Biographical Sketch of Thomas WOOD (1881); Chester County, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Candace Roth 
<clroth1229@earthlink.net>.

***********************************************************************
USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial  
individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter 
information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites 
requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. 
We encourage links to the state and county table of contents.  

http://www.usgwarchives.net/
***********************************************************************

From THE HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, by Futhey and Cope (1881);

pg. 771

WOOD, Thomas, with Mary, his wife, and son William, came from Warwickshire, 
England, and settled in Chester County.  A daughter was born at sea on the 
passage, and was named Richmonday.  She married 3,31,1749, William Sheppard, of 
Menallen (now) Adams County.
  William Wood, born in Warwickshire 6,22,1723, died 4,20,1775, married 
10,6,1749, Margaret Holland, born 5,18,1730, in Price George Co., Md., died 
10,29,1775, daughter of Thomas and Margaret Holland. They settled in 
Londongrove, and had children,--Thomas, m. Susanna Pusey; George; Mary, m. to 
Caleb Swayne; Joseph, Cassandra, William, Elizabeth, Margaret, m. to Garret 
Garretson; Joshua and Ruth.
  Thomas and Susanna Wood were the parents of Joel, William, John, Lydia, 
Nathan, Margaret, Thomas, Susanna, Pusey, Caleb, and Mary.  Of these, John 
married Lydia Swayne, and was the father of Thomas Wood, of Doe Run.
  Joseph Wood, son of Thomas and Mary, died in 1797, aged sixty-seven years.  He 
married, 1,12,1769, Katharine Day, and settled in West Nottingham.  His children 
were Thomas, William, Joseph, Jesse, Lydia, Elizabeth, David, John and Day.
  Dr. James Bayard Wood was born in New Castle Co., Del., Nov. 5, 1817.  In 1920 
his father, Joseph Wood, removed with his family to Londongrove township, 
Chester co.  The educational advantages of Dr. Wood were only those afforded by 
the common schools of the day, but he neglected no opportunity to cultivate his 
mind and fit himself for usefulness in life. 
He first learned the trade of a miller, which he followed about five years, and 
then engaged in the mercantile business in Chatham.  On the election of William 
Rogers as sheriff, in the fall of 1840, he became his deputy, and held the 
position dur9ng his term and for a time thereafter.  In October, 1844, he was 
elected sheriff, and held the office three years.  In 1849 he engaged in 
merchandising in West Chester, and was also appointed postmaster.  He held this 
office by appointment of the Postmaster-General and of the President until Mary, 
1853.  During this latter period he studied medicine, and graduated at the 
Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania in March, 1854.  Since that time he 
has devoted his attention almost exclusively to the practice of his profession, 
which is quite extensive, and in which he has been very successful.  He has been 
honored with the position of president of the Chester County and State 
Homeopathic Medical Societies, and has been one of the censors of the national 
society. As a politician he has been active, and he has filled various posts of 
honor in the parties to which he belonged.  He has served in the councils of the 
borough of West Chester, and since April, 1879, he has been chief burgess.  
Through his instrumentality and persevering efforts the present beautiful and 
enduring monument at the "Paoli massacre" grounds was erected in 1877.  His wife 
is a daughter of William Rogers, and his only son, Dr. Henry C. Wood, is a 
physician in West Chester.