John Wood (politician, 1798)

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John Wood

John Wood (born December 20, 1798 in Moravia , Cayuga County , New York , †  June 11, 1880 in Quincy , Illinois ) was an American politician and from 1860 to 1861 the twelfth governor of the state of Illinois.

Early years and political advancement

In 1822 John Wood moved to Quincy, Illinois. He was one of the very first residents in this area. As a result, he had a significant role in founding Adams County . In 1834, Wood became a Quincy city clerk and then long-time mayor of that city. Between 1850 and 1854 he was also a member of the Illinois Senate . After the founding of the Republican Party , he joined this new movement. In 1856 he became their candidate for the office of lieutenant governor . After the election victory he was from 1857 Lieutenant Governor of Illinois.

Illinois Governor

After the death of Governor William Bissell on March 18, 1860, he had to end his beginning term. In his brief tenure, which ended in January 1861, investigations into the fraud scandal in the administration of the Illinois-Michigan Canal continued. In May, Abraham Lincoln , who had his political roots in Illinois, was named a Republican presidential candidate. The conflict between the northern and southern states became increasingly militant and also made itself felt in Illinois.

Further life

After his tenure ended on January 14, 1861, Wood was named one of the Illinois delegates who attended a crisis conference in Washington, DC . The aim was to prevent civil war at the very last minute. The conference was unsuccessful. At the beginning of the Civil War, Wood was named Quartermaster in Illinois. Although he was over sixty, he became a colonel in the 137th Illinois Volunteer Regiment. After the war he withdrew from the public. He died on June 11, 1880. John Wood was married to Ann M. Streeter, with whom he had eight children.

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