Ephraim Wood

     Ephraim Wood was born on 19 April 1840 at Nova Scotia.^1,2 He was the son of Nelson Wood and Sarah A. Wood.¹ Ephraim Wood married Nellie E. Davis, daughter of Isaac Davis and Matilda (?), on 10 July 1872 at Lowell, Middlesex Co, Massachusetts; Ephraim was 32 years old and Nellie was 22.³ Ephraim Wood died on 9 May 1901 at Fitchburg, Worcester Co, Massachusetts, at age 61; The death record reads that he had disease of the kidneys following enlarged prostate, pleurisy, pneumonia, old gun shot wound received in the civil war.^4,1 He was buried at Pinesbridge Cemetery, Beacon Falls, New Haven Co, Connecticut.⁵
     He appeared on the census of 5 August 1850 at East Machias, Washington Co, Maine; Ephraim was aged 10, and living with his parents and siblings.⁶ He appeared on the census of 9 June 1860 at Lowell, Middlesex Co, Massachusetts; Ephraim was aged 20, born NS, living with his parents and siblings.⁷ Heenlisted on 29 June 1861 at Massachusetts He was a private and had been a salesman. He enlisted in Company C Massachusetts 13th Infantry on 16 Jul 1861. Mustered out on 18 Nov 1862 at Harrisburg, PA. Ephraim was promoted to full 1st Lieutenant on 20 Jul 1863. Commissioned an officer in Company H, Massachusetts 55th Infantry Regiment. Mustered out on 20 Nov 1863.⁸ He appeared on the census of 5 June 1880 at Chicopee, Hampden Co, Massachusetts; Ephraim Wood, 40, b. in Mass, works in cotton mill; Ellen E., 33, b. NY, keeps house; Adrie, 1, b. MA.⁹ "The New Haven Register", New Haven County, Connecticut, Ephraim Wood was mentioned in an article about Nelson Wood and Sarah A. Wood, his parents, who were celebrating their golden wedding anniversary, as follows:
Golden Wedding. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Wood celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage at Beacon Falls yesterday. Four generations sat down to the dinner table -- numbering in all thirty-three descendants -- nine children, twenty-one grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Ephraim Wood of Chicopee, Mass., read a brief history of the marriage, and Rev. W. R. Rodgers of the Summerfield mission, New Haven, and formerly pastor of the Methodist church in Beacon Falls, made a few appropriate remarks.
Many valuable presents were made, including $70 in gold from friends in Beacon Falls and Westville, gold desert spoon from Mrs. H. M. Todd of Bethany, gold lined teapot from Mr. and Mrs. H. Haldwin of Pine's Bridge, hanging lamp from Waterbury friends, easy chair from the five daughters of the celebrating couple, and a satin lambrequin from Mrs. V. Buckingham.
Three hundred people attended the anniversary and offered many congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Wood, who were dressed in the clothes they wore at their wedding fifty years ago.¹⁰ He was naturalized on 23 June 1884 at Suffolk Co Municipal Court, Boston, Suffolk Co, Massachusetts; The certificate is missing, but iindicates he was 44 years old.²