The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-06-18
Samuel l.. Wood.

Samuel L. Wood, the subject of
this sketch was the son of James
and Susan Wood and was born at
Elkton, Todd county, Kentucky, on
Dec. 10Th, 1888, and died at his
home in Davis City, Iowa, in the
morning of June II, 1914, aged Is
years, 5 months and 10 days.
While small boy he removed with
his parents to Chillicothe, Mo-, and
later when young man he removed
to Princeton, Mo-, where on August
9th, 1860 he was united in marriage
to Rachel S. Higgins.
TO this union was born six chill
dren, of whom three survive him,
namely: Mrs. Rose Parnell of Chi
cago, Ill.,, Mrs. Jennie Severe, of Da-
Wis City, Iowa, and VIM. M. Wood of
Peoria, III.
On April Sth, 1889, his wife, Ra-
chel, passed away.
On April 18th, 1890, he was unit
ed in marriage to Mrs. Mary A. Ar
mold of Davis City, Iowa, who sur
wives him.
He was veteran of the Civil War,
having enlisted at Modena, Mercer
county, Mo-, in 1861, in Co. C, of the
35th Mo. Vol. Inf, and after SER
vice of about four years he was mus
tered out at Helena, Arkansas, in
1866 and Of him it is said that he
was brave and true soldier. After
the close of the Civil War he return
ed to his family and engaged in civil
life.
Some years later he removed with
his family to Garden Grove, Iowa,
and lived there for several years,
and where his first wife died. Later
he moved to Davis City, Iowa, about
1891, and where he has since re-
sided, and been engaged in the real
estate and insurance business, and
although old age was creeping on
him, he had worked up quite nice
little business.
In earlier lif Mr.. Wood united
with the Presbyterian church, but
while living at Garden Grove, he
withdrew by letter and that he and
his wife might both worship together,
he united with the Methodist Episco-
pal church where he maintained his
membership until death, and was a
contributor to its finances as far as
his ability would permit him to do.
For many years he has been a
member of the craft of Ancient
Free and Accepted Masons, and had
attained to the Royal Arch degree,
and he tried to live and practice the
teaching of the order, as we'll as the
life of a christian, and while perhaps
ne had his faults-and who of us
have nOne-he was a generous, kind
courteous neighbor, gentleman and
brother, and it always seemed to be
a pleasure for him to do a kind act,
or neighborly deed for those he
could, and we have yet to hear the
first person say they ever heard S. l..
Wood speak disrespectfully, or say a
harmful thing of his neighbors, and
if he could not say good thing about
them, he kept a closed mouth.
For several years he has been a
sufferer from Bright's disease, and
for the past two or three months,
has suffered intensely, but in all of
his suffering he bore it with patience
and fOrtitude, never grumbling, or
complaining. 1t was the privilege of
the writer to visit. him several differ
ent times after he got so bad that he
could not go to his Office, and on
cOnversing with him in regard to the
future, he said that he had made his
peace with his God, and was ready
and willing to go to the great be-
yond at anytime the Heavenly Faith
er would call him, which to his be-
reaved family and friends is a great
consolation.
He retained his full faculties until
a very short time before the breath
left him, although suffering intense
ly, no words of complaint fell from
his lips, and when approached at diff
ferent times by the now bereaved
wife she found him in prayer, to his
God.
Thus ends the life of another of
our citizens, brave patriot, and
soldier in time of his cOuntry's need,
a kind father and husband, and a
good and true neighbor.
May God bless and comfort the be-
reaved ones and help them to SO live
that when they shall be called hence,
that like Father Wood, they too may
be able to say they have made peace
with their God, and are ready to go
to be forever with Him.
The funeral services were held
Sunday at 1890 p. m. in the Metho-
dist church of Davis City. The music
was by the church choir and the SER
mon preached by Rev. Guy j. Fan
sher, pastor of the Leon NJ E. church
after which the Masonic lodge of Da-
Wis City gave their impressive fun
eral ceremony. The body was taken
on the afternoon passenger train to
Garden Grove where the interment
was in charge of five members from
the Davis City order and the Ma
sonic order of Garden Grove.
The Masons of Davis City accom-
panying the remains to Garden Grove
were J. NJ Howell, H. L. McClaran.
p. E. Shirley, A. F. Radnich, G. P.
Campbell and w. F. Severe.
G. P. Campbell.
Earl Matthias Jennings.
Earl Matthias Jennings, eldest son