New Britain herald., 1926-02-03
VOOD'S CAREER
 ROMANTIC ONE
Rose From Poor Boy to Man
 OI Wealth

Nrw Bedford N.ssu Feb. 3 tp,-- Lifelong Gcqnatnlances Of William M. Wood in this ci'y which ha loved as Ais home today recalled the romance ol his career which ended yesterday when the one-timr giant of the American woolen industry commit led suicide nt naytona, Fla. The 'on Of poor immigrant parents. who rose to he position of president ol lGc American Wool"n company fur niyhed material for numerous ancc. Gotns revealing uu intensely human side 70 hts character.
 Mouha's Vineyard WGS his birth place. hut New Bedford gave him his start in his beloved textile indus try, and Wood he'd d strong aftoc- ton for the city. He held his first position in that Industry in the old Merchants and Mcchnics bank build ing here, and in sentimental rcrog- milton ot the fact he purchased the building in June, l9l7. Men who wcr" associated with him said he looked upon the old structure as his real hpiaco--'he starting point Of his life in ,he world of affairs. , Qli records were searched today 70 trace the fairy tale of Woods m'tgorie rt.c 10 wealth. Tine little olI farmhouse nj EdEartown. on : @lartha's Vineyard. is pointed out 1 yh NH bic, hr.%gv, hut after he left , the island at tlr GSc 0. SIX. his as 'Jclajts said. Wood betrayed little interest in the spot His actual i career they said, was 10 him inclu1- eI between the dates of his start as { a cash boy in New Bedford at $l@5 q week. and his advent 70 power and alflucnco as q dominating figure in his chosen industry.
 Son of Immigrants
 The torna. entry in official rec. orIs Of Woods birth showed that 10th his parents were horn in rico. Azores Islands, The father, whose tame Of Jacintho was changed tu Wood after his arrival in America, vas brought 10 EdgartoWn by Cap ,ain Henry rcase and there sel up as q fisherman. Later he became n sailor and later still steward on lhe old steamer Eagle's Wing, plying between Murtha's Vineyard and tht mainland. Woods mother. it was recalled, occasionally worked as 4 HrrubWoman on tho vessel Al tht time oc Woods birth his father gave his occupation as mariner"
 While attending school here Wll. liam N. Wood obtained his first ioi
 ls cashboy for Il Quaker dry good' merchant, working during vacation and spare time. T. was only after the death of his father. when hi, mother and sister needed his sup port that he was taken into the Of, flee of the Wamsut'a Sls by An drew G. Pierce, father of Andrew C. Pierce. Jr., his successor as presj
 dent Of the American Wooien Co
 ki first he received the princel
 wage of s4 q week, but his bene
 factor saw 10 it that his promotio
 was rapid. Wood in later life gay
 the then head of the Wamsuti
 mills much of tho credit for hi
 own success.
 [ Was Wise Man
 [ I'll" was a wise man. wise cnoug
 not 10 see cverythinG.' he tol ] friends. in speaking of Fierce. '' . remember one day was playin
 marbles outside the building whe . I should have been at work. Sud
 denly. at tho most exciting perio
 Of the garr, I looked up and So
 Mr, Fierce coming. was cor
 science stricken. but Mir. pierc
 walked on. pretending rot to see. never forgot it"
 For many years Wood maintaine 1 simmer homo on Cuttyhun Island, ono of the Elizabeth grou '' lying between Wood'S Hole an '' Martha's Vineyard. He first ocean |, interested in the island after ! U joined the Cuttyhunk club. an O .' ganization of hathers. but he bougl up land little hy little until he b. T. came the owner Of the little islam " In later years he retired to Cutt, ' hunk when i'll Or feeling the net U. Of isolation. and there shut himse II off from the world.