Butte County
Biographies
AUSTIN E. WOOD
AUSTIN E. WOOD.—The efficient manager of the DePue Warehouse at Durham, Butte County, A. E. Wood has made his influence felt in business circles in his native county. He was born at Honcut, September 21, 1868, a son of the late Nathan F. Wood, who was born in New York in 1828, migrated to Illinois in early days and in 1849 crossed the wide plains to seek his fortune in the gold fields of California. His first wife was Minerva Jackson, who was descended from Pennsylvania German stock. She died at the age of twenty-four, in 1874 leaving two sons: Austin E., and Frank F., who lives at Gridley. By a second marriage of N. F. Wood with Cora E. Keen, one son, Harry, and two daughters, Mrs. Blanche Glenn and Mrs. Stella Sharkey, are living. Nathan F. Wood died in 1901, leaving an estate of some hundred seventy acres of land, which is still undivided.
Austin E. Wood grew up on his father’s ranch near Honcut and his education was obtained in the public school at Honcut and at Heald’s Business College at San Francisco. Until 1901, Mr. Wood worked at various kinds of employment; that year he secured a position as bookkeeper for H. A. Scribner, continuing with L. W. Nelson, when he bought the business. They were early settlers and pioneer merchants of Durham. At a later date Mr. Wood kept books for the San Francisco Produce Company, and the Cramer Meat Packing Company, both of Chico. With this valuable experience he was able to undertake the position as assistant to the late William McAnarlin, who had charge of the De Pue warehouses at Durham. So successfully did he discharge the duties imposed upon him that upon the death of his superior in 1915, he was made manager, and ever since then he has given his entire time and attention to the business. Besides the duties mentioned above Mr. Wood also takes care of the Pratt warehouses at Durham.
Mr. Wood married Miss Eva Kate Ralston, in 1889, and they have three children: Audrey E., employed in the county recorder’s and auditor’s office, and living at home; Nina F., a clerk in Chico, living at home; and Alta L., Mrs. W. E. Curry, of Chico. The family live at 927 Fourth Street, Chico, Past Grand of the Odd Fellows at Durham, and belongs to the Red Men at Chico. He is a man of strict integrity and with his wife and family, enjoys Mr. Wood driving to and from his work every day. He is a member of the good will and esteem of a wide circle of friends.
Transcribed
by Sharon Walford Yost.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Page 1187, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2009 Sharon
Walford Yost.
Golden Nugget Library's Butte County Biographies