Wood, James, 1839-1925.

James Wood was born on November 12, 1839 to Stephen and Phoebe (Underhill) Wood on a farm just north of Mt. Kisco, New York. He was the youngest of seven children, and “started his early religious training with his parents at Mt. Kisco.” (American Bible Society (ABS)). His formal education included the local Bedford Academy, the Westtown School of Pennsylvania (1850-1851) and Haverford College (1853-1857). While at Haverford College, Wood was the editor of the “Collegian,” and president of the Henry Society. Listed as a graduate of 1858, Wood also received an honorary master’s degree in 1883 after “he gave an illuminating course of historical lectures at Haverford College,” (Jones). James Wood married Emily Hollingsworth Morris on June 6 (or possibly 7), 1866 and fathered three children: Ellen M., Carolena M. and Levi Hollingsworth. After graduating from Haverford College, Wood’s activities diversified. According to the American Bible Society’s biography of Wood, he was “interested in education, philanthropy, in the various branches of agriculture, in archaeology, history, Indian lore, anthropology, science, in prison reform and above all, in the Bible and religion,” (ABS, 2). Professionally, Wood served as President of the Genesee Salt Company in Piffard, New York. Yet he was also committed to agricultural work; becoming one of the first American breeders of Ayrshire cattle and Hampshire Down sheep, as well serving as the president of the Bedford Farmers’ Club. He also served on the Board of Managers of Haverford College from 1885 to 1925 and as a trustee of Bryn Mawr College starting in 1902, and eventually becoming a board chairman from 1914 to 1918.

His interest in prison reform can be seen in his involvement in founding the New York State Reformatory for Women at Bedford, serving as president of the Board of Managers from 1900 to 1916; as a member of the Executive Committee of the New York Prison Association; and as the president of Westchester Temporary Home for Destitute Children. Wood was known as “a leader in prison reform and methods of correction.” (ABS, p. 2). Politically, Wood unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 1886, and acted as the town supervisor of Bedford, New York from 1862 to 1863.

Among Wood’s many interests, the Bible and religion were extremely important to him. According to the American Bible Society, he was “one of the outstanding leaders and a spokesman of his own church, the Society of Friends,” (ABS, page 6). From 1855 to 1925, Wood served in many capacities with several Quaker organizations. His roles include serving as the presiding clerk of the New York Yearly Meeting of Friends, the president of the General Conference of Friends in 1887, chairman of the Westchester County Bible Society from 1893 to 1925, vice president of the American Bible Society from 1903 to 1911, the 14th President of the American Bible Society from 1911 to 1919, and president Emeritus of the American Bible Society from 1919 to 1925. Additionally, in 1893, Wood was asked to present the “views and ideals of the Society of Friends at the Congress of Religions held at the Columbian Exhibition in Chicago.” (ABS) He also wrote a pamphlet entitled “The Distinguished Doctrines of the Religious Society of Friends,” in 1898. In 1902, Wood and his daughter Carolena served as delegates to the 4th Quinquennial Conference of the Society of Friends in Indianapolis.

Wood died on December 19, 1925 in Mt. Kisco, New York. According to the American Bible Society, James Wood’s grandson, (also named James Wood), followed his grandfather by graduating from Haverford College in 1950, serving as a trustee of Bryn Mawr College, and as President of the American Bible Society from 1984 to 1989. Wood is remembered as someone “who served his church on a national and world level as well as in his own community,” (ABS, p. 14).

Bibliography:

American Bible History. http://www.americanbiblehistory.com/james_wood.html (accessed July 7, 2010).

American Bible Society Remembrance of James Wood, undated (Box 1).

Jones, Rufus M. "James Wood," The American Friend, Vol. XIII, No. 53, December 25, 1925.

From the guide to the James Wood papers, Bulk, 1865-1921, 1865-1964, (Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections)