William J. Wood

One of the leading lawyers of the younger generation in the section of Indiana of which this history treats is William J. Wood, formerly prosecuting attorney of Boone county and who is enjoying an extensive practice in Lebanon, who, since retiring from office has built up an extensive clientele, being frequently retained in important cases in courts remote from his place of residence. No one knows better than he the necessity of thorough preparation for the trial of cases, and no one more industriously applies himself to meet the issues than he, though, being a true son of old Virginia, he is naturally of an ardent temperament, yet is always master of himself in the trial of cases and is rarely not at his best, being uniformly courteous and deferential to the court, and kind and forbearing to his adversaries. As a speaker he is direct, logical and forcible, and not infrequently truly eloquent. Owing to the pronounced success he has achieved in his chosen vocation so early in life, we predict for him a future replete with greater and higher honors than he yet has known.

William J. Wood was born November 10, 1882, in Scott county, Virginia. He is a scion of a fine old Southern family, and a son of Henry K. and Mary E. (Sutton) Wood, who spent their earlier years in Scott county, Virginia, from which they removed to Boone county, Indiana, in April, 1900, locating on a farm in Center township, east of Lebanon, and there became very comfortably established, but the elder Wood was destined not to long enjoy his new home, for he met his death in the Lincoln hotel fire in Chicago in December, 1902. The mother of our subject is now making her home in Lebanon.

William J. Wood was reared on the farm. He received his early education at Collingwood Academy, Fugate's Hill, Virginia, and also in the high school at Lebanon, Indiana, from which he was graduated in 1902, after which he attended Purdue University, LaFayette, Indiana, for two years. He then entered the law department of the University of Virginia, where he made an excellent record and from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1910. He had been admitted to the Boone county bar in June, 1909. He at once made an impression on the people of this county and before he received his diploma from the law school he was nominated by the Democrats for prosecuting attorney of Boone county, and was accordingly elected in November, 1910. He served a term of two years, until January 1, 1913. in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of his constituents, discharging his every duty with a fidelity, courage and tact which stamped him as a youth of no mean calibre [sic] and fortitude. He was the first prosecutor to occupy the magnificent new court-house. He had charge of the first grand jury, conducted the first case before the court and the first case before a jury in the new building, and when he was elected enjoyed the distinction of being the youngest prosecuting attorney in the state of Indiana, but he managed its affairs like a veteran of the bar and enforced law and order in the county without prejudice or bias. Since retiring from office he has continued in the practice of his profession alone, with offices near the court-house, over Morgan's shoe store. He is building up a rapidly growing business, and has been admitted to practice in all the state and federal courts, and is a member of the county bar association. Fraternally, he belongs to Boone Lodge, No. 9. Masonic Order, the Royal Arch Masons, Lebanon Commandery Knights Templar and the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Murat Temple, Indianapolis. He also belongs to Lebanon Lodge No. 635. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is esteemed lecturing knight, and has been secretary of the lodge. He is prominent and active in fraternal circles.

Politically, Mr. Wood is a faithful Democrat and is active in the ranks. He is secretary of the Democratic City Committee. Religiously, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has remained unmarried and lives with his mother at 924 North Lebanon street. He finds time, although very busy with his large practice, to superintend the valuable family farm four and one-half miles east of Lebanon, which is a well-improved and productive farm, on which stands a substantial set of buildings. Mr. Wood has two sisters, Cora T., now the wife of W. Forest Duff, a farmer of Center township, and T. Jane Wood, who is at home. She is a competent teacher of art in the schools of Waynetown, Montgomery county, Indiana, and is a young lady of talent.

The Wood family is of English ancestry, and the first emigrant of the family came to Virginia, locating in the mountains, before the Revolutionary war, in which struggle members of the family participated, and had many thrilling experiences and conflicts with the Indians. The first land holdings of the family in Scott and Washington counties, Virginia, still remain in possession of the family, being handed down after the English fashion from generation to generation. Our subject, his mother and sisters have made hosts of friends since taking up their residence in Lebanon and are esteemed for their Southern hospitality and culture.

Source Citation: Boone County Biographies [database online] Boone County INGenWeb. 2008. <http://www.rootsweb.com/~inboone> Original data: Hon. L. M. Crist. "History of Boone County, Indiana : With biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of old families." Indianapolis, Ind.: A. W. Bowen, 1914. pp 625-627.

Transcribed by: T. Stover - October 6, 2008