The Portland daily press., 1875-02-27

Rufus Emerson Wood died at the Falmouth
Hotel yesterday at the age of 50. He was the
son of VIM. Wood, who came from Scarbor-
ough previous to the war of 1872, and in partner
ship with the late Rufus Emerson opened a
| store of goods on the corner of Middle and I'm
ion streets, where they continued until about
1920, when the firm of Emerson & Wood was
dissolved and Mr.. Wood became ship owner,
having his counting house at No. 10 Central
wharf. He lost his life by falling into the hold
of one of his vessels in 1888. Mr.. Wood, the
father, married Susan Simonton, of the old
Simonton's Core family, of Scotch.Irish Pres
byterians They had four children; DIR. VIM.
Wood, the well known physician and natural
list, who was born in Scarborough; Capt. Math-
ew SimontoE Wood, who died while in COM
mand of a ship in 1920; daughter now dead;
and the subject of this notice, who was born in
1918. Soon after leaving school. he became a
clerk for the old ship chandlery firm of Jones
& Hammond at the head Of Long wharf, with
whom he remained until the death OF bis father
when he took charge Of his mercantile bust
ness, employing the vessels in the West India
and freghting trade. This he continued sue
cessfulIy until his death, at the old counting
room.
Mr.. Wood was for many years director in
the Merchants National Bark, the Portland
Gas Company, the Rolling Mills, and was also
Treasurer of the Westbrook Manufacturing
Company, who have their cotton mills at Sac
carappa He held stock in many other institu-
tions and took an interest in every Portland en-
terprise.
Mr.. Wood served as Alderman from ward
in 1853, under Mayor Cahoon, and was re-elect-
ed in 1854 and again in 1856 j. L. McCobb,
Mayor. In 1857 he was again elected on the
same ticket with William Willis as Mayor.
Most of this time he was on the Committee on
Streets To the arduous labor of that position
he gave much time, and looked after the streets
with the same care and zeal as he did to his
own private affairs, and was never accused OF
favoring private interest to the injury of that
of the city. Mr. Wood was several times solic-
tied to accept the nomination for the mayoralty
but always declined. He was bachelor and
boarded for 81 years at the United States Hotel,
until the fire in that house three years ago:
when he went to the Falmouth Hotel.
Mr. Woods sickness was Of short duration.
He was out on Sunday last, and on that even
ing was seized with violent chills, and was Wis
tied by his partner who tried in vain to have
him consent to be removed to his residence. His
disease soon assumed the form Of acute rheu-
matism, complicated with congestion of the
liver and extreme nervous prostration, from
which he suffered intensely on Monday and
Tuesday. On Thursday DR.. Wood called to
his assistance Dr. Green. Both gentlemen
exerted all their skill without effect, and both
were in attendance at the time of his death,
which took place at 9 o'clock a. m.
Among business men and in private life his
reputation was unimpeachable. His unassum-
ing manner and uniform courtesy endeared
him to all his associates. We shall sadly miss
his pleasant face and kindly greeting.
w a.