Biographical Sketches
DR. JOHN DAY WOOD
President of the Bank of Independence, Independence, Missouri, has occupied this position during the past 9 years and is recognized as one of the leading business men and progressive spirits of the place.
Dr. Wood was born in LaFayette county, Missouri, February 15, 1843, and is a representative of a family long resident in this country, their history being traced from Missouri back to Tennessee and thence to the “Old Dominion.” John Wood, the Doctor's grandfather, was born in Virginia. At an early period he emigrated to Tennessee, being among the pioneers of that state, and it was there that his son, Isaac H., the Doctor's father was born, reared and married, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary B. Satterfield. In 1838 the family left Sumner county, Tennessee, and moved over into Missouri, making settlement in the southern part of LaFayette county. Here Isaac H. Wood became a leading citizen. Prior to the civil war he served as state senator, representing the district in which LaFayette county was at that time embraced; and he also occupied other public positions. His death occurred October 28, 1877, on the farm where he settled on first coming to the state. His wife, Mrs. Mary B. Wood, survived him until January 26, 1894. They were the parents of 9 children, namely: Lamissa J., John D., Fannie E., Joseph, Madison G., Mary, Clara, James F. and Maggie L.
John D., was reared in his native county, and there received the principal part of his education. He attended Chapel Hill College, afterward was a student in the Missouri College, at Lexington, and for more than a year attended the sessions of Central College at Fayette, in Howard county. In 1862 he began the study of medicine under the instructions of Dr. A. B. Hereford, one of the prominent old physicians of LaFayette county, and in the fall of the following year entered the St. Louis Medical College, where he graduated in the spring of 1865. After his graduation he formed a partnership with Dr. Hereford, his former preceptor, and commenced the practice of his profession at Mount Hope, LaFayette county, where he remained one year. His next location was at Pink Hill, in Jackson county. Here he continued until 1877, when he relinquished the practice of medicine and went to Colorado. A year later we find him in Montana, where he spent the next 4 years in buying and shipping cattle to the eastern markets, and after this spent 2 years in Comanche county, Kansas. After these years of sojourn in various portions of the west, he came again to Jackson county, Missouri, and in the fall of 1886 organized the Bank of Independence, of which he has since been president.
Dr. Wood was married in 1872 to Miss Jennie F. Wood, who departed this life January 23, 1890. She was a daughter of the late Robert H. Wood, a native of Tennessee, and for some years a resident of Jackson county, Missouri, where he died. He was married the 2nd time in 1892 to Mrs. N. E. Vincent.
For 5 years of his residence in Independence, Dr. Wood has figured as a member of the city council, where his influence has been directed in a way that has been beneficial to the city. Indeed, he is a man of more than ordinary business enterprise and push, and as an advocate of public improvements can always be relied upon. For many years he has been a member of the southern Methodist church.
This page was last updated August 2, 2006.