Individual Details
(Sep 22, 1780 - Dec 29, 1851)
BIOGRAPHY: John Wood grew up in England. He must have had good school ing, as t he journal that he kept in later years is quite legible an d well stated. Havin g heard his father tell the stories about Americ a and its opportunities, John a t the age of 18, "ran away" and came t o America. He carried with him a musket and a sword. Both pieces rema in in the family's possession today. John had be en apprenticed t o a cabinetmaker in Sheffield, England. He got a letter of rec ommend ation to a brother of his employer who was located in Washington, D.C . H e landed in America on June 6, 1798 at the age of 18. After livi ng in Washingt on, D.C. and Montgomery County, Maryland for four years , he married Sarah Query of Montgomery County, the daughter of Danie l and Eva Wilfree Query on November 20, 1804. The young couple immed iately moved to West Union, Adams County, Ohi o, where John followed t he trade of cabinetmaker in his own shop for several ye ars. Nine o f their ten children were born there. In 1820, a party including h i s brother-in-law, Daniel Query, made an exploring trip to Indiana. Th ey came through Brookville, following the Flat Rock River to Rush Coun ty and what is no w named Orange Township; claimed this location, call ed it Moscow, Indiana, and built a grain mill that used water power . In 1823, he formally "layed out" the twon of Moscow. They also bui lt a still, which was well patronized at the tim e. John Wood and th e Query brothers became owners of several hundred acres of land in tha t area. In 1823, he moved his family to Indiana and a daughter was bo rn soon after. The house and barn were built of brick and still stand s just east of Moscow. The cemetery at Moscow has a lot where John, h is wife, Sarah, and some of their family are buried. John Wood kep t a diary and a daybook, whi ch provides much insight into his busines s and personal actions. The original book is now in the Indiana Stat e Library. In 1810 John Wood renounced his alle giance to England an d took out his citizenship papers. Source: Query.GED Ernie Grubb-Jen e 1988.
Events
| Birth | Sep 22, 1780 | Yorkshire, England | | | |
| Marriage | Nov 7, 1804 | Montgomery County, Maryland - Sarah Query | | | |
| Death | Dec 29, 1851 | Moscow, Rush County, Indiana | | | |
| Burial | | Moscow Cemetery, Rush County, Indiana | | | |
Families