Nelson Wood was born on February 27, 1834 in Wabash County, Illinois and died on April 28, 1917 in Wabash County, Illinois, the son of John Jr. and Katherine (Bratton) Wood. On April 11, 1858, in Wabash County, Illinois, he married first Sarah Ann Ulm, the daughter of William and Esther M. Ulm. Sarah was born on August 2, 1841 and died on February 15, 1878. Nelson and Sarah had the following children: Bertha (1859-1872) , Rosella 'Rosa' (1860-?) m Glenn Goddard-, Catherine 'Katy' (1864-1894) m 1890 Lewis Ferris McGregor (1864-1926); Victor L. (1866-1886); Austin A (1868-?); John Henry (1869-1937) m Rose May Hammaker (1873-1962); Florence Mae (1871-1957) m Robert D. Brines (1872-1918); Sarah Melissa (December 26, 1873-March 15, 1875); and Lenora (January 29, 1876-June 25, 1883 age 7y 4m 27d). On December 1, 1878 in Wabash County, Illinois, Nelson married Mary Emery Ulm, the daughter of William and Sarah (Campbell) Ulm. Mary was born on September 24, 1859 and died on September 11, 1907. Nelson and Mary had the following children: William N. (November 30, 1879-December 12, 1879); Infant son (December 22, 1880-December 22, 1880); Elbern Arthur (1883-1951) m Calla Elizabeth Weisenberger (1886-1966); Judah L. (1885-1966) m Glen Couch (1884-1971); Arva S. (1887-1903); Estes Ira (1894-1972). Nelson, Sarah and Mary are all buried in the Lick Prairie Cemetery, Wabash County, Illinois

The following information was provided by Contributor 49820077

The Wood family is one of the oldest in Wabash County, Ill., having been represented there since 1809. Nelson Wood, of Lick Prairie Precinct,, is a native of the county, born in Friendsville Precinct, February 27, 1834, a son of John and Catherine (Bratton) Wood, natives of Kentucky and Tennessee, respectively. The father of John, also named John Wood, was born in England and came to the United States in 1770, becoming an officer in the Revolutionary War. He married a Miss Ogle in Maryland and afterward lived for a time in Virginia, moved from there to Kentucky, and in 1809 entered land in the southern part of Friendsville Precinct, Wabash County, mostly prairie. He erected a fort in which the family lived for protection from the Indians. He developed a fine farm and died on it about 1838. His son John married Catherine Bratton, whose father died in Tennessee, after which the widow brought her family of three daughters and two sons to Wabash County. The mother married John Wood, Sr., and her daughter married John Wood, Jr., the former spending her last days in Edwards County, Ill., where she died about 1875.

John and Elizabeth (Bratton) Wood were married in Wabash County and settled down on the part of the land his father owned, where both died, he on January 20, 1891, and she in the fall in 1978. Their children were, Livona, who was Mrs. Sidney Miller and later Mrs. Bradshaw, died in Mt. Carmel; Victor of Mt. Carmel Precinct; Nelson; Clark and a daughter (twins), the former who died in infancy, and the latter in Wabash County in August, 1908; Judy, Mrs. James Campbell of Mt. Carmel Precinct; John R., killed in Mt. Carmel, in 1906; Catherine, Mrs. John Leek, of Wabash Precinct; Niles, died in the Civil War; William, died in Mt. Carmel Precinct; and Stephen, of Mt. Carmel.

Nelson Wood attended the Shadle District School and received the same education as was given to most farmers' sons in the vicinity at that time. He remained at home until his marriage, April 11, 1858, to Sarah Ann Ulm, who was born in Clay County, Ill., daughter of William Ulm. In September, 1861, Mr. Wood enlisted in Company I, Thirty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, being mustered in at Springfield, Ill., and assigned to the Western Army, under General Grant. He participated in the Battle of Shiloh, April 6 and 7, 1862, was afterward taken ill and as a consequence was discharged for disability, November 22, 1862. He made a good record as a soldier and acquitted himself creditably in the line of his duty to his country. Returning home after the war he resumed farming, and after his marriage, located on a farm of 160 acres in Lick Prairie Precinct, upon which were fifteen acres of cleared land with an old log house standing on it, where the family made their home about 10 years. He erected a good frame house about 1868, and in 1883 erected a new frame dwelling with modern conveniences, to which he added in 1893, making a fine home. He has developed a fine farm, all of which he has under cultivation except twenty acres of timber land.

Mr. Wood's wife died on February 15, 1878, and he married (second), December 1, 1878, Mary E. Ulm, a half sister of his first wife, whose mother was Sarah (Campbell) Ulm, of Tennessee. By his first marriage Mr. Wood had nine children, namely, Bertha, born February 6, 1859, died March 18, 1872; Rosella, born September 12, 1860, married Glenn Goddard, and died; Catherine, born December 21, 1864, married Lewis McGregor, is now deceased, Victor, born August 6, 1866, died December 15, 1886; Austin A., born January 3, 1868, resides in Eugene, Ore.; John H., born May 4, 1869, resides in Wabash County; Florence Mae, born January 7, 1871, married Robert D. Brines, of Lick Prairie Precinct; Sarah Melissa, born December 31, 1873, died March 17, 1875; Lenora, born January 29, 1876, died June 25, 1883. By his second marriage, Mr. Wood had children, as follows: William M., born November 29, 1879, died December 12, 1879; Elbern A., born December 22, 1883, resides with his parents; Judy L., born February 6, 1885, married Glenn Couch, of Mt. Carmel; Arva V., born May 29, 1887, and died October 5, 1903; Estes I., born May 22, 1894, resides with parents.

Mr. Wood is a member of the Christian Church, of which he has been a Deacon for many years. In politics he is a Republican and has served a few terms as School Director. Mr. Wood is identified with the best interests of his community, and is a worthy representative of his family, which has been highly respected in Wabash County for more than a hundred yea