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CHARLES W. WOOD
Among the tasty and systematic farmers of the county, Mr. Wood'
name deserves honorable mention. He has, in the opinion of the historian, the handsomest country residence in the county, which commands
an extensive view of the surrounding country; and has generously
placed a half-page drawing of his premises among our embellishments
to which the reader's attention is invited. His farm is a model of neat
ness and thrift, and contains a splendid orchard of ten acres in apples
and peaches, besides a great variety of the smaller fruits; and fine
blooded stock further indicates the enterprise and intelligence elsewhere
conspicuous.
Mr. Wood was born in Louisa county, Virginia, August 26th, 1827,
and arrived with his parents, Thomas and Louisa J. (the daughter of
Stephen Gooch) Wood, in this county in 1831. He was raised on his
father's farm (now owned by David Wood, another son) and received in
youth a moderate education. He was married February 19th, 1859—
the object of his choice being Miss Martha E., the daughter of James
and Lydia Murdock, of St. Charles county. Mrs. Wood's mother was
the daughter of Philip Bell, a pioneer of Franklin; her grandfather,
Alexander Murdock, was a pioneer of St. Charles county, who moved there from Kentucky. They have two children: a little son and an
infant daughter. They are both members of the " Christian " Church, and have a home which, in refinement and attraction, will compare
with any of the country. And when we consider that all these
improvements have been built up since 1860, the year that Mr. Wood
took possession of this farm, due credit should be given them for their perseverance and industry.
In respect to the history of the Wood family, we have been enabled
to collect the following facts: The more remote ancestry came from
Scotland, and settled, at a very early date, in the colony of Virginia. Mr. Wood's grandfather served as a soldier in the Revolutionary army,
and afterwards married Sarah Hall, when he located in Louisa county,
where they both died after raising a large family. There Thomas, already
mentioned, was born, raised and married. He served his country as a
soldier in our last war with Great Britain, was in all respects a patriotic and useful citizen. He and his lady both early connected themselves
with the Baptist Church, and continued to evince the sincerity of the
Christian faith till removed from the sphere of life by death. He made
some money in Virginia, and, after becoming a citizen of this county,
became one of our wealthiest and most respected citizens, and is still
remembered as such by many in the county.
Franklin County Atlas Page 52
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