He was born in Jefferson County, New York in 1828, the son of Thomas Wood, who had settled in Bath, Upper Canada in 1810.

He was educated in Upper Canada, taught school in Hastings County for three years and then opened a general store in Madoc.

He was reeve for Madoc township from 1857 to 1877 and during that period also served ten years as warden for the county.

[citation needed] He was the brother of Samuel Casey Wood, who served as treasurer of Ontario.

[citation needed] His son, William Field Wood was a physician in South Bend, Indiana.