An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893 WILLIAM P. WOODS, president of the Green Lake Electric Railway Company, and one of the enterprising developers of the suburbs of Seattle, was born in Mann county, California, December 1, 1858. His father, Guy M. Wood, was a native of Canada, but emigrated to California in 1853, by sailing vessel, around Cape Horn. He followed mining for a short time, then engaged in farming and stock-raising, subsequently marrying Miss Sarah J. Bell, of Canada, and continuing his interests in California until about 1890, when he removed to Seattle to be bear his sons, including the subject of this sketch. William P. was educated in the schools of Mann county and at Napa College, where he completed his academic course. He then engaged in teaching, which he followed about three years. In 1880 he went to San Francisco and entered the office of Columbus Bartlett, in the study of law, also attending lectures at the Hastings Law College, a department of the State University, and was admitted to the bar in 1882. Learning of the activity and enterprise of the inhabitants of Seattle, he then came direct to this city of the Sound and there entered upon the practice of his profession. Without a friend in the city, he made the acquaintance of J.T. Ronald, the present Mayor of Seattle; a copartnership was formed between them and continued about one year. After the firm dissolved, Mr. Wood pursued a general practice and also engaged in court reporting, having acquired short-hand while in San Francisco. In 1884 he was elected Probate Judge of King county, and served two years. He then formed a partnership with A.U. Bowman, and engaged in court reporting and stenographic work up to 1887, when he sold out and devoted his time to real-estate enterprises. Mr. Wood first engaged in the real-estate business in 1883, by investing his modest savings in suburban property and turning it as opportunity offered. Thus he continued in small operations up to 1887, when the increasing population and activity in real estate caused him to give his entire attention to that class of business. He also formed a copartnership with Eben S. Osborne in the abstract business, giving personal attention thereto until 1889, when he sold out to enter actively into real-estate speculations. Having purchased 600 acres in the vicinity of Green Lake, his entire attention was given to the developing of that suburb. Transportation being an essential feature, he became associated with Dr. E.C. Kilbourne, and organized the Green Lake Electric Railway to connect with the Consolidated Electric Line at Fremont. Mr. Wood was made president of the company, and four and a half miles of track were laid through the tract and nearly around the Green Lake. The line was then put into operation and the same year he platted Wood's Green Lake Park Addition, Wood's South Shore Addition, and Wood's South Division of Green Lake, adding in 1890, the Woodlawn Addition to Green Lake; and in 1892, the Green Lake Home Addition. To facilitate building and development, he organized in April, 1891, the Green Lake Home Building & Guarantee Company, with a capital of $300,000. Of this company he is president and manager. This company proposes to erect homes on the installment plan and negotiate all class of securities received in exchange. Mr. Wood was married in Napa City, California, in 1883, to Miss Emma Wallingford, a daughter of Captain J.N. Wallingford, a native of Minnesota. Two children were born of this union, and both are now deceased. In 1889, after Washington was admitted to Statehood, Mr. Wood was the nominee of the Republican party for State Senator, and was duly elected under the enabling act, thus serving but one year. He is now one of the Regents of the University of Washington. He is a member of the Plymouth Congregational Church, Superintendent of the Sunday-school, and takes an active interest in church work, as well as all that pertains to the development of Seattle, the Queen City of the Northwest." Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in January 2004 by Jeffrey L. Elmer * * * * Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individual featured in the biographies.