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1907 Past and Present Biographies

Joel D. Wood

Joel D. Wood, an agriculturist residing on section 34, Washington township, was born in Fayette county, Ohio, October 14, 1827, a son of Eli and Elizabeth (Carr) Wood, both of whom were natives of Virginia. The father went to Ohio with his parents in an early day and in 1831 took up his abode near Warsaw, Indiana. In 1856 he removed to Jasper county, Iowa, his death there occurring in 1891. His wife was a cousin of Jefferson Davis and has also departed this life, her demise occurring in 1882. Her marriage to Eli Wood was celebrated in Ohio and she became the mother of eleven children, but Joel D. Wood of this review is the only representative of the family in Greene county.

Joel D. Wood acquired a common-school education and spent his early life on farms in Ohio and Indiana. He took up his abode in Jasper county, Iowa, in the fall following the arrival of his father at that place, and in 1866 came to Washington township, Greene county, where he has ever since made his home. He owns sixty acres on section 34 and also has timber lands in Dallas county, Iowa. For a half century he has been connected with the agricultural interests of this state and the success which has come to him is entirely the result of his untiring perseverance and well directed business activity. He is now recognized as one of the venerable and respected citizens of his community and the honorable business methods which he has ever followed have gained him the esteem and admiration of his fellowmen.

In 1855 Mr. Wood was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Gant, of Indiana, and they became the parents of six children, as follows: J . M., of Angus, Iowa; Laura, who resides in Johnson county, Wyoming; Lovie, also of Angus, Iowa; E. O., living in Johnson county, Wyoming; W. H., a. resident of Canada; and A. Wood, who operates his father’s farm and also devotes considerable attention to trotting horses, being now the owner of seven head.

Mr. Wood formerly gave his political support to the democracy, but in recent years has cast an independent ballot, supporting the man whom he thinks best qualified for the office. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and throughout the community in which they have so long resided are widely known by reason of their sterling qualities of heart and mind and upright lives, and receive the veneration and esteem which should ever be accorded those who have traveled thus far on life’s journey and whose relations with their fellowmen have ever been characterized by the highest principles of honor and Christian living.

Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead,"
by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver,
Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.

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