Levi M. Wood Biography


	This biography appears on pages 770-771 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	LEVI M. WOOD. - The name of the lamented subject of this memoir 
is inseparably connected with the history of Lincoln county, South 
Dakota, as he was one of the pioneers of LaValley township, also a 
prominent citizen of his community, and for a number of years a leader 
in its material development and a public spirited man in all the term 
implies. Levi M. Wood, son of Morris and Abashaba (Sudnutt) Wood. of 
Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively, was born in Ohio on January 27, 
1842. When quite young he accompanied his parents upon their removal to 
Iowa, and was reared in Bremer county, that state, growing to young 
manhood on a farm and receiving a good practical education in such 
schools as the country in the early days afforded. At the breaking out 
of the war of the Rebellion, he entered the service of the government, 
enlisting in Company C, Second Iowa Cavalry with which he served until 
the close of the war, taking part in a number of campaigns in 
Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee and other southern states, 
participating in some of the most noted battles of that historic period 
and earning an honorable record for duty bravely and uncomplainingly 
performed.  

	After his discharge Mr. Wood returned to Bremer county, where, in 
the year 1866, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Virbett (Bent) 
Lippincott, a native of New Hampshire and the daughter of Nathan and 
Sarah (Smith) Bent, both parents born in that state, the father of 
Irish descent, the mother of English-Welsh lineage. By occupation 
Nathan Bent was a carpenter and millwright, which trades he followed in 
New Hampshire until 1853, when he removed to Lee county, Illinois, 
thence, one year later, to Fayette county, Iowa, where he and his wife 
spent the remainder of their days. They were the parents of four 
children, viz.: Mrs. Wood, the oldest of the family; Merton H., 
Franklin P., Eva and Ida E., all dead except Mrs. Wood.  

	In the year 1872 Mr. and Mrs. Wood moved to Lincoln county, South 
Dakota, and settled in LaValley township, on a tract of public land to 
which he laid claim and for which he received in due time a deed from 
the government. This real estate, amounting in all to two hundred and 
forty acres, lies in one of the richest agricultural districts in the 
county, and in the course of a few years he had the larger part under 
cultivation, besides making a number of substantial improvements in the 
way of buildings, fences, orchards, etc, converting the place into one 
of the finest farms in the township. Mr. Wood was an excellent farmer 
and in addition to raising abundantly all kinds of grains and fruits, 
grown in this part of the state, devoted considerable attention to live 
stock, which he found very profitable and the sure source of a handsome 
income. Being among the earliest settlers of LaValley, he very 
naturally manifested a lively interest in its development, accordingly 
he assisted other settlers to secure homes, and in many other ways 
proved a benefit to them until they succeeded in getting a substantial 
start in the new country. He not only exercised a strong influence in 
the material- affairs of his township, but took an active part in 
public matters and at different times held every township office within 
the gift of the people, proving in all of these positions a capable, 
trustworthy and exceedingly popular and accommodating official. Mr. 
Wood believed in the gospel of honest toil and throughout life was a 
great worker and made his industry and thrift redound greatly to his 
financial advantage. He not only established a fine home and acquired a 
sufficiency of worldly wealth to render his condition independent, but 
also assisted his older children to get a start in life, besides 
providing handsomely for his wife and the younger members of the family 
against the day of his death, an event which, unfortunately for them 
and the community, took place at a time when it was thought he could 
least be spared. This kind neighbor and estimable citizen, after an 
active and useful life of nearly sixty years, was called from the 
scenes of his earthly toils and achievements on the 27th day of August, 
1901, his death being deeply lamented, not only by his immediate family 
and relations, but also by a large circle of friends and acquaintances 
in LaValley township and throughout the county. Six months before his 
death Mr. and Mrs. Wood left the farm and moved to the village of 
Worthing, where she has a comfortable home, in which she has since 
lived a life of quiet retirement. She is highly esteemed wherever 
known, stands high in the confidence of the people of Worthing, and by 
her excellent character and many kind deeds exercises a gentle but 
wholesome influence among all with whom she mingles. She has been twice 
married, her former husband, Davis Lippincott, a farmer and soldier, of 
West Union, Iowa, having been killed in battle at Julesburg, Colorado, 
in the year 1863.  

	Mr. and Mrs. Wood reared a family of four children, the oldest of 
whom, a daughter by the name of Arminta, is the wife of George Voger, a 
farmer of Lincoln county, and the mother of a son, Floyd; Herbert L., 
the second in order of birth, served one and a half years as a soldier 
in the late Spanish-American war, and is now a prosperous young farmer 
of LaValley township; Franklin L., also a farmer and stock raiser, 
manages the homestead in LaValley, and is one of the enterprising 
citizens of his community; he married Miss Ila Grace, of Canton, South 
Dakota, who has borne him two children, Ray and Bernice; Eddie, the 
youngest of the family, is unmarried, and lives at home with his 
mother, managing her interests and looking after her comfort. Mrs. Wood 
is a Methodist in her religious belief and is one of the respected and 
useful members of the local church at Worthing. Mr. Wood also 
subscribed to the same belief, and for a number of years was a faithful 
and consistent communicant of the above congregation, for the material 
support of which he contributed liberally as long as he lived. 
Fraternally he was an active worker in the Odd Fellows order, at 
Worthing, and his name appears among the first on the records of the 
Grand Army post at Canton. Politically he was a staunch Republican, and 
as such rendered valuable service to his party in Lincoln county, 
having long been one of its standard bearers in this part of South 
Dakota.