BIOGRAPHY: Wood, James
From the A.T. Andreas Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa, 1875

*************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
*************************************************

     Honorable JAMES WOOD.- This gentleman, who was the first mayor of
the City of Vinton, was born March 28,1822, at Barnesley, England. His
education was received at the Free Grammar School, located in his native
town, and founded by Queen Elizabeth,  which he attended until he was
thirteen years of age, when he was apprenticed to the machinist trade,
serving seven years in the engine shops of Fanton, Murry & Co., who
carried on an extensive business at Leeds, England.
     In May, 1842, he bade adieu to the "fatherland", and emigrated to
this country, locating first near Steubenville, Ohio, where he remained
only a short time. He worked at his trade some time at New Philadelphia,
Ohio, where he was married in October, 1843; also at Wheeling, Virginia,
and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, removing to Iowa in the Spring of 1850,
and located at Fremont, now Vinton, where he carried on for about three
years, when he engaged in real estate business, which he followed for
some time.
     In 1854 he was appointed postmaster of Vinton, which office he held
for nine years. Was elected justice of the peace in 1852, and has since
continuously held the office by re-election, performing its responsible,
yet unpleasant duties to the satisfaction of the general public. He
commenced reading law when in New Philadelphia, which he kept up by
himself, as he had time or opportunity, and was admitted to the bar in
1865. He is the author and owns the copyright; for o"Wood's Justice
Docket." which has had a very large run in the state; and is also the
author of Wood's Hand Book for  Justices, Constables and Coroners,"
published by Smart & Pamott, of Waterloo, the first edition of which is
nearly exhausted. Mr. Wood is about to issue a revised edition, which it
is generally thought will be the best work of the kind ever published.