Wood (after marriage, Kauffman; February 10, 1840 – March 29, 1927) was an American writer and composer, known for her musical and literary talents.

Her studies were some of the Languages, Botany, Philosophy, Chemistry, Physiology, Astronomy, Music, Composition Histories, Worsted and French Work, and several kinds of Grammar.

[4] At the beginning of the American Civil War (1861), the father owned 44 servants and about 1,300 acres (530 ha) of valuable James and Rivanna River lands, divided into two farms, 7 miles (11 km) apart.

At the close of 1861, Wood was gradually attacked by a form of dyspepsia which at an advanced period entailed great suffering.

Other conditions would come and go including long-continued attacks of excruciating neuralgia and rheumatism (the result of an unavoidable accident, September 18, 1886) each of them more and more enfeebling to her delicate frame.

At times, in the effort to cure one or the other of those additional diseases, the remedies so aggravated Wood's dyspepsia, it finally assumed a chronic form and general prostration ensued.

From the middle of 1869 until May 1871, she did little or no work, except to daily attend in a struggling manner to her bed-chamber, then quietly sit in it, read the Bible and all the religious books she could get.

An Episcopal woman, Mary B. Galt, provided Wood with reading materials including Goulborne's Thoughts on Personal Religion, and Stepping Heavenward.

[4] Towards the close of 1871, Wood was daily employed in sewing, until late in March 1872, she began teaching her youngest brothers, Virgil and Toutant.

[4] In January 1873, Wood was instantaneously seized with excruciating neuralgia of her face, continuing three successive months, the whole of every day, and the most of each night; that ended late in March, 1873.

Desiring to be usefully employed, and too feeble for any kind of exertion, she resumed the task of completing a book for housekeepers she had begun, and laid aside a few years before.

[4] On October 4, 1874, Wood was baptized and joined the Brethren or German Baptists church, sometimes called "Dunkards" or "Tunkers", by outsiders.

[5] In June 1879, Wood became so disabled by an accident that she had to suspend her public writing, except when necessity demanded otherwise, entailing additional suffering.