William W. WOOD, a leading farmer of Washington Township, is a native of Michigan, born in Hillsdale County, November 24, 1837, a son of Elkanah and Abigail (JACKSON) WOOD, natives of New York, where they were married, and in 1832 they moved to Michigan and made that State their home until their death. They were the parents of nine children, seven of whom lived till maturity, our subject being next to the youngest. He remained in his native county until eighteen years of age. He received a good education, attending the common schools, and later the Michigan Central College. After leaving schoolhe began teaching, which he continued several years. He then engaged in farming and in the mercantile business in Warrend County, Illinois, where he spent thirteen years, and from there moved to Jasper County, Iowa, and for two years lived on a farm near Prairie City. Selling his farm he moved to Montgomery County, where he lived until 1882. He owned a farm of 320 acres near Red Oak, and engaged extensively in raising corn and hogs, being one of the most successful in this enterprise in the county. In 1882 he went to Madison County, Nebraska, where he lived two and a half years, when he returned to Iowa and bought the farm where he now lives, on section 8, Washington Township. His farm contains 240 acres, fifty acres of which is pasture and timber land, and he also owns 1,280 acres in Nebraska. He makes a specilty of stock-raising, having some of the finest breeds of cattle and hogs, and although he has been a resident of Ringgold County so short a time, is ranked with her most enterprising and prosperous citizens, and is now serving as trustee of Washington Township. Mr. WOOD was married in 1864 to Annie R. WAGGONER, daughter of Henry and Ester (SHERMAN) WAGGONER, of Warren County, Illinois. They have three children - Alice J., wife of Solomon LAYTON, Leon E., and Lila A. Mr. and Mrs. WOOD are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

NOTE: William W. WOOD died on May 30, 1912. Anna R. WOOD was born July 13, 1841, and died October 16, 1920. William and Anna were interred at Diagonal Cemetery, Ringgold County, Iowa.

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2009

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