WI BIO - Adams Co - WOOD, Ned C.

Commemorative & Biographical Record of Columbia, Sauk & Adams Counties, 
Wisconsin. Chicago: Ogle, 1901, pp 735-736

Ned C. WOOD, engaged in agricultural pursuits in Springville Township [Adams 
County, Wisconsin], was born 04 August 1851 in Ludlowville, Tompkins County, 
New York, a son of Amasa and Isabella (CLARK) WOOD, who were prominent 
citizens of Tompkins County, where the father [Amasa WOOD] was engaged in the 
manufacture of furniture. The maternal grandfather, Daniel CLARK, was a 
quartermaster in the War of 1812, and the great grandfather, Colonel John 
HARPER, served with distinction as a Colonel in the Revolutionary War. 
Colonel John HARPER was very wealthy.

During his boyhood Ned C. WOOD received a good common school education, and 
he worked in his father's furniture shop [in Tompkins County, New York] until 
he was sixteen years of age, when he came to Wisconsin, locating in 
Friendship, Adams County, 04 May 1868. After living with his brother-in-law, 
J. W. SHAW, for a short time, he worked for James HINMAN, a well-known [p 
736] farmer, for several years, during which time by industry and economy he 
managed to save some money. Later he spent several years on the J. P. SHULTZ 
farm, and had charge of the SHAW farm one year. At different times he lived 
on other farms, and in 1887 purchased the Murray HAY farm at Twin Valley 
[Dunn County, Wisconsin], on which he made many improvements and now 
successfully operates. 

On 17 September 1879 Mr. [Ned C.] WOOD married Miss Anna E. COOK, who was 
born 24 May 1857 near Hornersville, Steuben County, New York, a daughter of 
Ora and Rosella (DONALDSON) COOK. Our subject and his wife [Ned C. and Anna 
E. (COOK) WOOD] have two children: (1) Glen C., born 20 May 1881, now in 
Delton, Sauk County, Wisconsin; and (2) John F., born 12 May 1891.

The COOKs were land owners and well-to-do farmers of Steuben County. Mrs. 
WOOD's father [Ora COOK] was born in New York, and when four years old Mrs. 
WOOD came to Wisconsin with her mother, locating at Billings Ferry, Adams 
County. Her mother lived on the HINMAN farm for a time, in a house on the 
west side of the road, and then bought property in Olin [Springville 
Township, Adams County, Wisconsin. On an 1878 map of Adams County, Olin is 
on the line between Springville and Dell Prairie Townships, next to the 
Wisconsin River on its east bank.] She [Rosella (DONALDSON) COOK] died 29 
May 1869, and the daughter [Anna E. COOK], now Mrs. WOOD, then made her home 
with James HINMAN. She attended the country school and the high school of 
Kilbourn City [Columbia County, Wisconsin; now Wisconsin Dells], and at the 
age of seventeen began teaching school in Twin Valley [Dunn County, 
Wisconsin]. Later she taught in several different counties and successfully 
followed that pursuit for six years.

Politically Mr. [Ned C.] WOOD affiliates with the Republican party, and he 
has capably filled several township and school offices. Fraternally he is a 
member of the Masonic order, the Modern Woodmen of America, and both he and 
his wife are charter members of the Dells Home Forum, No. 1813, of which he 
was elected Treasurer, but declined to serve. Mrs. WOOD has been a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal church since she was seventeen years of age, and has 
served as Superintendent of the Sabbath school, in which position she has 
done much toward starting the young in the right course. She ever takes an 
active and prominent part in all church work, and she and her husband well 
merit the high regard in which they are uniformly held.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly