Newell B. Wood
The ancestors of Mr. Wood came from Normandy to Ireland, in the eleventh century. One family came to America in 1740; the head of this family was the father of William Wood, born in Maryland. His son, Isaac, removed to this state from Kings County, Pennsylvania, December, 1810. A few years after the Woods' came to America, they were followed by James Savage, who located near Augusta, Maine. Amos Brailey was born in Maine, in 1776. Alice Savage is a daughter of Joseph, a son of Isaac, who came from Ireland. Alice was united in marriage to Amos Brailey. Their daughter, Rebecca, came to Meigs County, Ohio, April, 1817. January 12, 1838, she was united in marriage to John Wood, the union being blessed by three children: Annas, born August 26, 1839 ; Newell B., July 16, 1843, and Ruel B., October 26, 1845. Mr. Wood departed this life, October 11, 1845. His wife died, April 1850.
Our subject was born, July 16, 1843, in Rutland Township, Meigs County, Ohio. His father having died one year previous, at three years of age, removed, with his mother, to Milton Township, Jackson County, locating on a farm, which has recently been purchased by the managers of the railroad running through it, and abounds in coal. While attending school in the rude log cabin, a well was dug, those doing the work came upon a vein of coal, but did not use it for fuel, owing to the absence of proper facilities for burning it. He remained on this farm until 1855, when they took a trip to Indiana, where they remained one year. At that time the market was dull, labor cheap, and prices high. They again located in Jackson County, where they remained until 1867, when they returned to their old home in Meigs County, and stayed two years. During the intervening time, his grandfather's estate had been in court fourteen years. It was quite valuable, but finally realized the three heirs but one hundred dollars each.
He next worked on a farm in Jackson County, until 1863; spent one year in Pickaway County, near New Holland, and in the years 1864 — '66, worked for William McGee, at the Iron Valley Furnace, enjoying the confidence and esteem of his employer while there.
He was married, March 14, 1867, to Almed L,, daughter of George W. Phillips, who still resides in Jackson County. The union has been blessed with six children: Ida, horn June 27, 1868; Haley P., November 17, 1859; Clarence A., March 13, 1872; Jesse G., November 2, 1875; John B., July 28, 1878, and Charlie Lawrence, October 3, 1879. After his marriage, he moved to Vinton County, Ohio, and engaged in burning charcoal. He remained one season, then returned to his former employer (McGee), whose furnace had been idle during the interval, and remained until 1871, when he removed to the farm he now occupies.
He is a member of Fayette Lodge, No. 187, F. and A. M., and was made Master Mason, in Mineral Lodge, Vinton County. He went out from Pickaway County, to assist in capturing Morgan, and was gone eighteen days.
He occupies the John Boyd tract, which contains one thousand acres, divided by the Bogus road, and Ohio Southern Railroad. It is well improved. He has cleared about three hundred and fifty acres, constructed over twenty-five miles of fence, which required one hundred and seventeen thousand new rails. The land is well drained, and contains five thousand two hundred and seventy-five rods of tile, and seven hundred and seventy rods of open ditch. He opened the first coal mine on the Ohio Southern Railroad, and is still interested in its management. He farms largely to grain, and ships by the Ohio Southern Railroad.
From R. S. Dills' History of Fayette County