The Wood family resided at 803 Whitaker Street in Savannah, Georgia. James Solomon Wood (1851-1927) was a cotton factor and commission merchant in Savannah, Georgia. He worked with the Davant and Wood Co. from 1880-1882 before branching out to become a partner with his brother, Charles Spurgeon Wood (1858-1941), in J. S. Wood and Bro from 1883-1914. From 1915-1919 and 1923-1925 he owned and operated the firm alone, while the interim years were spent as J. S. Wood and Son with his son Raiford James Wood as his partner. James Solomon Wood was married to Mary S. Irwin Wood (1866-1954). Mary was born in Washington County, Georgia and after her marriage to James Solomon Wood became an active and enthusiastic leader of local women's activities in Savannah, Georgia. She was an active participant of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Federation of Women's Clubs, the Huntingdon Club, the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the Woman's Exchange, and the American Legion Auxiliary. The couple had four children: Augusta Wood Dubose (1887-1962), Rosalind Wood Chapman (b. 1891), Jared Irwin Wood (b. 1894), and Raiford James Wood (1896-1974). Raiford J. Wood was born in 1896 in Savannah, Georgia and was an artist, historian, and World War I hero. He graduated from the Georgia Military Academy and the University of Georgia. During World War I, he was stationed in France where he earned both the Purple Heart and Silver Star Awards for his efforts and bravery. Following his service in the army, he became his father's partner in his cotton factor business, J. S. Wood and Son from 1919-1922. After this, he began his prize winning career as an artist and during the depression era he worked with the Historical Records Survey (WPA) in Georgia. Wood also directed the Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences from 1944-1956, was president of the Savannah Arts Association, and was a member of the Board of Curators at the Georgia Historical Society. He died on 24 February 1974 in Savannah, Georgia.
From the description of Wood family letters, 1886-1953. (Georgia Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 496024342
