My Genealogy Hound

DAVID E. WOOD, of Conshohocken, is one of the oldest surviving members of this branch of the Wood family in Montgomery county. He was born in Philadelphia, April 22, 1814, and is the son of Israel and Rachel (Davis) Wood. His father, Israel Wood, was born in Plymouth township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, about 1780, and was reared to manhood in that vicinity. His educational training was obtained in the schools of his native township, among them being the old Sandy Hill school, at the old school house in that vicinity, which had a wide reputation in those days. Mr. Wood, upon taking up the practical duties of life, engaged in farming, and was also extensively interested in operating lime kilns, sending large quantities of lime to leading builders and contractors in Philadelphia. Among his patrons were the well known philanthropist, Stephen Girard, James Ferron, and other prominent builders of Philadelphia in those days.

Mr. Wood was a remarkable man in many respects. He was a patriotic citizen, and had a high appreciation of what belongs to American citizenship. During the time of General Lafayette’s visit to the United States in 1824, Mr. Wood was desirous of meeting and shaking him by the hand. He set out on foot for Philadelphia, his own horses and teams being engaged, and, not being able to obtain a horse or means of conveyance elsewhere, walked the entire distance. After greeting and shaking hands with the distinguished Frenchman, he returned as he had gone, on foot, considerably fatigued by his day’s travel. Soon after Mr. Wood was taken sick, and after a brief illness died in 1824. By his marriage with Rachel Davis, he had nine children, as follows: James, born in May, 1808, who married Eliza Still, daughter of Henry Still, of Whitpain township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania; John Davis, born in January, 1810, and died February 22, 1846, married Emeline Yetter, of Plymouth township; Joseph D., born in August, 1812, and died in June, 1900, married Margaret Clay, of Whitemarsh township; David E., subject of this sketch; Francis D., born in 1816, married Ann Sorber, of Whitemarsh; Elizabeth D., born July 2, 1818, married Henry G. Hart, of Plymouth; Hilary, born in 1820, who was twice married, his first wife dying at an early age; Hannah, born in 1822, married Charles Ferris of Philadelphia; Ferran, born in 1824, married.

Upon the death of Israel Wood, the father of the family, his widow married Baltis Hoffman. There were three children by this marriage: Isabella, who married; Evaline, died at the age of twenty-two years; and one who died in childhood. The mother, Rachel Davis Hoffman, died in Norristown, in her ninety-third year.

David E. Wood obtained his elementary training in the schools of the neighborhood in which his parents resided. He was for some time under the tuition of Alan W. Corson and Benjamin Conrad, both celebrated teachers in their day. He remained under the parental roof until he was sixteen years of age, when he entered on the practical duties of life. His first employment was in a general store at Plymouth Meeting, where he remained until he reached the age of twenty-one years. He was then employed for two years in a mercantile establishment in Norristown. He then engaged in the storekeeping business on his own account at Hickorytown, in Plymouth township. In 1836 he disposed of his store and removed to Norristown, where he again engaged in mercantile business, locating at the corner of Main and DeKalb streets, where he was associated with Dr. William Corson, who had an interest in the business. In 1839 Mr. Wood erected the building and store rooms on the southeast corner of Main and Swede streets, now the Stahler drug store. In 1842 he disposed of his interests in Norristown, and opened a dry goods store at the corner of Sixth and Spring Garden streets, in Philadelphia, in partnership with John M. Keim, of Reading, Pennsylvania. After being in business for two years he disposed of his interests in that enterprise and engaged in the wholesale dry goods trade, opening a store on Third street, above Arch, where he remained for some time, when he removed to So. 228 Market street, Philadelphia, where he conducted a successful business, being for some time the buyer for William Warnock, at that time one of the most successful merchants of Philadelphia, In 1861 Mr. Wood retired from commercial pursuits and removed to Limerick township, in Montgomery county, where he purchased a large tract of land on which he developed a copper mine. In 1867 Mr. Wood sold the property and removed with his family to Chesterfield county, Virginia, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits, residing there until 1890. He then removed to Gloucester county, New Jersey. In 1893 he removed to Conshohocken, where he has since resided. Mr. Wood is one of Conshohocken’s most venerable citizens, and is held in high esteem by all who know him.

David E. Wood was married at the home of the bride’s parents, Norristown, on February 20, 1838, to Mary Freedley, born October 27, 1818, daughter of Jacob and Susan (Jacoby) Freedley, the family being of German lineage. They had four children as follows: John Freedley, born March 20, 1840, who obtained his preliminary educational training at the Pottstown Academy, and at Nazareth Hall, a Moravian school at Nazareth, Pennsylvania, whence he entered Tuft’s College, in Massachusetts, and upon leaving college entered the law office of Isaac Hazlehurst, in Philadelphia, where he read law for some time, and in 1861 enlisted in the Fifty-eighth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, serving throughout the war for the Union, participating in more than fifty battles and skirmishes, and being several times promoted for gallant and meritorious services, and having been commissioned as captain at the time of his death, which occurred in November, 1865, he having been chief ordnance officer of the Department of Virginia. David Irving, born December 6, 1841, enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-first Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served creditably throughout the war; was honorably discharged in 1865, and returning home, married Lillie Rogers, of New Castle, Delaware, having one child, Lillie R. Wood, who married Stanley Eilenberger, of New Jersey; they have one daughter, Marie Eilenberger. Mary S., born December 23, 1844, married David W. Harry, of Conshohocken, they having two children, David W., Jr., born August 21, 1873, who was a machinist on the United States steamship “Brooklyn” during the naval battle at Santiago de Cuba, and now chief machinist on the United States steamship “Vicksburg,” in the Asiatic Squadron, and Benjamin Rees, born February 10, 1879, residing with his parents.

Mary (Freedley) Wood died June 10, 1892. She was a faithful wife and mother, and a consistent member of St. John’s Episcopal church, Norristown.