Edwin Orin Wood
Edwin Orin Wood (October 29, 1861 – April 23, 1918) was the
Biography
He was born at Goodrich, Michigan on October 29, 1861, to Paulina M. and Thomas Parmalee Wood both of whom came from western New York.[1] He was member of the Democratic National Committee from Michigan from 1908 to 1916. He was also a delegate to 1912 Democratic National Convention and 1916 Democratic National Convention. He died on April 23, 1918, in Pasadena, California. He was buried in Flint, Michigan in Glenwood Cemetery.
Career
Edwin Orin Wood, was a member of an old family which had made its home in the United States from pre-revolutionary days. His ancestors fought in the War for American Independence, and were ever moving out from the more settled regions of the country and seeking the frontier. Mr. Wood's parents, Thomas Parmelee and Paulina Wood, were Michigan pioneers, having removed to that State from Western New York prior to the Civil War. They settled at the town of Goodrich, Michigan, and there made their home until their deaths, their married life extending over a period of sixty-two years.[2]
Salesman
Born in Goodrich, Genesee county, Michigan, Edwin Orin Wood passed his childhood there, attending the local public school, and in addition pursued the study of Latin and Greek outside of school hours under the direction of the Rev. Saunderson, a Congregational minister in the town. Having completed his studies at the local institution he studied for a year at the Saginaw High School, after which, abandoning his formal education, he sought and secured a position in the general mercantile establishment conducted at Goodrich by D. M. Scriver, Seth B. Pixley and D. W. and William Campbell. After working there for a time he went to Metamore, Michigan, and there took a similar position in the store of Levi Campbell. He did not remain long at either establishment, however, but secured a clerical position in the clothing store of George W. Buckingham, of Flint, Michigan, and thus became acquainted with the town that was afterwards to be his home for many years. The latter position he held for a period of five years and then, in 1885, he was appointed a railway mail clerk, but shortly after resigned in order to accept a position as traveling salesman for the wholesale grocery firm of W. J. Gould & Company of Detroit, Michigan. Another five years was spent in that employment, and he was then chosen as the representative for Michigan of the New York clothing firm of Hackett, Carhart & Company.[2]
Customs official
Wood had already become a well-known figure in local affairs, and it was in March, 1893, that his purely business career was interrupted by his appointment to a very important post in the public service. The young man had displayed so much ability and initiative in his dealing with home affairs that he attracted to himself the favorable notice of the late
Politics
Wood had begun his career as a public officer very auspiciously, and from this time on his activities in this realm were at least as great and of even more importance than those connected with his private business. He did not, of course, neglect the latter, however, but even his business ventures in many cases were of a semi-public nature. Such was the case of the Loyal Guard, a fraternal beneficiary society that has since attained national prominence. Wood was one of a group of men who founded this organization, and he was the moving spirit in the matter to such an extent that he was elected its first president and held that office many years. The part played by him as president of the Loyal Guard brought him into wide prominence in this line of work and he was chosen president of the National Fraternal Press Association and the next year of the
Michigan Historical Commission
He was also offered a membership on the Michigan State Tax Commission by Governor
Centenary Peace Commission
In 1914 he was appointed a delegate to the Centenary Peace Commission by Governor Ferris, and the next year was a member of the Board of Arbitration representing Flint in the controversy over the price of gas to be charged the public by the company. This finally resulted in a reduction of the price from one dollar to eighty-five cents.[2]
General Motors
It was in 1910 that Mr. Wood was named a vice-president of the
Fraternal organizations
In addition to the many affiliations mentioned above, Wood was a member of a large number of organizations of a fraternal character and was especially prominent as a
The mere record of offices held, or even of material achievements accomplished, by Wood can give no adequate idea of his real influence in the community or of his peculiar talent as a leader of men. He was one with whom it was easy for other men to get along, and yet they invariably felt that back of his affable exterior and easy manners there was a will as inflexible as steel which would show itself wherever he might feel that a matter of principle was involved. This was well shown in his political life, where his adherence to what he considered his duties to the people and the State was absolute. In the case of his long friendship with Mr. Dickinson, the State Democratic leader, it was strikingly illustrated. As a young man he had won the approbation of the man who then, more than any other, controlled the actions of the party in Michigan, and was aided by him to the position in the United States Treasury service in which he made so great a reputation. A long friendship followed and yet, when Mr. Wood found that his conviction led along other paths from that which Mr. Dickinson chose, he took them unhesitatingly. This was the case in his support of William Jennings Bryan, which was wholehearted and ardent, but which led him away from many of his old political associates. How greatly he was trusted and admired by these associates is shown in the fact that he was the choice of his party for governor of the State in one election and was prominently mentioned by them as candidate for the vice-presidency of the United States.[2]
Authorship
Another very important activity of Mr. Wood was that performed by him as an author and historian. His great interest in the subject of history has already been mentioned, and he was connected with many societies of a historical character and other scientific organizations. Besides those given above were the American Museum of National History, the
Marriage and children
Edwin Orin Wood was married, December 17, 1889, at Flint, Michigan, with Emily Crocker, a daughter of Stephen and Prudence Crocker, pioneer residents of Genesee county. Four children were born to them as follows: Dwight Hulbert, who met his death in an accident at Flint when fourteen years of age; Albert Crocker, who also met his death in an accident in 1915; Leland Stanford, mentioned below; and Mary В., born December 1, 1897.[2]
Leland Stanford Wood was born December 14, 1894, at Flint, and was educated at the Lawrenceville Preparatory School, from which he graduated in 1912, the