Santa Clara County
Biographies
REUBEN E. WOOD
R. E. WOOD. A
successful merchant, an able councilman, and a thoroughly progressive and
reliable citizen is found in R. E. Wood, a California pioneer of
1880, and a permanent resident of Gilroy since 1897. Mr. Wood owes his
first impressions of life to Baraboo, Sauk county, Wis., where he was born
September 14, 1863, and of which town his father was a very early
settler. Norman Wood was born in Elmira, N. Y., and there married
Louise Roper, a native of the same city, who is at present living in
Early, Iowa. Mr. Wood penetrated the wilds of Wisconsin before that part
of the country had been organized as a territory, and was there when the quiet
agricultural community was awakened by the starting of the town of Baraboo. He
not only conducted a farm, but took a prominent part in the politics and
general development of his neighborhood, serving creditably as supervisor, and
otherwise contributing to good and stable government. His last days were spent
under the bright skies of California, and he passed away in Visalia at the age
of eighty-three. Seven of his eight children are living, and of these, Leroy is
a retired merchant of Visalia.
R. E. Wood, who was
next to the youngest in his father’s family, was educated in the public schools
of Baraboo. Coming to California in 1880 with his brother,
Leroy N. Wood, he located in Kern county, and there the brothers
engaged in merchandising for a couple of years, after which R. E. returned
to Iowa, and for five years was connected with the Chicago & Northwestern
Railroad Company. In the meantime his brother had become established in Gilroy,
Cal., and R. E. Wood joined him in 1887, clerking in his general
store for a couple of years. In 1889 Leroy N. Wood started a
merchandising establishment in Visalia, and in this store R. E. clerked
until 1897, when he determined to put his experience to more paying use. Coming
to Gilroy, he bought an interest with R. Cobb and established the firm of
Cobb & Wood, carrying a general line of dry goods, furnishings and clothing.
Since its starting, the enterprise has catered to an increasing trade, and has
won the confidence and support of the community because of its appreciation of
its many sided needs, and its invariably courteous and tactful treatment.
Mr. Wood has been
interested in Republican politics for many years, and after holding many minor
offices, was elected to the Gilroy council in 1902, being re-elected in 1904
for a second term with a gratifying majority. He has been active in the work of
the council, has served on the finance, street and gas committees, and has
succeeded in getting the bond issue through, and the gas works in good
condition. Since his election the greater part of his time has been devoted to
municipal affairs, and his service has been characterized by deep public spirit
and regard for the welfare of the city. Mr. Wood has an interesting family
of children, Helen, Ruth, and Edith, and a wife who has materially contributed
to his success in life. Mrs. Wood’s girlhood name was Eva Sprague,
and she is a native daughter of Gilroy. Mr. Wood is one of the substantial
and highly honored citizens of Gilroy, and in manner and character represents
the strong and sterling upbuilders of the western
slope.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard
19 April 2015.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 461-462. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Marie
Hassard.