Biographical Sketch of

Mrs. Ruth Stevens Woodworth

Transcribed by Sandra Boudrou 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 815 - 816


Charles S. Wood, horticulturist and one of the leading citizens of Berlin, was born in Cherry Valley, Otsego Co. N. Y., 
Oct. 19, 1827, and is a son of John B. and Olive L. (Adams) Wood.  The earliest ancestor of this branch of the Wood 
family in America of which the writer can learn, was Ezekiel Wood, who was born in Uxbridge, Conn., Dec. 16, 1679, 
and lived to the advanced age of ninety-one years, his death occurring May 12, 1772.  His son, the Hon. Joshua Wood, 
was born May 3, 1730, married Rachel Hazeltine and died Jan. 29, 1817, at the age of eighty-six years.  His wife was 
born March 15, 1780, and died Jan. 26, 1808.  Their son, Dr. John Wood, the grandfather of our subject, was born Dec. 
15, 1754, and married Lucy Barnard, who was born Dec. 15, 1752, and died in Medina, Ohio, Oct. 1, 1836.  He also died 
in Medina, July 15, 1885, at the age of eighty-two years.  They had a family of ten children, of whom John B., the 
father of our subject, was the fifth.  He was born in Vermont, Jan. 14, 1785, and on the 7th of July, 1816, married 
Miss Olive L. Adams, a daughter of John and Betsy (Gilpatrick) Adams, of Newfield, Me.  Her father was born April 30, 
1766 and died Feb. 21, 1851, at the age of eighty-five years; her mother was born Dec. 30 1770.  Mrs. Wood was born 
in Newfield, May 31, 1798 and was descended from one of eight Adams brothers who came to America from England; four 
of them returned to their native land, while four remained in this country and were the founders of the Adams family 
in America, one of the most distinguished families in the New World.  One of the four brothers who remained was Matthew, 
who was twice married, his first wife being Miss Catherine Brighton, whom he wedded Nov.17, 1715.  The second wife was 
Merril Cotton, whom he married in 1734.  Their son John married Betsy Gilpatrick and of their union were born nine 
children, one of whom, also named John wedded Betsy Gilpatrick and settled at Newfield, Me., where was born Olive L., 
the mother of our subject.  Her death occurred at Berlin, Wis., March 18, 1865, at the age of seventy-five years.  
Mr. Wood also died in Berlin, fifteen years previous to the death of his wife, June 17, 1860.

They were the parents of fourteen children, nine sons and five daughters:  Luman F. was born Oct. 11, 1818; Hiram W., 
Feb. 7, 1820; George died in infancy; Silas F. was born June 17, 1824; George Adams Feb. 2, 1823; Lucy Ann, Jan. 4, 
1826; Charles S., Oct. 19, 1827; Eliza D., May 27, 1831; Thomas W., June 30, 1832; Abigail, Jan. 14, 1834; Mary Eliza 
Plumber, Jan. 27, 1836; John Adams, March 9, 1838; Frank M., March 10, 1840, and Catherine Olive, Jan. 22, 1848.

Charles S. Wood came to Wisconsin with his parents in 1840 and settled at Beloit, where he attended school.  On the 
completion of his education, he learned the painter's trade and on the 4th of July, 1847, was married in Elkhorn, 
Walworth, Co., Wis., to Miss Lucinda J. Bower, daughter of Adam and Freelove (Jordon) Bower.  She was born in Erie, 
Pa., May 31, 1826, and their union has been blessed with three children, all daughters:  Florence C., the eldest, 
was born April 29, 1848 at Beloit, Wis., and on the 27th of September, 1868, in Berlin became the wife of Gilbert C. 
Rounds.  They also have three children, all born in Berlin, namely:  Dayton E., born Sept. 11, 1870; Flora Belle, 
Jan. 9, 1884, and Gilbert C., May 31, 1886.  Eudora C., the next daughter, was born in Oshkosh, Feb. 21, 1850, and 
Lizzie J. was born in Berlin May 16, 1856.

In 1849, Mr. Wood removed to Oshkosh, where he worked at his trade until 1852, when he came to Berlin, where he has 
since made his home.  He continued to work at painting until March, 1864, when he enlisted as a private of Company C, 
38th Wisconsin Infantry for service in the late war.  He participated in the battle of Cold Harbor, and was seriously 
injured by an accident which happened to him while assisting in the erection of fortification in the Wilderness.  He 
is still a sufferer from the injuries there received.  He was removed to a field hospital and from there to Philadelphia, 
whence he was shipped with a body of men composed of 1600 convalescing soldiers the steamer, "Manhatten," to Washington.  
The boat became disabled and they were six days making the trip which should have been made in one.  From the roughness 
of the weather and the crowded condition of the transport they were subjected to much hardship.  On arriving at Washington, 
Mr. Wood was placed in Howard Hospital, where he remained until fall, when he was transferred to the Barracks.  During the 
winter he was transferred to Judiciary Square Hospital and in May, 1865, was sent home on furlough, receiving his discharge 
at Madison, Wis., on the 9th of June, following.

On his return from the war, Mr. Wood engaged in gardening and fruit growing at his home in Berlin and has carried on that 
business continuously since.  By the exercise of good judgment and close attention to details, he has made it a marked 
success, and has become one of the substantial citizens of the community.  He was the first to grow the Delaware grape 
here for market, to any extent, and was very successful in its culture.  He has also grown the old Britton blackberry 
for more than twenty years and now has a wonderful display of that fruit in his garden.  He has nearly a half acre 
planted in blackberries which in the season of 1869 yielded 8,000 quarts of 250 bushels of berries on which he netted $800.

Mr. Wood is a Republican in politics, but has never sought or desired official position.  He is a member of John A. Williams 
Post, G. A. R. and is highly respected as citizen, neighbor and friend.  In the spring of 1889, he was called to mourn the 
loss of his devoted wife, whose death occurred on the 15th of May of that year, after a companionship with him of forty-two 
years.






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