Watson F. Wood

WATSON F. WOOD, M. D. - During a number of years past Dr. Watson F. Wood has been engaged in the practice of medicine near White Church and its vicinity and he is accorded a place among the leading representatives of the profession in Wyandotte township. By the circumstance of birth he is a Southerner, his eyes having first opened to the light of day in Cumberland county, Virginia, on June 1, 1860. He is a son of John T. and Mary F. (Steger) Wood, the former of whom was born in Fluvanna county of the Old Dominion and the latter in the same county which constituted the birthplace of the son. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, died in the district which had so long been the scene of his activities, in the year 1865, and the mother survived for a number of years, her demise occurring in 1886. John T. Wood was twice married and had one child by his first wife and eleven by his second - the subject's mother, Watson F. being the seventh son and the youngest of all the children.

Watson F. Wood was deprived of a father's care when only about five years of age and he remained with his mother as long as that strong and admirable woman lived. From his earliest youth he assisted in the work of the farm and was thus familiar with the great basic industry in all of its departments. Two years after his mother passed away he came to Wyandotte county, Kansas, and located in Wyandotte township, establishing a mercantile business, and subsequently locating in Greenwood, Missouri. In the meantime the subject came to the conclusion to adopt the medical profession as his own and, to prepare himself, he matriculated in the Medical University of Kansas City, Missouri, from which institution he was graduated in March, 1881, with the well earned degree which made him eligible as a practitioner. He first hung out his shingle at Wolcott, Kansas, but this was but a temporary location and he soon came to White Church, where he remains at the present time, having built up an excellent practice and enjoying the confidence of the entire community, both as a citizen and a physician.

Dr. Wood laid the foundation of a happy household and congenial life companionship when on December 29, 1890, he was united in marriage with Sarah Fiederling, who was born in Shawnee county, Kansas, and who is the daughter of Peter and Francis (Barker) Fiederling, the father an architect by occupation and a native of Bavaria, Germany. The seat of the Barker family is Bedford county, Virginia. The children born to Dr. Wood and his wife are as follows: Watson L. who died at the age of six years and nine months; Francis; Grace; Elizabeth and Helen Elmina.

Dr. Wood is in harmony with the policies and principles for which the Democratic party stands sponsor and he is an enthusiastic lodge man, holding membership in the Masonic Lodge, No. 96, of White Church; the Modern Woodmen of America; and the Modern Brotherhood of America.