History of Hancock County Iowa United States of America

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Charles Roland Wood, is county attorney of Hancock county, and one of the well-known lawyers of northwestern Iowa. He is the son of Charles Roland Wood, a farmer and a native of New York, who was born in 1818 and died in 1883. His mother was formerly Mary A. Gilbert. She was born in Connecticut in 1821. His parents were residents of kendall county, Ill., from 1855 until the death of the father. His mother now resides in Iriquois county, Ill., at Onarga, with her youngest daughter, Mrs. Dr. I. F. Palmer.

C. R. Wood was born February 15, 1851, at Governeur, St. Lawrence county, N. Y. He was brought up on a farm, and obtained his earliest schooling in the district school. At the age of 18 he secured a position in a drug store, where he learned pharmacy, and continued in this employment until 1876, when he began the study of law in the office of L. D. Holmes, at Aledo, Ill. After two years thus spent, he passed the examination before the appellate court at Ottawa, Ill., and was admitted to the bar in June, 1878. He soon opened an office at Aledo, remaining there one and one-half years and enjoying a good practice. January 1, 1879, he removed to Rock Island, Ill., and formed a partnership with A. W. Atwood; but the firm was dissolved in March, 1880, and Mr. Wood then located at Williamsburg, Kan., where he practiced his profession about three years; moved to Tebo, Coffey county, Kan., remaining three years, then moved to Hutchinson, Kan., and from there to Corwith, Iowa. He came to Iowa January 2, 1891, settling at Corwith, his present home. Here he again established himself in the law business, and also purchased a half interest in the Corwith Crescent, the only newspaper published in the town, with A. A. Johnson as a partner. They continued to manage the paper together until April 1, 1892, when Mr. Wood became sole owner and editor. His law practice increased so rapidly, however, that he was obliged to dispose of the paper after a short time, and accordingly sold out February 3, 1893, in order to devote himself entirely to his profession as a lawyer. He has been appointed, and now holds the position of local attorney for the Iowa Central Railroad company.

Mr. Wood has always been a republican in politics. In 1894 he was elected county attorney of Hancock county, and is still holding the office with much credit to himself and his party, having been re-elected in 1896. He belongs to the Masonic order and to the A. O. U. W. In religion Mr. Wood is a Baptist.

Mr. Wood was married July 9, 1879, to Miss Linnie R. Houk, of Aledo, Ill. Three children have been born to them: Charles R., Jr., in 1880; Edgar H., in 1882, and Blanche, in 1884, who died in infancy.

During all of the time he has been engaged in other business, he has never entirely relinquished his law practice, but continued it in connection with his other business.

SOURCE: Biographies and Portraits of the Progressive Men of Iowa published by Conway and Shaw, Des Moines: 1899.

History of Hancock County Iowa

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