Benjamin F. Wood

Benjamin F. Wood

BENJAMIN F. WOOD, farmer, section 14, Brooks Township, was born in Genesee Co., N.Y., March 5, 1831, and is a son of Jonathan and Martha (Reynolds) Wood. The former was born in New York, in 1791, of English lineage, and died in 1870. The latter was also a native of the Empire State, born in 1787 and died in 1876.

When Mr. Wood was six yers old his parents transferred their family and interests to Ohio, where he grew to manhood and followed the trade of carpenter, which he acquired from his father. He came to Newaygo County, and after a stay of one year went to Lansing, Mich., where he operated four years, returning thence to Ohio. He worked at his trade four years, and in 1861 he enlisted in Co. I, Third Ohio Vol. Inf., under the call for three-months men. He received honorable discharge at the expiration of his term, and soon after re-enlisted for three years, in Co. C., 15th Ohio Vol. Inf. He became disabled, and after nine months' service was discharged. He came to Lansing and settled upon a farm of 30 acres, of which he became proprietor during his first stay at the place. Seven years afterward he went to Harrison Co., Iowa, where he stayed about 18 months, and returned for another residence of seven years' duration on his farm at Lansing.

In the spring of 1878 he came to Newaygo County again and bought 50 acres of land, whereon he has lived and labored since. He has cleared and put in good farming condition 27 acres, with good buildings and other improvements. In political connection Mr. Wood is a Republican.

He was married Dec. 25, 1853, in Morrow Co., OHio, to Marilla, daughter of Luther and Sybil (Webster) Vining. She was born Sept. 27, 1831, in Delaware Co., Ohio, and her parents were natives of New York, of English lineage. Of this marriage five children have been born: Charles, Arvilla, Francis H., Ansel E. and Josephine R. The family attend the M.E. Church.

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