Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-02-04
Recall Romance
OF Career of Wood
Who Took Own Life

New Bedford, Mass, Feb. s.
(APo-Lifelong acquaintance of
William w. Wood in this city which
ne loved as his home. today recalled
the romance of his career which end
ed yesterday when the one tim giant
OF the American Wooden industry
committed suicide at Daytona, Fla.
The son Of poor immigrant parents
who rose to the position of president
OF the American Wooden Company
furnished material for numerous
anecdotes revealing an intensely HUI
ma inside to his character.
Martha's Vineyard was his birth
place. but New Bedford gave him his
start in his beloved textile industry
and Wood held a strong affection for
the city He held his first position
in that Industry in the old Merchants
and Mechanics Bank building here
and in sentimental recognition of the
fact he purchased the building in
June, 1917. Men who were associated
with him said he looked upon the old
structure as his real birthplace-the
starting point Of his life in the world
Of affairs.
Old records were searched today to
trace the fairy tale Of Woods me-
teoric rise to wealth. The little old
farmhouse in Ergarton on Martha
Vineyard. is pointed out as his birth
place but after he left the island at
the age of six, his associates said,
Wood betrayed little interest in the
spot. His actual career, they said,
was to him included between the
dates of hi sstart as a cash boy in
New Bedford at $1.25 a week. and his
advent to power and aff1uence as a
dominating figure in his chosen in
dustry.
The formal entry in official records
Of Woods birth showed that both his
parents were born in Pico, Azores
Islands. The father, whose name of
Jacintho was changed to Wood after
his arrival in America, was brought
to Edgartown by Henry Pease and
there set UP as a fisherman. Later
he became a cobbler and later still
steward on the old steamer Eagles
Wing, plying between Martha's Vine
yard and the mainland. Woods
mother, it was recalled, occasionally
worked as a scrub woman on the
vessel. At the time of Woods birth
his father gave his occupation as
mariner"
While attending school here. Will
liam NJ. Wood obtained his first job
as cash boy for a Quaker dry goods
merchant, working during vacations
and spare time. 1t was only after
the death Of his father, when his
mother and sister needed his support
that he was taken into the office of
the Wamsutta Mills by Andrew G..
Pierce, father of Andrew G. Pierce,
Jr.. his successor as president of the
American Wooden Company. At first
he received the princely wage of 81
week but his benefactor saw to 1t
that his promotion was rapid. Wood
in later life gave the then head of
the Wamsutta mills much of the
credit for his own success.
He was wise man, wise enough
not to see everything" he told
friends, in speaking Of Pierce. IT re-
member one day / was playing mar
bles outside the building when I
should have been at work. Suddenly,
at the most exciting period of the
game, look UP and saw Mr. Pierce
coming. | was conscience stricken.
But Mr.. Pierce walked on, pretending
not to see. l never forgot it."
For many years Wood maintained a
summer home on Cuttyhunk Island
one of the Elizabeth group, lying be-
tween Woods Hole and Martha's Vine
yard. He first became interested in
the island after he Joined the Guilty.
hunk Club, an organization of bathers,
but he bought up land little by little
until he became the owner of the little
island In later years he retired to
Cuttyhunk when i'll or feeling the need
Of isolation. and there shut himself off
from the world.
Mr. Wood began going to the tiny
settlement of lobster fishermen in 1901.
A little more than 500 acres make up
the entire area Of the island and fish
ing is about it's only industry.
The manufacturer mingled freely
with the natives and there was none
of the restraint tina. might be expected
between the man OF wealth and his
country neighbors. He believed in
utilizing all modern advantages and
was instrumental in obtaining running
water and sewer systems for the is
landers.
He seldom took part in sports HIM
self, but enjoyed watching tennis play
ers on his courts and he took delight in