. The name of Wood is one that is well known in Maricopa County,
Arizona Territory, and he is one of the most highly respected citizens of
Phoenix, where his home has been since coming thither. This gentleman is
possessed of that independent spirit, that enterprise, push and energy necessary
for a successful business career, and his life has been a useful and prosperous
one, in direct refutation of the saying that "a rolling stone gathers no moss."
He is a product of Viola, Linn County, Iowa, where he first saw the light
February 26, 1866, a son of John W. and Almeda (Crew) Wood, who originally came
from Boonesville, Ohio. In the state of his birth the father was engaged in
merchandising, but after his removal to Iowa he turned his attention to farming.
Luther J. Wood became familiar with the duties of farm life, but at the same
time he was acquiring a practical education in the Friends' Select School at
Viola, of which religious body his parents were members. He finished his
literary education in the Friends' Academy at Le Grande, Iowa, after which he
returned to his home and during 1884-5 was principal of the public schools of
Stone City, Iowa. He then went to Iowa City and took a commercial course, which
included short-hand, and in the spring of 1887 became principal of the Capital
City Short-Hand School, Des Moines, a position he continued to fill until
failing health caused him to seek other occupation. After traveling for one year
and learning telegraphy, he was the operator for six months on the Northwestern
Railroad at Sturges, Dakota, or rather on a branch of that road called the
Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad. On the 2d of February, 1889, he
came with a sister to Phoenix, Arizona Territory, in order to better his
continued poor health, and soon after was elected by the Fifteenth Legislative
Assembly as stenographer and journal clerk. His next employment was in the
District Court clerk's office, after which he entered the abstract, loan and
insurance business and continued thus occupied until his election, May 7, 1894,
to the office of city assessor. On his re-election in May, 1895, he received a
majority of 251 votes, this being the largest ever cast for any candidate for
any office in the city. From the fall of 1890 to the fall of 1894 he was
secretary of the Republican Central Committee for the county and at the same
time served as secretary of the City Republican Central Committee, also the
Harrison League Club and the Territorial League Club. He has been for two years
secretary of the Territorial Silver League Club as well. He helped organize the
Phoenix Building and Loan Association in 1891-2, and in the fall of 1891 took a
special agency for the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York and settled all
claims hi the Territory. He was appointed a commissioner of the World's Fair by
Gov. N. O. Murphy, and was for two years secretary of the Chamber of Commerce,
during 1891-2. It will thus be readily seen that Mr. Wood is public spirited and
active to a degree and his ability as a man of affairs is recognized by all who
come in contact with him. He was married August 7, 1894, to Miss May G.
McElwain, a native of Nevada, and one child has been born to them, Walter Oakes.
Mr. Wood has a pretty and comfortable home, and he and his wife are well known
for their free-hearted hospitality. Politically he has ever been a stanch
Republican and always works for the success of that party. Socially he is Guide
in the A. O. U. W., is Escort in the Woodmen of the World, and is Senator in the
K. of P. Lodge No. 2, of Phoenix. He has followed in the footsteps of his
ancestors and is a member of the Society of Friends. He belongs to the Elks at
Phoenix.


Additional Comments:
From:

A Historical and Biographical Record of the Territory of Arizona
Published by
McFarland & Poole, Chicago, 1896


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