Thomas J. Wood (1844-1908)
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A copy of the following unidentified newspaper article was found in a scrapbook owned by Town Historian Richard Schmal:
Passing of Thomas J. Wood
After months of sickness and suffering Thomas J. Wood passed from his life Tuesday night at eleven o'clock, after being unconscious for several hours. Although better at intervals during the summer, and able once to walk around the square, those who knew his case best have had no hopes of a recovery since last spring. Since he fell over a pile of brick and was injured, during the paving around the court house, he has never been well, and even before that was gradually failing with diseased kidneys, which finally proved fatal.Mr. Wood was born in Athens County, Ohio, September 30th, 1844, and passed his 64th birthday last month. While a young lad his parents moved to Vigo County, this state, where here he received a liberal education and taught school several seasons, afterwards attending the law department of the Michigan University where he graduated in 1867. He arrived in Lake County in the sixties, first locating at Lowell, but soon came to Crown Point where he has ever since resided, and practiced law up to the start of his last sickness. In May 1870 he married Mary E. Pelton of this place, and to them was born six children, and but two Willis and Flora are left to comfort the mother in her declining years, Alice, Ora, Thomas and Charles having been taken from them early at one time with diphtheria.
The deceased has been a Democrat his entire life and has held several offices, being gifts from the Republicans, as he has always resided where the opposition was strongest at the polls. He was first elected town treasurer of Crown Point, and from '72 and '76 was prosecuting attorney for Lake and Porter Counties, the two combined having a large Republican majority. In '78 he was elected state senator for the two counties, and in 1882 was sent to Congress for one term. He joined the Masonic Lodge here in early times, and later the M.E. Church and died in the faith. During his many years in Crown Point he has practiced his profession, worked faithfully in politics, farmed in a small way, and at times raised Jersey cattle and fancy poultry. He has been a progressive citizen and by his labor has left the remaining members of his family with quite an amount of good property.
The date of the funeral is Friday, at 2 p.m. at the home.
Go to Thomas J. Wood, "Pioneer History Index," for further information.
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