Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Wood, Erskine September 1, 1879 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com May 5, 2007, 11:48 am Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company ERSKINE WOOD. Wisely utilizing the talents with which nature endowed him, Erskine Wood is successfully following in the professional footsteps of his father and has contributed his share toward the prestige enjoyed by Portland’s legal fraternity. He was born September 1, 1879, at the barracks in Vancouver, Washington, and is a son of C. E. S. and Nannie Moale (Smith) Wood, natives respectively of Erie, Pennsylvania, and Baltimore, Maryland. In 1874 his father was graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and later completed a course in the law school of Columbia University. He was married in Washington, D. C., and in 1878 became a first lieutenant of the Twenty-first Infantry, stationed at Vancouver barracks. In 1884 he resigned from the army and in the same year began the practice of law in Portland, Oregon. For many years he was accounted one of the leading attorneys of the Rose city, handling much important litigation, and since 1915 has lived retired. In the acquirement of an education Erskine Wood attended the Portland Academy and next matriculated in Harvard University, from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1901. For some time he read law under the direction of his father and in 1912 was graduated from the University of Oregon, which awarded him the degree of Bachelor of Laws. When admited to the bar he joined his father and they were associated in the practice of law until the latter’s retirement. The son followed his profession independently for a number of years thereafter and is now a member of the well known law firm of Wood, Montague & Matthiessen. They have been accorded a liberal clientele and occupy a suite of offices in the Yeon building. Conscientious and painstaking, Mr. Wood devotes much thought to the preparation of his cases and in their presentation is forceful, logical and convincing. In addition to his professional activities he is identified with business affairs as one of the directors of the Columbia Pacific Shipping Company. In 1910 Mr. Wood married Miss Rebecca Baird Biddle, of Clark county, Washing ton, and they now have a family of four children: Erskine Biddle, Rebecca Biddle, Mary Deborah and Lydia Christine. Mr. Wood gives his political allegiance to the republican party and his work in connection with public affairs comprises service as admiralty counsel for the United States shipping board in 1920. Through his affiliation with the Chamber of Commerce he endeavors to further Portland’s growth and prosperity and is also a member of the Arlington Club and the City, County and State Bar Associations. From the age of five years Mr. Wood has lived in this community, and his record is a credit to the profession which he represents. Additional Comments: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Pages 245-246 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/bios/wood321gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 3.5 Kb