The Tucson citizen., 1902-10-13
PI0NEER DIES
Colonel Wood, a Veteran OF
the V6rv Earliest DdgS,
Passes HWdy
Fl Life OF Adventure and FideEitu to
Friendship and Principle Comes
TO an End

Robert Clifton Wood died at his home
on Fifth avenue at o'clock YESTERDAY
morning and was buried this afternoon.
When his light went out a splendid
specimen OF the American pioneer van.
lsheds Soldier, scout, adventurer, states.
man, partlzan, friend were all com bined
in Col. Wood. He was of the school
that is rapidly passing away, and the
deeds that were common place in his
life will be the standard of romance in
the future.
Robert Clifton Wood was born ia Vir-
ginia on the goth of February, 1928. He
sprung from fine old colonial stock who
never missed fair, fight or horse.
race. When he wss a mere boy he was
taken by his parents to that promised
land of all Nirginians who are good
Missouri. The family settled in Saline
county and found no difficulty in feeling
at home, as nearly all Saline county
people were transplanted from either
Virginia or Kentucky.
Col. Wood was of an adventurous dis
position and in the early spring of 1S45
started for the Southwest. He passed
through Tucson that year on his way to
the coast when this pushing town was
sure enough Mexican pueblo. He final
ly settled in California and engaged in
all the Indian wars. 1t was in one OF
these engagements that he captured Kit
Careon, now a pretty we'll known In.
dian in southern Arizona. Kit Carson
is full-blood Modoc, and after a skir-
mish with that tribe in which the In.
dians were defeated, Col. Wood observed
the stirring of leaf on the ground a
! short distance from where he rested.
| He Investigated and found an Indian in.
fant not more than few weeks old.
stark naked. Col. Wood made him
suit of a gunny sack and adopted him.
That Indian is now the well-known Kit
Carson, who was named by Col. Wood
for his old friend, the famous pioneer.
Col. Wood was resident of Sacra.
mento, California, in 1860, when the
row between the states was on the verge
OF breaking out. He hastened back to
Missouri and promptly joined the Con.
federacy. he was made a captain of
company of confederates raised in Saline
county and after got permission from
the Confederate authorities to raise a
battalion. This was known as Woods
Battalion and has record of splendid
service in the the Confederate army.
He served under "Pap'' Price and his
command shared in all the glories OF
that well beloved leader. Associated
with him in the military service at the
same time were some of the best known
OF modern MissouriAns, Including Sena.
tor Vest, Charles Rainwater, the mer.
chant prince of St. Louis, James Ban
herman, former Mayor of St, Louis
Major Mellon, the great st. Louis real
estate operator, and Judge Phelps, now
on the United States district court
bench. He was the trusted friend and
often military adviser of Generals Stir
ling Price and John S. Marmaduka. un-
der both of whom he served at different
periods.
He surrendered, with his command.
at Shreveport, La, and soon after re-
turned to Missouri and went into busi-
ness at Kansas City.
During the war he married the dallah
ter of General Reynolds, one of .:Claib''
Jackson's famous brieadiers. She was
one OF the famous beauties of Missouri
and survives her husband.
Soon after the war Colonel Wood
moved to Arizona and settled at Pres
colt. From there he came to Tucson in
1873 and has resided here since. He
has always been public spirited, pro-
gresslve citizen, quiet in habits and
tastes and always enjoying the respect
and confidence of those who know him
and the story of bis life.
He leaves son, J p, better known as
Reb Wood, and four daughters. One of
the latter is the wife of Hon. B.tA.
Packard, who is well known to all Tue
son people as her husband is to all Ari-
zonr peopls
The funeral was held at the family
residence on North Fifth avenue this af-
ternoon at 2:30 o'clock, Rev. II. X.
Booth OF the Congregational church Off
ciating. The following friends of the
deceased acted as pail bearers James
Finn, Frank Murphy, N. w. Rernard,
Col. John B. Breathitt, j. G. Lindsay
and James Lislie.
Some very fne pieces nT 11Hany
glass. Mt low prices, at "a. G. Capo'a