Biographical Sketch of

Melvin F. Wood

Transcribed by Joan Benner for the Marquette Co WI Pages



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 353 and 354


Melvin F. Wood, a leading and enterprising farmer and stock raiser of 
the town of Leon, Waushara County, residing on section 7, is descended 
from Revolutionary stock. His paternal grandfather, Frederick Wood, who 
was a native of New York, served in the Colonial Army and became one of 
the earliest settlers of Delaware County, Ohio, where he was long a 
resident, dying at the age of fifty years. His wife, whose maiden name 
was Electa Russell, was also born in the Empire State, and after the 
death of her husband came to Green Lake County, Wis., where she died at 
the age of eighty years. His maternal grandparents, Samuel Monroe and 
his wife were also pioneers of Delaware County, Ohio, where they spent 
their last days.

Frederick Wood, father of our subject, was born in New York, July 16, 
1809, and when a youth accompanied his parents to Marietta County, Ohio, 
whence he removed to Delaware County, and entered a claim situated on 
the United States Military Reserve. He there continued to reside until 
his death, which occurred January 14, 1870. In his younger days he 
worked in the fanning mill manufactory of Adam Wolfe, who was one of 
the first settlers of Ohio, but as soon as he had obtained sufficient 
means he purchased land and followed farming during the remainder of 
his life. He married Sophia Monroe, a distant relative of President 
Monroe. She was born in Pennsylvania, Nov. 8, 1814, and her parents, 
Samuel and Hannah Monroe, were of Scottish descent. They had a family 
of six children--our subject being the eldest; Melvina died at the age 
of three years; Isaac Monroe is a blacksmith and wagon maker of Hopkins, 
Mo.; Francis Marion is a farmer and school teacher of Molino, Escambia 
Co., Florida; John died in infancy. In politics Mr. Wood was independent, 
and in religious faith was a Universalist, although he never united with 
any church.

Melvin F. Wood was born Oct. 26, 1834, on the present site of Ashley, 
Morrow Co., Ohio, and there remained until the spring of 1854, working 
upon his father's farm. In the meantime he obtained a common school 
education, but his advantages in that direction were not of the most 
complete character. Emigrating to Waushara County, in 1854, he made his 
home with his uncle, T. J. Cross, for a few weeks and then went to Fond 
du Lac County, where he obtained a position as a farm hand with Warren 
Reed at $14 per month and board and washing. The following winter was 
spent in Waupaca as an employee of Miller and Chandler, manufacturers, 
and in the spring he went to Iola, an isolated village, where he erected 
a saw mill for his employers and operated the same until the following 
spring, when he returned to Mr. Reed, who increased his wages to $16 
per month. He next made his home in Weyauwega, Waupaca County, where 
for nine years he was engaged in rafting lumber from thence to Gills 
Landing, on the Wolf River, at which place it was placed on flatboats, 
floated down to the mouth of the Fox River, towed up that stream by tugs 
to Portage City, then by canal to the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers, 
where it was floated down to St. Louis and other cities.

During that period Mr. Wood was united in marriage with Miss Louisa 
Olive Funk, the wedding taking place November 28, 1860. The lady was 
born in Licking County, Ohio, Nov. 9, 1838, and is a daughter of Thomas 
and Patsy (McNeely) Funk, who were natives of Virginia, but at an early 
day removed to Ohio. The husband followed teaming for a number of years 
and afterward engaged in farming in Delaware County for sixteen years 
but in 1851 he settled on a farm in the town of Mt. Morris, Waushara 
County, procuring his land from the government. He died November 4, 
1874, at the age of sixty-six years, and his wife died April 8, 1874, 
in the seventy-second year of her age. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wood have been 
born four children--Frank Melvin, born Sept. 5, 1861, married Gusta 
Josephine Johnson, of Minnesota, and they have two children Harry and Gay.
Letty Sophia, born August 16, 1863, became the wife of Charles Patterson,
a farmer of the town of Mt. Morris; Blanche Ethel, who was born May 31, 
1871. Wilbert was born on the 1st of April, 1778 (sic). 

Mr. Wood is now operating his fine farm of 208 acres of land, upon which 
he has made his home since March 21, 1866. It is under a high state of 
cultivation and he also raises considerable fine stock, including merino 
and Lincolnshire sheep, Holstein and short-horn Durham cattle and the 
best grades of Poland-China hogs. Politically, Mr. Wood is an enthusiastic
Republican and is justly recognized as one of Waushara's worthy citizens.






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