Biographies
from
The History of Otsego County, New York
1740-1878
D. Hamilton Hurd
Published by Everts & Fariss, Philadelphia
WOOD, Alfred - Plainfield
This gentleman, one of the prominent farmers of the town of
Plainfield, was born in the town of Virgil, Cortland Co., N.Y., Nov.
30, 1825. He is the son of David and Mary WOOD, who were
blessed with a family of nine children. At the age of six years his
father removed with his family to the town of Winfield, Herikmer
county, where he resided until he moved to Plainfield, in 1853.
The early life of Mr. Wood was one of severe toil. When a mere
lad he commenced to work by the month as a farmhand, which
occupation he followed for many years. Upon his removal to
Plainfield he purchased, in company with his father, the farm where
he now resides, a view of which, in connection with portraits of
himself and wife, can be seen on another page of this work, which
is considered to be one of the best in the town. It is appropriately
named the "Valley Farm," as it lies between two ranges of hills; it is
well watered, has a productive soil, and is well adapted to grain-
raising or stock-growing. Mr. Wood is engaged in dairying and the
breeding of Holstein cattle, which are considered to be very valuable
for dairy purposes. In 1859, Mr. Wood was united in marriage to
Miss Helen, daughter of Samuel MITCHELL and Rebecca REED,
of the town of Exeter, where she was born in December, 1831. The
Reeds are among the old and prominent families of Exeter. John
Reed, her paternal grandfather, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war,
and emigrated from Connecticut in a very early day.
Mr. and Mrs. Wood have been blessed with a family of five
children, - three boys and two girls. Mr. Wood is emphatically
a self-made man, and in his chosen avocation has been eminently
successful. He has attained success in every department of life,
and is an exemplar of the capabilities of character and manhood.--
Excerpt from History of Otsego Co., NY, page 296