Samuel Wood

  Research Notes:

Memoir of Samuel Wood

Nathan Wood, the father of the subject of this memoir, was born in Chester County, Pa., in 1781. His father moved from that county to Frederick County, Maryland, when Nathan was young. Soon after Nathan grew to manhood he married Miss Margaret Waters. The issue of this marriage was three sons and two daughters--Samuel, Susan, Joel, Sarah and Thomas. In 1814 Nathan Wood emigrated with his family to Jefferson county, Ohio. He commenced farming on McIntire creek, in Smithfield township adjoining and east of the village of Smithfield. He remained on this farm until the death of his wife, which occurred in the beginning of the year 1851. After her death he lived with his son Samuel, where he died March 23, 1851, aged 70 years.
Samuel, eldest son of Nathan Wood, was born on Pipe creek, Frederick county, Maryland, February 19, 1802. While a youth he imbibed a passion for the cultivation of fruits, which resulted in being his profession through his life. At the age of twelve years his father brought him to with the family to Ohio, and two years thereafter (in 1816) he engaged in the nursery business on a small scale, on his father's farm in Smithfield. In the summer season, in addition to working on the farm for his father, he gave some attention to his little nursery, which increased in dimensions every year. In the winter season he went to school a little, and, although his education was a limited one, it was sufficient to enable him to manage his business with considerable ability. On the 26th of April, 1826, he was joined in marriage to Miss Lucy Lark, of Smithfield, Ohio. To them were born two sons and five daughters--Anna Maria, Nathan L., Elizabeth, Margaret, Jane, Edwin and Mary E.
Soon after his marriage he settled on the McIntire farm, in Wells township, and that year transferred all his nursery stock to that place. His nursery now increased rapidly and became his principal business. From ten or twelve kinds of apples which he first cultivated the number increased to over one hundred, including apples, peaches, plums and pears. After the trees from his nursery commenced bearing the demand for them exceed his supply. This increased his energy, and he extended his nursery. In a few more years his supply exceed his home demand, and he sought a market for the surplus trees by shipping them down the Ohio river. The writer of this sketch became personally acquainted with Samuel Wood fifty years ago, and in 1834 was instructed by him in all various modes then practiced in propagating fruit trees. Although it is over forty years since they occurred, my mind is vividly carried back to the pleasant strolls I had with him through his orchard, feasting on his choice mellow apples, tempting peaches and luscious plums, and as I ate of them he seemed to enjoy the fruit with the same relish as myself. My last visit to his orchard and nursery was in the fall of 1838, when I purchased the trees for my first orchard in Holmes County. After his son Nathan L. grew to manhood the father again enlarged his nursery, and, taking the son into partnership, they engaged (in addition to the cultivation of fruit trees) in the production of ornamental trees and small fruits. In the fall of 1874, after a period of forty-eight years spent on the farm and nursery, his children all being married and left home, and in consequence of feeble health and declining years, he with his beloved companion, left the dear old homestead and went to reside with their son-in-law, Samuel Cope, the son, Nathan L. succeeding his father in the nursery business.
As a pioneer nurseryman of Ohio, Samuel Wood stood in the front rank laboring assiduously to promote the interests of pomology. In the effort to establish, in 1839, a Fruit-Growers' Association for Eastern Ohio, he took a conspicuous part. He was in attendance at the Fruit-Growers' meeting at Columbus, Ohio, in 1847, and aided in the organization of the Ohio Fruit-Growers' and Nurseryman's Association, which culminated in the present Ohio State Pomological Society concerning the early nurserymen of Ohio, and which is published entire in the report of that year. He was also noted for this effort in the introduction and dissemination of choice apples, among which we will mention the Notable Grimes' Golden Culp and many others.
At an early age he united with the Society of Friends, in which he retained an honorable standing until death. Zealous for the cause of the Redeemer and strict adherence to truth and justice, he exercised a benign influence over his associates. In person he was tall and straight and agreeable in his appearance. He was a man not much given to talking. His language was plain and well chosen, and he could express his ideas in few words. In November, 1876, he died at the residence of his son-in-law, Samuel Cope, aged 74 years. His remains are interred in the Friends' cemetery at Smithfield, Ohio.

From County and Family Histories: Ohio, 1780-1850
Belmont, Jefferson Counties Page 446

Samuel married Lucy L. Lark, daughter of Tenison Lark and Lucy Unknown, on 26 Apr 1826 in Plymouth - Smithfield Mm, Jefferson, Ohio.¹ (Lucy L. Lark was born about 1807 in Virginia, USA and died after 1880.)