Governor of Ohio, Judge, U.S. Diplomat. Born in Middletown, Vermont, he moved to Canada to live with his uncle when he was 15 years old. He was conscripted to serve in the Canadian Army during the War of 1812. He deserted, fled back to the United States, and joined the Army near the end of the war. After the war, he returned to Vermont and studied law. He was admitted to the bar and commenced to practice as an attorney in Vermont. Wood moved to Cleveland, Ohio in 1818 and resumed his legal profession. Elected to the Ohio State Senate as a Democrat in 1825, he served until he was elected by the Ohio General Assembly as Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. In 1833, he became a Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court and served in that capacity until 1847. Wood was elected as Ohio's 21st Governor and served from 1850 to 1853. He campaigned against slavery, was strongly opposed to the fugitive slave laws, and favored hard currency. He resigned on July 13th to accept appointment as United States Consul to Chile. He returned to America in 1855 and retired to his farm near Rockport, Ohio. Known as the "Old Chief of the Cuyahogas," he died at his residence in 1864. He was initially buried at his farm in Cuyahoga County and was later removed to Woodland Cemetery in Cleveland. His father, Reverend Nathaniel Wood, was a minister and Chaplain in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.
Governor of Ohio, Judge, U.S. Diplomat. Born in Middletown, Vermont, he moved to Canada to live with his uncle when he was 15 years old. He was conscripted to serve in the Canadian Army during the War of 1812. He deserted, fled back to the United States, and joined the Army near the end of the war. After the war, he returned to Vermont and studied law. He was admitted to the bar and commenced to practice as an attorney in Vermont. Wood moved to Cleveland, Ohio in 1818 and resumed his legal profession. Elected to the Ohio State Senate as a Democrat in 1825, he served until he was elected by the Ohio General Assembly as Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. In 1833, he became a Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court and served in that capacity until 1847. Wood was elected as Ohio's 21st Governor and served from 1850 to 1853. He campaigned against slavery, was strongly opposed to the fugitive slave laws, and favored hard currency. He resigned on July 13th to accept appointment as United States Consul to Chile. He returned to America in 1855 and retired to his farm near Rockport, Ohio. Known as the "Old Chief of the Cuyahogas," he died at his residence in 1864. He was initially buried at his farm in Cuyahoga County and was later removed to Woodland Cemetery in Cleveland. His father, Reverend Nathaniel Wood, was a minister and Chaplain in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.
Bio by: K Guy
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