Alpheus Field Wood

Who was Alpheus Field Wood?

Alpheus Field Wood was an Ontario merchant and political figure. He represented Hastings North in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1883 to 1894 as a Conservative member.

He was born in Jefferson County, New York in 1828, the son of Thomas Wood, who had settled in Bath, Upper Canada in 1810. He was educated in Upper Canada, taught school in Hastings County for three years and then opened a general store in Madoc. He later became involved in the hardware business and the trade in grain. Wood served in the local militia, becoming lieutenant-colonel, and was also a justice of the peace. In 1850, he married Eliza Ann Ross. He was reeve for Madoc township from 1857 to 1877 and during that period also served ten years as warden for the county. Wood was also president of the Belleville and North Hastings Railway and a director for the Grand Junction Railway and the Toronto and Ottawa Railway. In 1880, he was named government valuator for the Dominion of Canada. He was master and treasurer for the local Masonic lodge.

He was the brother of Samuel Casey Wood, who served as treasurer of Ontario.

He died on January 22, 1910.