George D. Wood Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 1021-1022

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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GEORGE D. WOOD, for many years a prominent farmer of Claremont 
township, Brown county, is now residing in the village of Claremont, 
retired from active labors. His farm is now conducted by his son, and 
Mr. Wood still retains his property interests. He settled in Brown 
county over fifteen years ago, and has since that time been an active 
worker for its advancement. 

Mr. Wood was born in what is now Morrow county, Ohio, September 9, 
1830, and was the son of Emmons and Martha (White) Wood. When he was 
seven years of age the family moved to Calhoun county, Michigan, where 
the father engaged in farming until 1847, when they removed to Kent 
county, Michigan. Our subject enlisted in 1861 in Company F, Second 
Michigan Cavalry, and was in the following engagements: New Madrid, 
Corinth, Champion Hills and Carter's Raid. He served during the entire 
war as sergeant, and was mostly on detached service for a year and a 
half, and was ordnance sergeant of the regiment. He received his 
discharge in October, 1864, after a brave and loyal service of three 
years. 

Mr. Wood went to Brown county, South Dakota, in the spring of 1882, to 
pay a visit to his sons, who had located there, and with his knowledge 
of his calling, he at once saw the possibilities for prosperity for the 
agriculturists of that country, and secured 'two claims, and soon 
afterward disposed of his interests in Michigan and located permanently 
in Brown county. He selected land about two miles south of the village 
of Claremont, where he resided until 1 897. He was actively engaged in 
the pursuit of agriculture until that year, and placed on his land 
substantial improvements. He placed the farm in charge of his son and 
retired from the farm life to reside in the village of Claremont. 

Our subject was married in 1856 to Miss Martha A. Rogers, by whom he 
had one son, Horace. The wife and mother died in 1857. One year later 
he married the sister of his deceased wife, Miss Anna Rogers. Two 
children have been born to Mr. and, Mrs. Wood, as follows: Asa R. and 
George E. Two of the sons are prosperous agriculturists of Brown county 
and one in Kent county, Michigan. Mrs. Anna Wood died in 1892. Mr. Wood 
is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the G. A. R., in the latter 
being ex-commander of Resaca Post, No. 139. He is a man who takes an 
active interest in public affairs and has filled various official 
positions. He served three years as county commissioner for the second 
district, and has served as a member of the board of supervisors of his 
township. Politically, he is a Republican, and has frequently been 
chosen a delegate to the county conventions of his party. He is a man 
who keeps abreast of the times and in all matters of a public nature 
works for the better interests of those around him. He has always had 
the welfare of his community at heart, and is a progressive, public 
spirited citizen, who is entitled to much credit for the part he has 
taken in the development of the agricultural and social interests of 
Brown county, and his name stands on the pages of her history among the 
foremost men of that region.