My Genealogy Hound

Capt. John A. Wood, coal-merchant, Pittsburgh, a son of Jonathan H. and Wilhelmina Wood, was born in Allegheny county, Pa., in 1831. His grandfather, Abina Wood, came from New Jersey and settled in Allegheny county, Pa., in 1822. He and his wife were parents of fourteen children, three of whom are living: Elizabeth (Folk), Susan (Ainsworth) and William. Their father died in 1853, aged seventy-four years, and their mother in 1856, at the age of seventy-three years. Jonathan H. Wood was born in 1809, and learned the trade of ship-carpenter, which he followed through life. He married Wilhelmina Ihmsen, and became the father of nine children: John A., Fredrick (deceased), Catherine (deceased), Burrows D., David, Jonathan, Mina (wife of Alexander McDavid), William M. and James. The father of this family died of cholera in 1849; the mother is still living, aged seventy-three years. John A. very early in life commenced to work with his father constructing boats, and at the age of thirteen years was engaged as a full boat-hand on a trip to Louisville, Ky., since when he has been engaged in boating in some capacity or other. He owns at this time fifteen or sixteen steamboats and tugs, which are used in his coal business between Pittsburgh and New Orleans. In 1850 he married Lydia Gildersleeve, daughter of John and Ellison Gildersleeve, of Washington county, Pa., and their children are Samuel L., Ella (wife of Rev. R. T. Miller, of the M. E. Church), Mina (wifeof Rev. Charles E. Locke, of the M. E. Church), Lydia (wife of Homer S. Bodley), John A., Jr., James B., Simpson H., Lula M., and an adopted daughter, Millie Wood. Mr. Wood owns about one thousand acres of coal-land, works three extensive coal-mines and employs about twelve hundred men in his business. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the I. O. O. F., and of the M. E. Church.