My Genealogy Hound

REV. E. M. WOOD, A. M., D. D., has been a resident of Allegheny county the greater part of the past twenty-five years. He was born at Alliance, Ohio, Oct. 11, 1838. His father was an upright and intelligent farmer, highly respected wherever known. Dr. Wood is one of fourteen children and one of six brothers, all of whom grew up to honorable manhood. He received such an education as was usually obtained in the common schools of his time, but as he grew up he realized the need of more advanced training to fit him for the great work for which he believed himself called. He entered Mount Union College, Alliance, Ohio, in 1858, and after working his way through a five years’ course, mainly by teaching in the winter and laboring during the summer, he was graduated in the classical course in 1863 with second highest honor in his class. As a minister he entered the Pittsburgh Conference of the M. E. Church the year of his graduation. His fidelity and ability were soon recognized, and hence he has, during the twenty-six years of his ministry, filled some of the most prominent churches of his denomination, and his labors have been attended with remarkable success. He has been a most ardent student all his life. He is widely recognized as a fine Hebrew, Greek and Latin scholar, as well as being thoroughly acquainted with natural science, mathematics and general literature. As an orator, especially in the domain of theology, and on great public occasions, he has but few superiors in the country. His carefully prepared public lectures on various themes are often sought after and heard with great interest and profit.

Dr. Wood has made a reputation both in the United States and Europe as a writer and author. His style is characterized by clearness, conciseness and an attractive imagery which holds the attention of the reader. It is known that he did most of the work on the “Cyclopedia of Methodism,” in personal association with Bishop Simpson (1877). His other works are “Methodism and the Centennial of American Independence” (1876); “How the Bible was Made” (1884); a poetical work entitled “A Splendid Wreck, and Other Poems” (1888). Besides these he has two other works of great interest about ready for the press. In 1885 Dr. Wood was elected professor in Curry University, Pittsburgh, and since that time he. has been at the head of the department of natural science and logic.