New Britain herald., 1926-02-03
Former Head of American Woolen Company Shoots Himself in Florida Body to Be Brought Back to Andover, Mass.

Andovcr, Mass Feb, . Hl-This city awaits with sorrow the last homecoming of William N, Wool. former president of the American Wooen company, and suicide be- cause of III health at Daytonr Beach, Florida
 Here it was that Wood iavishcd fortune upon the project nearest his hcart--Shawshcon Village, settle ment Of model homes for mill work CTS tha, included beautiful town hall. q pest office, a dance hall and Il tGcatcr,
 ShawShccn was tn" realization Of the dream of a lifetime, but 1t vas to have much to do with the tragic urn events Were to take. Mir Wood not satisfied with making hawsh"en a community center for his workers, conceived the plan of moving the company's offices here and he succeeded in doing so over tho protest of some of his associates but admittedly q rift had been opened.
 At the same time i'll health became more frequent and played an iN- crcasingy important part in Woods life. More than q dozen times dur ing the years 1929, 1923 and 1924 he suffered illnesses of various nu- lures, and many times he was forced to deny rumors that his resignation was impending,
 His supreme sorrow
 Tho supreme blow to his hope for happiness came, however, in thu" death of his fayorito son, Billy Wood Jr.. who lost his life in an automobile accident in August. 1922. Mir. Wood never fully re- covered from the shock. II was Billy. it was said, who had for years been close 10 his father and for whom the older man cherished an idea that he might succeed him as head of the great company, It was Billy who had brought his father in closer touch with the mill workers than ever before and it was he who was partially instru- mental in the building ot Shaw sheen.
 Two years later the elder Wood resigned from the enterprise he had created and although ill health was ascribcd as the reason for the res ignation. reports persisted that an i internal conflict of policies in which tho Shawshcon development plans ! had played a large part, who also a : factor.
 Daughter Also Dies { Despite the cloud that settled | over him in latter years because oi the death of two children, Woods home Tiff" had been a happy one Ho and Mrs. Woods had four Chil- dron, two of whom, Rosaland O. New York and Cornelius A. O Washington arc still alive. On' other child. Mrs. lrene Woods Sut cliha had died earlier.
 Her death, like that Of his son was hard blow 10 bear
 II" stunned public contact to, weeks. and often would spend hour; al her grave.
 Wood spent money literally or lis home here. Within the grounds he built a private theater and lake
 Of his relations with the work CTS in his mills Andrew G. Pierce of New Bedford who succeodr' him 10 the presidency. sail:
 There was no more honorable man living. He was best friend t' everybody. I can foeling'y say h.
 vas the best hearted man eve
 knew"
 Was sports Follower Although Wood had once said ''
 never had time to learn how { , play" he was an ardent boxing far and with his son, William, fire ) Quently was ringside spectator q Lawrence boxing bouts. He a)s was interested in soccer m
 wickctS.
 While funeral plans are uncon
 pleted as yet, it is believed th&
 burial will be In West Parish come ' tery where the dead manufacture
 spent many thousands in b"au'if! c ing the grounds.