Wood, Orville
Birth
Orville was born in Rensselaerville in May of 1839, a son of Joseph Wood and Ann Thorn and a brother to Hiram and Henry Wood.
Schenectady Gazette, Thursday, May 1, 1930
91st Birthday of Veteran
Orville Wood of Middleburgh and well known here, celebrated his 91st birthday Saturday at his home.
Mr. Wood served with the engineer’s corps of the Union army in the civil war and was taken prisoner and confined in a Confederate prison previous to the close of the war. He is the father of former supervisor, Elmer Wood. It was observed with interest that the Saturday morning “Cheerio” broadcast from WGY, Schenectady, took notice of Mr. Wood’s birthday with other people of about the same age and living in widely separated sections of the country.
Marriage & Children
He married Alice who was born at about 1853, in 1871 and lived in Schoharie County. They had two known children, Helen C. Wood and Elmer Wood.
Military Service
| Residence at Enlistment: | Rensselaerville[1] |
| Place of Birth: | Rensselaerville, NY[1] |
| Date of Birth: | 12 April 1825[1] |
| Names of Parents: | Joseph (Wood) and Ann Thorn[1] |
| Marital Status: | Single [1] |
| Occupation: | Farmer[1] |
| Term of Enlistment: | 3 years[1] |
| Bounty Received: | $300.00[1] |
| Enlistment Date: | 26 Feb 1864[2] |
| Enlistment Place: | Rensselaerville, New York[2] |
| Enlistment Rank: | Private |
| State Served: | New York |
| Regiment: | 50th Engineers[2] |
| Company: | Company M |
| Muster Out Date: | 13 Jun 1865 [2] |
| Muster Out Place: | Fort Barry, VA[2] |
| Additional Remarks: Enlisted at the age of 23.[2] "Served with Regiment until mustered out with Regiment. Still living P.O. Address Rensselaerville Albany Co N.Y."[1]
Born Rensselaerville, NY, Age 23, Blacksmith, Brown eyes, Brown hair, Fair complexion, 5'7" tall.Born in Berne, NY on August 10, 1846, Age 18, Farm laborer, Black eyes, Brown hair, Light complexion, 5'9-1/2" tall.[3] |
| Sources Used: Ancestry.com, American Civil War Soldiers; Town and City Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War |
Death
Alice died in June of 1931. Orville died in October of 1931. Both are buried at the Middleburgh Cemetery, Middleburgh, Schoharie County, NY.
Obituary
Copied from the Schoharie County US GenWeb site, http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nyschoha/owoodobit.html:
Orville Wood, Veteran of Civil War, Dies at 92
Fails to Rally After Sustaining Shock Sunday
October 21, 1931
Orville Wood, ninety-two, a Civil War veteran, died at his home in the village of Middleburgh, on Wednesday morning of this week. He was taken with a shock Sunday and did not rally.
In 1861 he enlisted as a private in Company M 50th New York Engineers, Volunteers of Albany, and served four years, during which time he was advanced to Corporal.
Henry and Hiram Wood, brothers of the deceased, also fought on the Union side in the Civil War, and both were taken prisoners by the Confederates and lodged in the well known Andersonville Prison. When the war ended the brothers were freed but Hiram died before he reached his home.
Mr. Wood was the son of the late Joseph Wood and Annie Thorn. He married in 1871 and this union continued for sixty years. His wife died on June 6 of this year. he was a farmer by occupation and at one time served as Overseer of the Poor of the town of Middleburgh and also was School Trustee of Broome. He was held in high esteem by the citizens of the community.
Two children survive, Mrs. Hiram Rust of Rensselaer, and Elmer Wood of Broome. Funeral will be held Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the home. Rev. E. J. Ball of the M. E. Church, will officiate. Burial in Middleburgh Cemetery.
Additional Research Notes
Additional Media
Town and City Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War
Annual Report of the Adjutant-General of the State of New York for the Year 1898
WOOD, ORVILLE - Age 23 years Enlisted February 26 1864 at Rensselaerville mustered in as private Co M February 29 1864 to serve three years promoted artificer April 8 1864 mustered out with company June 13 1865 at Fort Barry Va also borne as Orville B Wood
Sources
