The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 1088 

JAMES F. WOOD.

James F. Wood, a well known orchardist of Yakima county, has at various times
been connected with other business interests and public duties, and in every
relation of life his course has been such as to commend him to the confidence
and good will of those with whom he has been associated. 

Washington claims him as a native son and his life record is typical of the
progressive spirit of the northwest. He was born in Goldendale, Washington, June
5, 1879, a son of John H. and Emma B. (Berrian) Wood, the former a native of
Illinois and a son of Francis Wood, who brought his family across the plains in
1860. They journeyed first to California and afterward made their way northward
to The Dalles, in Oregon, where John H. Wood was reared to manhood. The
grandfather continued his residence in Oregon throughout his remaining days,
passing away at La Grande. At one time his son, John H. Wood, drove a stage
between The Dalles and Goldendale, being thus engaged in young manhood. Later he
took up his abode at Goldendale but afterward became a Methodist minister and
engaged in preaching throughout the west. He was at one time pastor of the
Methodist Episcopal church at Yakima, serving in that connection from 1898
until 1902, when he went to Oregon City, Oregon, where he spent two years. He
was afterward at Kennewick, Washington, where he had a ranch, and upon that
place he passed away in September, 1914. He had long survived his wife, whose
death occurred at The Dalles, Oregon, in 1897. She was a daughter of George
Berrian, one of the early pioneers of the state, Who on removing to the
northwest had settled at Columbus, Washington.

James F. Wood acquired a public school education, supplemented by a business
college course. He started out in the business world as a clerk in a general
merchandise store at The Dalles, where he remained for six years, and
subsequently he became a bookkeeper. The year 1898 witnessed his arrival in
Yakima, after which he was employed for two years in the county treasurer's
office. He afterward engaged in the insurance business and at a subsequent
period entered the employ of the firm of Wyman & Fraser, implement dealers at
Yakima. He was next at Prosser, Washington, and later he purchased a half
interest in the Green Mercantile Company at Yakima, continuing one of the
factors in the management and conduct of that business until 1905, when he sold
out. In the same year he bought ten acres of land two and a half miles south of
Yakima and this he planted to fruit trees and has since greatly improved his
orchard. In January, 1908, he became deputy county treasurer, which position he
capably filled for four years. He was afterward elected to the office of county
treasurer in recognition of his previous faithful service and continued in that
capacity for two terms, proving a most able custodian of the public funds. While
thus serving he lived upon his ranch, on which he still makes his home, and his
place is largely planted to apples and pears. His orchards produce fine fruit
and the annual sale of his crops brings him a substantial measure of success.

On the 8th of April, 1902, Mr. Wood was married to Miss Ada M. Putnam, who was
born in Missouri and is a daughter of A. E. Putnam, of Maysville, that state.
They have an adopted daughter, Frances Elizabeth.

Mr. Wood belongs to the Yakima County Horticultural union, of which he served
for a short time as treasurer. He is also connected with the Knights of Pythias,
with the Royal Arcanum and with the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. His
political endorsement is given to the republican party, and his religious faith
is indicated by his membership in the First Methodist Episcopal church. Along
various lines of activity he has directed his efforts and has ever been loyal to
all those things entrusted to his care.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in January 2008 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.