MOGMJWood

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JAMES PERRY WOOD 1854-1895

JWood.jpg

Grand Master, 1888-1889

BIOGRAPHY

From Biographies of Past Grand Masters, 1821-1901, by the Grand Lodge of Missouri:

Most Worshipful Brother James Perry Wood first appeared in the Grand Lodge of Missouri in October, 1879, when he came as Junior Warden of his Lodge. Two years later he represented his Lodge as Worshipful Master. At that session he was appointed Junior Grand Steward. In 1882 he was appointed Grand Orator, and reappointed in 1883. In 1884 he was appointed Senior Grand Deacon; elected Junior Grand Warden in 1885, Senior Grand Warden in 1886, Deputy Grand Master in 1887, and at the session in October, 1888, was elected Most Worshipful Grand Master.

Brother Wood was born in Ralls County, Missouri, July 6, 1854. He was reared on a farm, and sent to the Christian University at Canton, Missouri, where he graduated at the age of twenty years. He took up the study of law, completing in St. Louis, and was admitted to the bar in 1875. He began practice in New London, Ralls County, Missouri. Three years after was elected Prosecuting Attorney for his county and re-elected in 1880 and 1882. In 1884 he was elected to the State Senate to represent the counties of Ralls, Marion and Monroe. While in the Senate he championed the famous law known as the "Wood Local Option Law." He was afterward a candidate for Congress, but unsuccessful.

He started in Masonry in Monroe Lodge No. 64, at Monroe City, Missouri, and received the Master's degree April 20, 1878. He dimitted September 7th, and October 5th thereafter affiliated with New London Lodge No. 307, of which he was Junior Warden in 1879 and Worshipful Master in 1881, re-elected in 1882 and again in 1891, the latter term following his serving as Grand Master. He received the Capitular degrees in Ralls Chapter No. 55, at Centre, Missouri, in 1880, and served as Excellent High Priest one or more terms. He appeared in the Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons of Missouri for the first time as Excellent High Priest of his Chapter at the Annual Convocation in May, 1883. At the session of 1885 he was chosen Grand Captain of the Host, in 1886 elected Scribe, Grand King in 1887, Deputy Grand High Priest in 1888, and Most Excellent Grand High Priest in May, 1891. From that time until the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge in October following, he had the unusual distinction of holding the highest offices in both Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter. He was Knighted in Excalibar Commandery No. 5, Knights Templar, stationed at Hannibal, Missouri, but at the time of his death was a member of Cyrene Commandery No. 12, stationed at Bowling Green, Missouri.

Brother Wood met with an accident on the Hannibal Railroad, May 14, 1895, which resulted in his death June 18, 1895. His funeral was one of the largest ever known in North Missouri. Over two hundred Masons, representing thirteen Lodges, escorted by the Knights Templar, together with an immense concourse of citizens, were in line. Doctor Vincil delivered the eulogy, and performed the Masonic burial service at the grave.

From Missouri Lodge of Research:

ames Wood was born in Ralls County, Mo., June 6, 1854. His early life was spent on the farm, advantages for education were few, but he managed to enter Christian University in Canton Mo., graduating with honors in 1874.

He chose law as his profession studying in the office of Wingate and Johnson in St Louis and was admitted to the bar in September 1876. He began to practice law in New London, Ralls Co., Mo., where he was elected prosecuting attorney. In 1884 he was elected to the State Senate championing the famous law known as the "Wood Local Option Law".

He entered Freemasonry through Monroe Lodge No 64, Monroe City Mo. receiving the degree of Master Mason April 20, 1878. On September 7th of that year he dimitted and affiliated with New London Lodge No 307 and elected Master in 1881 and re-elected in 1882 and 1891.

He was appointed Junior Grand Steward in 1881 and elected Grand Master in 1888. Brother Wood presided at the dedication of the Masonic Home.

He was equally active in the Grand Chapter of the Royal Arch and served as Grand High Priest in 1889.

His death occurred June 18, 1895, the result of a railroad accident. He was removed from the wreck in an unconscious condition.and remained so from the day of the wreck, May 14th, until his death June 6th. Brother Wood was buried in Barkley Cemetery new New London Mo., June 20, 1895, Grand Secretary http://masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title=MOGMJVincil John D. Vincil] conducting the ceremony. The funeral was said to have been the largest ever witnessed in Northeast Missouri with more than two hundred Freemasons in the procession.


Missouri Grand Masters