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Capt. Francis J. Wood was born January 27, 1839, in this county once
Haywood, and is a son of William and Marina (Manning) Wood, both natives
of North Carolina. The father was born in 1812, and died in 1841, in this
State. The mother died in 1858. Our subject was the only child born to
his parents, and was reared in the country merchandise business by his
relatives. He continued in the merchandising business till the breaking
out of the war, when he assisted in organizing Company G, of the Twenty-seventh
Tennessee Infantry, and was elected first lieutenant of the same. At the
re-organization at Corinth, Miss., he was elected captain, and served in
that capacity till the close of the war. He was severely wounded in the
leg at Atlanta, Ga., and, on account of disability, was appointed provost-marshal
at Macon, Ga., where he was captured. He was paroled at the same place,
and was presented a mule by the Federal officers, on which to ride home.
For the mule he paid a ransom, viz.: the buttons off his uniform. When
he reached Chattanooga, Tenn., the commander of the post would not recognize
the parole and placed him in prison, but he was soon released. After returning
home he engaged in the merchandise business at Laynesville, Tenn., and
continued in that business almost exclusively till the date of the organization
of the county (1872), when he was elected county court clerk of the same.
At the end of six years he engaged in farming and in the merchandise business
at this place. He was married, February 7, 1871, to Fannie R. Gregory,
daughter of Richard and Jane Gregory. To this union were born six children:
Ora M., Carrie, Jessie, Katie, Lela and Francis J. Our subject is a good
citizen and a self-made man. He is a member of the Masonic order; is a
chapter member, and is now Master of the same. He is a Democrat, and a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Mrs. Wood is a member of
the Christian Church. Mr. Wood presided over the last Democratic convention
that was held in the Ninth Congressional District, September 8, 1886.
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