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John Wood (governor)
Encyclopedia
John Wood was the 12th Governor of Illinois, serving from 1860 to 1861. Wood was a founder and the first settler of Quincy, Illinois
.
Wood was born in Sempronius, New York
, in the area now known as Moravia
. He was he second child and son of Dr. Daniel Wood. His mother Catherine Crause died while he was an infant.
November 2, 1818, Wood moved west from New York to Atlas, Illinois
and became a farmer. Here, Wood met a Mr. Flinn from whom he purchased 160 acre (65 ha) of military granted land from the War of 1812
. Wood moved to the newly acquired land and built a small, one-room log cabin. On September 14, 1824, Wood petitioned the formation of Adams County, Illinois
and on January 18, 1825, it was passed. On April 30, 1825, the town of Quincy, Illinois was formed and designated as the county seat.
On January 25, 1826, Wood married Ann Streeter and built a second, two-story log cabin. Wood then began buying up more military granted land and sold it to Kentucky and Tennessee farmers for a profit. In 1838, the John Wood Mansion
, a Greek Revival home, was built next to his second log cabin.
In 1835 John Wood started to build a mansion on 12th and State. The mansion took three years to build. Wood went to St. Louis and New Orleans and brought back German immigrants who were craftsmen to construct the Greek Revival style of the house.
While Wood was the 13th Lieutenant Governor
he started to build an even larger home in the middle of the block between 11th and 12th and State. This octagonal building would take six years to build. Wood lived in one side of the octagonal house while his son, Daniel lived in the other. Wood's octagonal house cost him over $200,000 to build. John Wood's house was the most expensive home in Illinois at the time.
John Wood was elected Mayor of Quincy three times (1844–1848, 1852–53 and 1856), elected to the Illinois state senate
in 1850, and was elected Lieutenant Governor of Illinois
in 1856. In 1860, Wood took over the seat of Governor of Illinois after the death of former governor, William Henry Bissell
. Due to construction of a new home in Quincy, Wood petitioned that he be allowed to stay in Quincy during his term. Thus, the John Wood mansion temporarily became the Governor’s Mansion for the State of Illinois. Only finishing Bissell’s term, Wood was in office for less than 10 months and did not run for re-election.
John Wood was a member of the Whig party and the new Republican Party.
In 1861, after the start of the Civil War
, John Wood was named Quartermaster General of the State of Illinois. In 1863, his wife, Ann, died and he married Mary Ann Holmes. He also became colonel of the 137th Illinois that year. In 1864 Wood’s new house was completed and the John Wood Mansion was given to his oldest son, Daniel. The new Octagonal house, costing $200,000, was the most expensive house in Illinois at that time. An economic decline forced Wood to sell his new home for $40,000 and move back into the John Wood Mansion with his son Daniel in 1875. John Wood died June 4, 1880 in the John Wood Mansion at the age of 81 and is interred at the Woodland Cemetery in Quincy.
John Wood Community College in Quincy is named after the former Governor.
Quincy, Illinois
Quincy, known as Illinois' "Gem City," is a river city along the Mississippi River and the county seat of Adams County. As of the 2010 census the city held a population of 40,633. The city anchors its own micropolitan area and is the economic and regional hub of West-central Illinois, catering a...
.
Wood was born in Sempronius, New York
Sempronius, New York
Sempronius is a town in Cayuga County, New York, USA. The population was 895 at the 2010 census. The town was named after a Roman military and political leader by a clerk interested in the classics....
, in the area now known as Moravia
Moravia (town), New York
Moravia is a town in Cayuga County, New York, United States. The population was 3,626 at the 2010 census.The Town of Moravia contains a village called Moravia...
. He was he second child and son of Dr. Daniel Wood. His mother Catherine Crause died while he was an infant.
November 2, 1818, Wood moved west from New York to Atlas, Illinois
Atlas, Illinois
Atlas is an unincorporated community which lies on Highway 96 in western Pike County, Illinois, United States....
and became a farmer. Here, Wood met a Mr. Flinn from whom he purchased 160 acre (65 ha) of military granted land from the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. Wood moved to the newly acquired land and built a small, one-room log cabin. On September 14, 1824, Wood petitioned the formation of Adams County, Illinois
Adams County, Illinois
Adams County is the westernmost county of the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 67,103, which is a decrease of 1.7% from 68,277 in 2000...
and on January 18, 1825, it was passed. On April 30, 1825, the town of Quincy, Illinois was formed and designated as the county seat.
On January 25, 1826, Wood married Ann Streeter and built a second, two-story log cabin. Wood then began buying up more military granted land and sold it to Kentucky and Tennessee farmers for a profit. In 1838, the John Wood Mansion
John Wood Mansion
John Wood Mansion was built in 1835 at the behest of Illinois Governor John Wood. The Greek Revival home is located in Quincy, Illinois which is in Adams County. The mansion was constructed by John Cleaveland and endured a move from its original site in 1864 to its current location...
, a Greek Revival home, was built next to his second log cabin.
In 1835 John Wood started to build a mansion on 12th and State. The mansion took three years to build. Wood went to St. Louis and New Orleans and brought back German immigrants who were craftsmen to construct the Greek Revival style of the house.
While Wood was the 13th Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Illinois
The Lieutenant Governor of Illinois is the second highest executive of the State of Illinois. In Illinois, the lieutenant governor and governor run on a joint ticket, and are directly elected by popular vote. Candidates for lieutenant governor run separately in the primary from candidates for...
he started to build an even larger home in the middle of the block between 11th and 12th and State. This octagonal building would take six years to build. Wood lived in one side of the octagonal house while his son, Daniel lived in the other. Wood's octagonal house cost him over $200,000 to build. John Wood's house was the most expensive home in Illinois at the time.
John Wood was elected Mayor of Quincy three times (1844–1848, 1852–53 and 1856), elected to the Illinois state senate
Illinois Senate
The Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the state of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. The Illinois Senate is made up of 59 senators elected from...
in 1850, and was elected Lieutenant Governor of Illinois
Lieutenant Governor of Illinois
The Lieutenant Governor of Illinois is the second highest executive of the State of Illinois. In Illinois, the lieutenant governor and governor run on a joint ticket, and are directly elected by popular vote. Candidates for lieutenant governor run separately in the primary from candidates for...
in 1856. In 1860, Wood took over the seat of Governor of Illinois after the death of former governor, William Henry Bissell
William Henry Bissell
William Henry Bissell was the 11th Governor of the U.S. state of Illinois from 1857 until his death. He was one of the first successful Republican Party candidates, winning the election of 1856 just two years after the founding of his party.Bissell was born in Hartwick, Otsego County, New York...
. Due to construction of a new home in Quincy, Wood petitioned that he be allowed to stay in Quincy during his term. Thus, the John Wood mansion temporarily became the Governor’s Mansion for the State of Illinois. Only finishing Bissell’s term, Wood was in office for less than 10 months and did not run for re-election.
John Wood was a member of the Whig party and the new Republican Party.
In 1861, after the start of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, John Wood was named Quartermaster General of the State of Illinois. In 1863, his wife, Ann, died and he married Mary Ann Holmes. He also became colonel of the 137th Illinois that year. In 1864 Wood’s new house was completed and the John Wood Mansion was given to his oldest son, Daniel. The new Octagonal house, costing $200,000, was the most expensive house in Illinois at that time. An economic decline forced Wood to sell his new home for $40,000 and move back into the John Wood Mansion with his son Daniel in 1875. John Wood died June 4, 1880 in the John Wood Mansion at the age of 81 and is interred at the Woodland Cemetery in Quincy.
John Wood Community College in Quincy is named after the former Governor.
External links
- John Wood House in Quincy
- Illinois 2005–2006 Blue Book