Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers. "An Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties") Spokane, WA: Western Historical Publishing Co., 1905. p. 794. W. T. WOOD Without doubt the subject of this article is to be classed as one of the most successful pioneers of central Oregon. While he has not been within the precincts of the state so long as some, still he is one of the pathfinders of Crook county and his labors have resulted in very much good for the development of the country. To give a detailed account of his career would occupy more space than we are permitted to use but a succinct statement of the same would be very interesting and instructive to all. W. T. Wood was born in Illinois, on December 29, 1830, the son of Milo and Elizabeth Ann (Telford) Wood, natives of North Carolina and Tennessee respectively. The father was born in 1795. He was a veteran of the War of 1812 and died in Illinois, in 1870. The mother was born in 1795 and died in Illinois, in 1875. Our subject completed his education in the Presbyterian school at Jacksonville, Illinois, and remained on the farm with his father until eighteen years of age. Then the family came to Petersburg, Illinois, where he continued until twenty-three years of age. Then he went to Nebraska, where he was variously engaged for a time. Mr. Wood distinctly remembers being on the grounds now occupied by the great city of Omaha when the first platting was done and he was offered a plat of sixty lots for the horse he was riding but refused to make the trade. These lots now are in the heart of the city. He owned a ranch at that time of one section of land on the Platte river, where he was engaged in farming. He also, later, freighted from Omaha to Denver. During that time the buffalo were very plentiful on the plains and also it was when William F. Cody was riding the pony express and gained notoriety and the soubriquet of "Buffalo Bill" by shooting a large number of these roamers of the plains. In 1863, our subject went to California and engaged in farming for nine years. It was 1872, when he landed in the Willamette valley, where he was occupied for right years. Then he came to his present location, which is Ashwood. This was a very fine country so Mr. Wood was induced to take up stock raising. He handled both cattle and sheep and his farm home is the place where Ashwood now stands. While he was engaged in the sheep industry, he handled bands of about six thousand all the time and was very successful in the business. About 1884, while Mr. Wood was digging a well, he discovered iron sulphate which led him to make further search and he soon discovered other unmistakable evidences of an ore body. He at once went to work to organize a company to develop the properties and was one of the leading spirits in opening the Ashwood mines. He is largely interested in that at the present time, owning a heavy amount of stock in two companies. Mr. Wood is still handling stock and doing general farming in addition to his mining interests, and has disposed of his sheep, confining his operations to cattle. He is well known throughout the country and is esteemed as a man of ability and integrity. In 1861, while in Nebraska, Mr. Wood married Martha T. Rush, who was born in Ohio, on October 27, 1847. Her father, Isaac Rush, was a sheepman in Ohio and Nebraska. To this union, three children have been born, James, Milo and Lee. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in November 2011 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.