WOOD, John Ensign

Maryland Militia,

U. S. Marker Mt. Carmel, Illinois Daily Republican Register, July 5, 1929

Tribute was paid yesterday to John Wood, Revolutionary war hero, when a monument at his grave in the old Wood Cemetery was unveiled at services held under the auspices of the local Daughters of the American Revolution chapter. The services drew a large attendance. Among those attending were many descendants of this pioneer who founded the Wood settlement in Friendsville precinct and established Fort Wood in the early days of the county for protection of the settlers against Indians. The program proper began at 10 o'clock with a bugle call and salute to the flag, followed by the D.A.R. ritual. The unveiling of the monument was in charge of the boy scouts. Hon. Lewis Jackman of Vincennes gave an interesting review of early history of the territory and especially of John Wood, the pioneer and soldier, and the Wood family. Hon. William A. McCauley of Olney, always an interesting and forceful speaker, was present for a patriotic address, and he gave an excellent one. The program ended with salute and taps. Legion members and U.S.W.V. members participated. The cemetery where the ceremony was held is about a half mile off the main highway on the Paul Newkirk farm on the Friendsville road north of Mount Carmel. The site of the burying ground is in a grove adjacent to a little creek bottoms, and on one side of the cemetery is depression where once the highway ran, its route still plainly visible. The body of Mr. Wood rests near the northeast corner of the burial plot. Many of the old ones are marked by sandstone markers. Chairs had been arranged for the crowd and the ceremony was held within the shady old cemetery.

History recounts that John Wood was an ensign in the Maryland militia. Following the Revolutionary war, he went to Warren County, Kentucky, from where he migrated to what later became Wabash County, Illinois, in the spring of 1809 and there established the Wood settlement and Wood fort. The site of the old fort, between the highway and the Newkirk home was marked yesterday with a flag. This site was perhaps a quarter of a mile from the cemetery. It is also recorded in history that John Wood brought from Kentucky the first apple trees to be planted in Wabash County, thus establishing the famous Wood apple which for generations was a well known fruit in this territory.

HIS STONE HAS U.S. MARKER (ENSIGN MARYLAND MILITIA). JOHN WOOD WAS THE SON OF JOSEPH WOOD AND HIS WIFE CHATHERINE JULIAN.

Mr. Wood was born in 1754 and died in 1834.

Woods Cemetery
Friendsville
Wabash County
Illinois

John Wood, Revolutionary War Hero

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