John Wood

Other Events:

• Interesting: pioneer, story
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-73874

Notes:

EARLY SETTLER AND HIGHLY RESPECTED CITIZEN

In the passing of John Wood, Sr., Friday, this community lost of its most public spirited citizens and on who has done much toward furthering all enterprises which tend toward the general welfare of the people of the community.

Mr. Wood was a man of ability, well read, honest, broad minded, pleasant and open hearted, and his departure will be felt deeply by the entire community.

John Wood, Sr., son of Charles and Jane Wood, was born in the county of Caven, Ireland, March 6, 1852, and died in Grand Rapids, Mich., Jan 3, 1918, at the age of 66 years, 9 months, 27 days.

At the age of three, he came with his parents to Gault (sp), Ont., Canada, where he spent his early youth.

On Dec. 31, 1871 he was united in marriage to Annie Seegmiller of Petersburg, Ontario. To this union twelve Children were born, nine of whom survive: Alexander of Detroit, Charles, John, Jr., Bess, Mrs. R.A. Wilson, Mrs. Fran Cunningham all of Kingsley, Mrs Roy Monroe of Traverse City and Wellington of Munasing.

Besides the immediate family he leaves five brothers, one sister, fourteen grandchildren and a host of friends.

Mr. Wood was one of the early settlers of this region, having moved with his family to Grand Traverse county twenty-six years ago, settling on the farm he owned at the time of his death.

While a citizen of Canada he served three years as a volunteer in her military organization and she could not boast a more loyal subject, but on his arrival in Michigan, his first act was to take out naturalization papers and since his residence here his unswerving loyalty to his adopted country has been worthy of emulation by our native sons as well as those who have chosen this land of ours for a home.

A pioneer granger, he was for many years Master of Summit City Grange and was again elected to that office while in the hospital in Grand Rapids. His genial spirit and fraternal loyalty will be missed by all the Grangers.

having had the welfare of the community at heart he was greatly interested in the Kingsley fairs and was elected secretary the first year and held the office through the succeeding years. It was always his aim to have each succeeding fair better and worked unceasingly to this end.

The funeral was held from the home of his son, Charles, Monday, Jan 7. Rev Simonds preached a beautiful and touching sermon.

Many beautiful flowers were given as silent tribute to the esteem in which he was held. The body is at rest in Evergreen cemetery.

A loving husband and father, a helpful neighbor and loyal friend he will be sadly missed by all.

Traverse City Record Eagle

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REMEMBER: WHEN A WEE BIT O' THE IRISH SETTLED IN TRAVERSE CITY

"...it was their father who came over from the old country and settled in this region. Perhaps as part of the great Irish emigration resulting from the potato famine in 1845-1846, John Wood, Sr. crossed over with his family around the age of three. His children remember him recounting the trip - "How well I remember crossin the ocean. Six weeks we were-smallpox broke out aboard ship, and tho' but a wee lad I stood by 'mither's' side while they lowered the tiny body into the ocean. Where we landed in Halifax we were not permitted to leave the ship for fear of spreadin' the sickness. There we were, with barely enough food to keep us alive, no clear water, nor soap to bathe ourselves. That's how it all began -that's how we cam to be called "The Dirty Irish." Towards the latter part of the century he and his German wife homesteaded a farm on Old Mission Peninsula."

Traverse City Record Eagle March 15, 1975 - Page 3

John married Anna Maria Seegmiller 31 Dec 1871. Anna (daughter of Frederick Seegmiller and Catherine Morscher) was born 20 Jun 1853, Petersburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 4 Feb 1929, Kingsley, Grand Traverse, Michigan, United States; was buried , Kingsley, Grand Traverse, Michigan, United States. [Group Sheet]