My Genealogy Hound

Col. Edmund J. Wood, a well known and enterprising planter of Warren County, is a native of Tennessee, born May 15, 1828, in what is now Cannon County, but at that time was a part of Warren County. He is a son of John H. and Roxanna P. (Sutton) Wood. The father was of English descent, born in North Carolina in 1803, and while a child came with his parents to Tennessee. He was a farmer and merchant by occupation, a Democrat in politics, and died in Cannon County in 1879. The mother was of Scotch-English ancestry, born in Kentucky in the year 1806. Edmund J. secured a good education in youth and was principally educated at Irvin College, Warren County. After completing his education he was for three years engaged in the mercantile business at Woodbury, Cannon County. In 1853 he was sent to the State Legislature and represented Cannon County for two consecutive terms. In 1859 he was elected to the State Senate, representing the counties of Cannon, Warren, Grundy, Coffee and Van Buren one regular term and two extra sessions. In 1861 Mr. Wood moved to Warren County, and in September, the same year, enlisted in Company F, Fifth Confederate Regiment, with B. J. Hill as colonel. He was elected captain of the company, and at Corinth, Miss., was made lieutenant-colonel, but on account of ill health, caused by rheumatism contracted during the services, was not able long for active service. He spent his time as his health would permit with the army, but in 1864 returned home, and after the close of the war settled on his plantation, and has since been a successful planter. In the bloody and hotly contested battle of Shiloh he took an active and conspicuous part, and in the report of his commanding officer, was complimented for his gallant conduct upon the field, and referred to as the “bravest of the brave.” In 1886 Col. Wood was defeated for the State Legislature by Col. John H. Savage, though he controlled a large vote of the citizens of Warren County. In March, 1887, he was appointed by President Grover Cleveland, postmaster at McMinnville, Tenn., which position he is now filling to the satisfaction of the public and the department. In 1854 he married Miss Lizzie Thompson, a most excellent lady, a native of Rutherford County. To this union have been born three children. Col Wood has done much in supporting the interest of the Democratic party in this part of the State, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.