My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES STURGIS WOOD, a retired farmer residing in Norristown, Pennsylvania, was born on the old family homestead on Skippack pike, near Center Square, in Whitpain township, Montgomery county. He was the fifth child and third soil of Charles S. and Melinda (Supplee) Wood. The father was a farmer by occupation, owning and operating a tract of land which he converted into a fine farm. He was born in the year 1803, and was the son of James Wood of Horsham township, Montgomery county, where Horace Wood now resides. Having arrived at years of maturity Charles S. Wood wedded Miss Melinda Supplee, and to them were born six children: Jonathan Harrison, born January 7, 1841, married Sallie Hunsicker, a daughter of Garrett and Kate (Rieff) Hunsicker, and lives in Philadelphia. Harriet Supplee, born December 22, 1842, died unmarried. Jeanette, born February 22, 1844, resides in Norristown. Samuel Supplee, born September 9, 1845, married Ella Boyd of Coatesville, Chester county, Pennsylvania, and resides at Elgin, Illinois.

Charles Sturgis Wood is the youngest of the father’s family. In his youth he attended the public school at Center Square, meanwhile assisting in the operation of the home farm. He became familiar with all the duties of the school room. He was thus employed until eighteen years of age, when he entered upon an apprenticeship to the painter’s trade, which he followed for nearly eight years. At the same time he remained at home and assisted in the farm work. He succeeded his father in the ownership of the old homestead, purchasing the interest of the other heirs at the time of the settlement of the estate. He then devoted his energies to managing the farm for some years, engaging in the dairy business and in the production of general produce. In his operations he met with a fair measure of success, and as the years passed by accumulated a comfortable competence. He was an active and enterprising agriculturist until the spring of 1902, when he was succeeded by his son, Horace Centenial Wood. He now resides in Norristown, living retired from further business cares.

Mr. Wood has always taken a deep and active interest in the affairs of his neighborhood, and has given helpful support to many measures for the general welfare. Politically he is a Republican, and has always been a consistent yet conservative worker in the interests of his party. He and his family are members of the Reformed church although in earlier generations his ancestors were connected with the Society of Friends, or Quakers, and held membership with the Plymouth Meeting and that at Gwynedd.

On the 6th of February, 1873, Mr. Wood was united in marriage to Andora Rieff Tyson, a daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth (Rieff) Tyson of Lower Salford township, Montgomery county. Mrs. Wood was born on the 19th of November, 1846, and by her marriage became the mother of two children: Horace Centenial, born January 1, 1876, married Caroline Knaus, a daughter of Jacob and Sophia (Knaus) Weigner. Two children graced this marriage, Charles Earl, who was born May 24, 1898; and Ruth Mildred, born November 17, 1900. Horace C. Wood and his family now reside upon the old homestead in Whitpain township. Tyson, the younger son, resides with his parents at Norristown, and assists his father in the butchering and pork-packing business.